Mountain rescue

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OBJECTIVE: In order to solve the problem of inadequate CT screening ability in emergency medical rescue in remote mountainous areas, high-altitude areas, other public health events and sudden natural disasters, a vehicle-mounted mobile CT suitable for emergency medical rescue is studied. METHODS: A vehicle chassis system suitable for long-distance transportation and a cabin system suitable for epidemic prevention and control was designed. A domestic 32-slice CT with small volume, light weight and high stability was selected to design a vehicle-mounted mobile CT suitable for emergency medical rescue...

INTRODUCTION: Achieving the optimal survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest in mountains is challenging. The odds of surviving are influenced mainly by distance, response time, and organization of the emergency medical system. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology and outcomes of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in the Polish Tatra Mountains. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of data on sudden cardiac arrest collected from the database of the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service and local emergency medical system from 2001 to 2021...

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the epidemiology of emergency medical search and rescue incidents globally. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of emergency medical search and rescue incidents in the North Shore Mountains of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: This was a retrospective review and descriptive analysis of search and rescue incident reports created by North Shore Rescue over a 25 y period from 1995 to 2019, inclusive...

In late March of 2022, a mate of Caleb Carr's reached out to him about the Vita Rescue System (VRS; Vita Inclinata, Broomfield, CA). He e-mailed the following: "I was scrolling LinkedIn, and I saw the VRS right next to a bombing of Kyiv. Can you help?" Carr found out later that the head of Ukraine's emergency service was right next to his friend when he realized the impact that the VRS could have on the country's fight. There wasn't a question in Carr's mind about what he should do once he spoke with the Ukrainian military directly...

INTRODUCTION: The International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom) developed updated recommendations for the management of avalanche victims. METHODS: ICAR MedCom created Population Intervention Comparator Outcome (PICO) questions and conducted a scoping review of the literature. We evaluated and graded the evidence using the American College of Chest Physicians system. RESULTS: We included 120 studies including original data in the qualitative synthesis...

BACKGROUND: Mountain hiking is an unpredictable activity for firefighters during the search, rescue, and firefighting. Could the quality of the uniform worn by firefighters affect psychophysiological variables? OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to monitor the responses of perceived exertion (RPE), musculoskeletal pain (MP), and heart rate variability (HRV) responses in firefighters using different uniforms on a 5 km mountain walking activity. The feeling of comfort, safety, and ergonomic adjustment of the two types of uniforms also was verified...

INTRODUCTION: Response to medical incidents in mountainous areas is delayed due to the remote and challenging terrain. Drones could assist in a quicker search for patients and can facilitate earlier treatment through delivery of medical equipment. We aim to assess the effects of using drones in search and rescue (SAR) operations in challenging terrain. We hypothesize that drones can reduce the search time and treatment-free interval of patients by delivering an emergency kit and telemedical support...

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We analyzed occupational accidents reported among Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (CNSAS) providers during mountain search and rescue operations and training events in Italy (1999 to 2019). METHODS: We extracted anonymized data from the CNSAS accident database for all cases of injured mountain search and rescue providers that activated CNSAS insurance (1999 to 2019). We report epidemiological characteristics, mechanisms, type, and severity of injury or illness, clinical outcome, and recovery time...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy is still unfavorable in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Disorder of antitumor immunity and aberrantly expressed checkpoint biomarkers had been validated to involve anti-EGFR therapy tolerance and efficacy. Here we review the immunomodulation of anti-EGFR therapy in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of HNSCC and assist clinicians in finding the potential strategies to rescue anti-EGFR tolerance therapy in the era of immunotherapy for HNSCC...

BACKGROUND: Trekkers in high altitude of Himalayas could lead to Acute Mountain Sickness and High Altitude Cerebral Edema. This study was conducted to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging findings among the clinically suspected High Altitude Cerebral Edema patients rescued from high altitudes in Nepal Himalayas. METHODS: 49 patients with clinically suspected High Altitude Cerebral Edema were retrospectively evaluated in this cross-sectional study who were sent for a brain magnetic resonance imaging...

BACKGROUND: Trekking to high-altitude locations presents inherent health-related hazards, many of which can managed with specific first aid (FA) training. This study evaluates the trip preparation, FA knowledge, and FA self-assessment of trekkers (organized by tour operators vs. individually planned tours). Data obtained shall be used for specific FA trip preparation and management of emergencies en route for this population. METHODS: A total of 366 trekkers on the Everest Base Camp Trek, Nepal, were interviewed using a questionnaire specifically designed to evaluate their FA knowledge and management of emergencies...

We examined the clinical signs and necropsy findings of a mountain hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis) that died during rehabilitation. The bird was rescued and treated for open fracture of the right forearm. During rehabilitation, the bird could not stand up or fly. Part of the right secondary and left and right primary feathers were removed during rehabilitation; additional fracture was found in the right tibiotarsus and treated. However, the bird died 92 days after rescue and necropsy was performed. Severe hepatic lipidosis and capture myopathy were confirmed by histopathological examinations...

Today, unpredictable damage can result from extreme weather such as heat waves and floods. This damage makes communities that cannot respond quickly to disasters more vulnerable than cities. Thus, people living in such communities can easily become isolated, which can cause unavoidable loss of life or property. In the meantime, many disaster management studies have been conducted, but studies on effective disaster response for areas surrounded by mountains or with weak transportation infrastructure are very rare...

RATIONALE FOR REVIEW: the number of backcountry skiers and snowboarder surged in the last years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as ski resorts shut down. Inevitably, this led to an increase in avalanche-related injuries and death. As avalanche rescue device, avalanche airbags are increasingly becoming part of the standard winter mountaineering equipment. This study provides a review of available data and an updated perspective on avalanche airbags, discussing their function and efficacy to reduce mortality and their limitations...

The utilization of rescue blankets in pre-hospital emergency medicine exceeds protection from hypothermia and enhanced visibility by far. In this narrative review, we focus on emphasizing the alternative applications of these fascinating multifunctional tools in the pre-hospital setting. A literature search in PubMed® and Web of ScienceTM yielded 100 results (last update was on 8 July 2022), a total number of 26 of which were included in this narrative review. Nine articles assessing alternative functions of rescue blanket were further evaluated and described in more detail...

INTRODUCTION: Rapid location of avalanche victims by companions using avalanche transceivers is of utmost importance to prevent asphyxiation. The objective was to determine whether electromagnetic interference from heating elements in gloves worn by rescuers or victims can impair the receiving or transmitting function of avalanche beacons. METHODS: Commercially available heated gloves from 3 different manufacturers were examined during a simulated search with 3 common brands of avalanche transceivers...

Earthquakes, forest fires, mudslides and other natural disasters occur frequently in recent years. They usually occur in the mountainous and dense forests, where local communication facilities do not exist or have been destroyed by the disasters. Adverse geographical environment poses a huge challenge to emergency communications and rescue. This paper presents comparative studies on multi-carrier transmission schemes in the mountainous and dense forest environment. The comprehensive communication performance for various multi-carrier waveform schemes, has been extensively analyzed by using the Stanford University Interim channel model...

Mountaineering is a dangerous recreational activity with falls causing severe injuries and deaths. Survival from falls longer than 100 m is uncommon. We present a case of a high-altitude porter on Mount Everest who fell 400 m and survived. He slipped from a ridge at 7000 m (22,900 ft). A rescue party found him above Camp 2 (6600 m, 21,600 ft) and arranged a helicopter rescue. The Everest ER medical team at Everest Base Camp (5400 m, 17,700 ft) received the climber. They identified a head injury without signs of other serious trauma...

We present a case of an un-roped mountaineer who fell into a crevasse during descent from the summit of Denali (Mount McKinley). He was wedged about 20 m deep in the crevasse for a total of 16 h; this included 4.5 h waiting for a rescue team to arrive, and an 11.5 h extrication process. His condition deteriorated and he eventually lost consciousness. Even though the rescue team collectively felt there was little or no chance of survival, they continued until the victim was extricated from the crevasse. He was almost immediately placed in a hypothermia wrap with active warming, loaded on a rescue helicopter, and transported for 1 h 40 min to a hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska...