Wilderness & environmental medicine
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Wilderness Environ Med · Sep 2019
Case ReportsUsing an Unmanned Aircraft System (Drone) to Conduct a Complex High Altitude Search and Rescue Operation: A Case Study.
Unmanned aircraft systems, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, are becoming increasingly common consumer products; their potential applications to search and rescue operations are becoming ever more apparent. A consumer drone was used to locate a mountaineer after he and his climbing partner were separated while summiting Broad Peak in the Karakoram Mountains of northeastern Pakistan, the world's 12th highest summit. ⋯ Without the drone, the rescue party would have faced immense challenges, including a vast search area and altitudes near the limits of human physiologic function. With real-time imagery and global positioning system capabilities, drones may become an invaluable tool in search and rescue operations, helping to reduce response time and maintain the safety of responders at high altitude and in many other types of difficult terrain.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jun 2019
Search and Rescue and Remote Medical Evacuation in a Norwegian Setting: Comparison of Two Systems.
Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) contribute to and complement other specialized search and rescue (SAR) services. Conversely, traditional SAR services perform medical evacuation (medevac), depending on crew, training, medical equipment, and procedures for interdisciplinary cooperation. We aim to describe and compare SAR and remote medevac mission characteristics in a military SAR helicopter system to a civilian HEMS operating in the same region. ⋯ Both SAR and HEMS services perform SAR and remote medevac missions extensively and mission profiles vary.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jun 2019
Cause of Death in Utah Avalanche Fatalities, 2006-2007 through 2017-2018 Winter Seasons.
Understanding patterns of avalanche fatalities can aid prevention and rescue strategies. In 2007, we published a report reviewing avalanche deaths in Utah between the 1989-1990 and 2005-2006 winter seasons. In the current report, we discuss Utah avalanche fatalities from the 2006-2007 to 2017-2018 seasons. ⋯ Asphyxia continues to be the most prevalent killer in avalanche burial. Patterns of ongoing avalanche deaths continue to suggest that rapid recovery and techniques that prolong survival while buried may decrease fatality rates. Trauma is a significant factor in many avalanche fatalities. Education and technologies focused on reducing traumatic injuries such as improved education in techniques for avalanche risk avoidance and/or use of avalanche airbags may further decrease fatality rates. Snowmobilers represent an increasing percentage of Utah avalanche deaths and now make up the majority of victims; increased education targeting this demographic in the basics of avalanche rescue gear and avalanche rescue may also reduce fatalities.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jun 2019
Mountain Rescue Casualty Care and the Undergraduate Medical Elective.
Many UK medical curricula lack dedicated prehospital education other than first aid courses and basic life support training. In contrast, nonmedical mountain rescue team members receive advanced prehospital training addressing scene management and various clinical interventions. ⋯ The course was offered as part of a student-selected module during phase 3A at the University of Sheffield Medical School. Within the module, students also learned the relevant biomedical sciences and clinical skills to construct their knowledge of mountain rescue casualty care.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jun 2019
Rock Climbing Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments, 2008-2016.
Previous research identified a trend for increasing numbers of injuries sustained while rock climbing. This study investigates whether that trend continued and describes characteristics of climbing injuries. ⋯ This study reports continued increase in annual numbers of climbing injuries. Whether this is based on a higher injury rate or on a higher number of climbers overall cannot be stated with certainty because no denominator is presented to estimate the injury rate among climbers.