Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/01/2014 - 14:29
Forums
Soil Ecology in Antarctic Dry Valleys

If you are out in the field and someone becomes seriously injured or ill, how is that taken care of?

Thu, 01/02/2014 - 10:20

Justin Kendhammer

Hi Ciera,Thanks for the question.This is really one of those things you want to have thought about before it happens. To start with everyone that goes to Antarctica has to physically qualify. Blood, urine, and physical tests abound. They try to find any illness or physical malformation before you take the trip.The awareness of your own safety and that of others is something that should never be too far from your thoughts. In a place where a limited hospital facility is two or more hours away you do everything you can to keep your team out of harms way. When this fails and people do become seriously ill or injured it is the responsibility of the people around you to take care of your immediate needs until professionals arrive.As far as my background, I am a Wilderness First Responder or WFR. I take students in the backcountry of the Colorado Plateau. It is sometimes just as remote as the areas we did research in. I am trained to handle situations that involve medical emergencies where help is hours or days away. I hope that answers your question.JK