  

ABOUT  COURSES  HOSTING  Toll FreeSTUDENTS

1 (855) 505-1700
 • Email
LEARN  Us

CONTACT 

ALTITUDE ACCLIMATIZATION

How Much Do You Know About Altitude Acclimatization?

Prevention + Meds | Acclimatization | Oxygen @ Altitude | High Altitude

Illnesses

Altitude Acclimatization Takes Time…

At sea-level, healthy people have an oxygen saturation (SpO2) level in the blood of 98-99%.
When one goes to high altitude, the percentage of oxygen in the bloodstream goes down quite
significantly—and prolonged exposure to these lower blood oxygen levels is the primary cause
of the effects of altitude.

The major cause of altitude illnesses is going too high, too fast. Given time, your body can
adapt to the decrease in oxygen molecules at a specific altitude. This process is known as
acclimatization and generally takes 1-3 days (per atmosphere) at that altitude. For example, if
you hike to 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), and spend several days at that altitude, your body
acclimatizes to 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). If you climb to 12,000 feet (3,658 meters), your
body has to acclimatize once again.

Acclimatization
•HematologicEffects:
-Increaseredcellproduction/Hb
Im bal
ance Start
Normalbloodoxygenlevels Stimulus:Hypoxiadueto
Im b decreasedRBCcount,
al an decreasedavailabilityof02
ce toblood,orincreased
Increases tissuedemandsfor02

Reduces02levels
inblood

Erythropoietin Kidney(andlivertoasmaller
Enhanced stimulatesred extent)releaseserythropoietin
erythropolesis bonemarrow
Increases
RBCcount

A number of changes take place in the body to allow it to operate with decreased oxygen:

• The depth of respiration increases.

• Pressure in pulmonary arteries is increased, “forcing” blood into areas of the lung not
normally used during breathing.
• The body produces more red blood cells to carry oxygen.
• The body produces more of a particular enzyme that facilitates the release of oxygen from
hemoglobin to the body tissues.

How Long Does it Take to Become *FULLY* Acclimatized?

From sea level, here is the average amount of time it takes to become FULLY acclimatized to
altitude:

• 6,000 ft (1829 m) — 3 Weeks

• 8,000 ft (2438 m) — 4 Weeks
• 10,000 ft (3048 m) — 5 Weeks
• 12,000 ft (3658 m) — 6 Weeks
• 14,000 ft (4267 m) — 7 Weeks

Source: CDC – High Altitude Travel Directory

POPULAR COURSES HELPFUL LINKS

+ Wilderness First Aid + Sponsor a Course

+ Wilderness First Aid A/oat + Find a Course

Center for Wilderness Safety
+ Wilderness First Responder + Course Login
15 Running Brook Lane
+ CPR/AED + First Aid + FAQ Sterling, Virginia 20164

+ Scouting Programs + Outdoor Safety 101 1 (855) 505-1700 — Main OSce

1 (800) 490-0309 — First Aid Shop
1 (703) 828-4343 — Tick Safety

© 2005–2023 Center for Wilderness Safety Inc. All Rights Reserved.    