PNEUMONIA at Burning Man?

[Jora]

Some friends were diagnosed with pneumonia a few days ago, I dont think its a good idea to go to burning man with pneumonia, especially this year, what with the extreme dust conditions. Needing some guidance form my fellow Burners to convince my virgin friends that staying ALIVE is better than going to Burning Man and possibly DYING. HELP!

[Eric]

Have them talk to their doctor, and explain to the doctor what the conditions they'll be facing are.

Do not rely on people you don't know on the internet to get medical advice. Doctor, doctor, doctor. If they refuse to go to said doctor, tell them they're on their own, you won't help them.

[Jora]

I'm afraid that regardless of what their doctors say they will try to go in any case, Im asking the community in hopes of getting an opinion that they will trust (sad they dont trust their doctors). I want them to hear it from someone (other than myself) that knows the conditions and severity of peak health on the playa. I dont think they realize the severity of the environment they will putting themselves into, not for lack of trying on my part.

[TomServo]

while they aren't as contagious, after the first couple days, is it really worth the risk?

[Bob]

We aren't their mommies, nor are you.

Regardless, Burning Man has seen fit to publish some health information.

http://www.burningman.com/preparation/event_survival/health_safety.html

[some seeing eye]

We understand the draw of the playa. Do your playmates have insurance coverage for helicopter airlift evacuation and subsequent hospitalization for a few days in Reno? 10's of Kdollars - 50?. Playa medical has better and better diagnostics, but they are not going to risk a death over evacuation.

Pneumonia weakens the lungs, so a whole series of life threatening scenarios could easily be triggered by playa dust which is fine, an irritant and contains organic matter, including viable shrimp eggs. Want to really get them motivated? Think Alien (just joking, and I am not a medical professional!)

I believe there have been threads on he dust composition, playa lung, playa health and references to a physician knowledgeable.

We want all burners to live long, put the energy into a future awesome burn...best year to date to do so.

[phil]

Does your friend have a workable plan for leaving in the middle of the event if he decides it's too much? If so, then I'd say it's his choice.

[theCryptofishist]

Unless he got some sort of antibiotic resistant strain, he won't have pneumonia in two weeks when the event opens. When he talks to his doctor he should find out what "healthy enough" consists of.

[some seeing eye]

I had to evacuate a friend to Reno one year who had a sinus infection that was made unbearably worse enough by the dust for him to quit mid week. I got an out-in pass and drove him to Reno to head home. We joke that last year was better, but maybe next year will be better for your friends.

[Jax Dee]

I actually attended my first year in 2008 with pneumonia. My doctor and I went over every scenario, he helped me prepare medically with advice and with antibiotics if I got worse. He had me wear a medical bracelet and print my emergency info on dog tags that I wore the entire time I was there. I took extreme caution, bringing inhalers, meds, really good dust masks, thermometer to monitor my temp constantly and blood pressure wrist cuff, and instantly going inside if a dust storm came up. I RESTED a lot. I actually cleared up very fast out there b/c dry air versus humid is actually good for pneumonia. But that was my particular case (which I reiterate was FULLY mapped out with my DOCTOR) and I was prepared for the possible cost/necessity of leaving early myself or even being helicoptered out. If they go about this the right way and have their doctor's blessing it can be doable. But like Eric already said...doctor doctor doctor!

[trilobyte]

Remind your friends they assume all risk of death, they're probably old enough to be able to make their own decisions from there.

[gyre]

If they are contagious and expose other people, they won't be welcome now or later.
They could be bounced out, or not allowed to enter.

Some places prosecute people that travel very ill.
I have become sick twice from idiots riding the bus, last time two months with pneumonia, nearly to the hospital.
Loads of fun.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to go sick.

If they get well before they go, fine.

[mudpuppy000]

I've had Pneumonia once and I can't imagine trying to go camping feeling like that... You should basically be lying in bed drinking a crapload of water, not out in the desert overexerting yourself and getting dehydrated.

[Bob]

Would be funny if they contracted Valley Fever on top of bacterial pneumonia.

[stinkyfoot]

including viable shrimp eggs.

So I could make seamonkeys if I had enough playa dust?

[theCryptofishist]

including viable shrimp eggs.

So I could make seamonkeys if I had enough playa dust?

Yes, but they wouldn't build castles.

[teardropper]

including viable shrimp eggs.

So I could make seamonkeys if I had enough playa dust?

Yes, you could.

[Jax Dee]

If they are contagious and expose other people, they won't be welcome now or later.
They could be bounced out, or not allowed to enter.

Some places prosecute people that travel very ill.
I have become sick twice from idiots riding the bus, last time two months with pneumonia, nearly to the hospital.
Loads of fun.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to go sick.

If they get well before they go, fine.

Gyre has a good point. It's not just your health but every one else's too. I was cleared by my doc as not infectious. I would never go around groups of people, especially on planes, contagious.

[Bob]

There's a foetid little ranch reservoir a couple miles up the road from the Burning Man driveway that always seems to emit the distinctive aroma of brine shrimp when not frozen over, and I've often imagined migratory flamingos dropping in to snack on them. No such luck, all I've seen are the usual drab little shorebirds.

Apropos of something, the Chipaya tribe of the Bolivia highlands has been known to hunt the flamingo with bolas, to satisfy the demand of Andean miners who believe that flamingo fat is a cure for silicosis.

Hey, if you don't learn something new on the eplaya every day, needless to say, you're doing it wrong.

[theCryptofishist]

I learned that I can set up as a snake-oil salesman in Bolivia. All I have to do is find something cheaper than flamingo fat and undercut the indigeious trade...

[stinkyfoot]

including viable shrimp eggs.

So I could make seamonkeys if I had enough playa dust?

Yes, but they wouldn't build castles.

I hope they at least come out wearing little tuxedos and spacesuits.