Abstract
Mass Casualty Incident Response and Aeromedical Evacuation in Antarctica
This article summaries the current contingency operations and resources for a mass casualty incident (MCI) in Antarctica. The authors cited surveyed literature and past incidents to describe the current state of medical preparedness. They also noted the increased number of personnel in Antarctica owing to tourism and research, noting a presence of more than 30 nations, 80 research stations, and 10 000 tourists during the summer months. These numbers dwindle to 1000 people in the winter.
The authors noted several events that demonstrate the potential for an MCI. Two major earthquakes occurred in 1998 and 2004 that reached a peak amplitude of 8.1 on the Richter scale. Airlines have had crashes, for example, flight 901 from New Zealand in 1979, killing all of the passengers; and ships have also been stranded recently, including the MS Explorer in 2007. Researchers have also had problems with laboratory fires in 2001 in the United Kingdom and in 2008 in Russia.
Search and rescue capabilities are divided into 5 regions including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, and Chile. There is no common contingency plan for an MCI, and a region would respond to a nearby distress signal or GPS signal from an emergency radio beacon. The authors suggest further collaboration to coordinate and prepare for any future MCIs. Additionally, current resources include possible staging at McMurdo Hospital, which has no surgical or critical care capability and is 2400 miles away from the nearest hospital in New Zealand. A response would most likely utilize military transportation, such as critical care air transport teams on C-130 or C-17 aircraft. Otherwise, mobile hospitals can be brought to an MCI site on Antarctica.
(West J Emerg Med. 2011;12:37–42) CN Mills, GH Mills
Prepared by Anil Menon, MD, UTMB/NASA Aerospace Medicine Fellow, Galveston, TX, USA.