Medical Evacuation from Antarctica

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo
  • Air Force Print News
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand --  A C-17 Globemaster III from the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron flew a medical evacuation mission back to Pegasus White Ice Runway, Antarctica 24 hours after completing their winter fly-in season for Operation Deep Freeze bringing out a patient requiring immediate medical attention.

A day after completing their winter fly-in missions and the day of their departure, Airmen from Operation Deep Freeze were asked to stay in place for an additional 24 hours for a possible medical evacuation mission.

The next day the crews and a medical team from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash. on a routine training mission to Christchurch, were assembled and waited for word that the mission was a go.

Like all missions, a medical evacuation requires some time to coordinate. Once the mission is given the go ahead there are still requirements that have to be met; paperwork, phone calls, emails, mission planning and weather support all have to be in line before the mission can be launched.

"It takes several hours to get in touch with everyone," said Maj. Bill Eberhardt, 304th EAS director of operations. "We were at the end of WinFly so they already started to disassemble the runway at Pegasus. They had to stop and get everyone back in place; all the forecasters, air traffic controllers, everyone had to be back in place just for this flight," he said.

Transforming the McChord C-17 from a cargo transport to a patient transport the medical team set up, prepared and checked their equipment for the patient pick up in Antarctica.

"We can do pretty much whatever is required of us," said Maj. Judy Krill, 446th AES critical care nurse. "We have two nurses and three medical technicians who are trained to provide basic care all the way up through advanced life support care," said Maj. Krill.

According to Maj. Barry Vansickle, 466th AES critical care nurse, the patient was not in a life-threatening situation but still required surgery within 48 hours. The Antarctic station had done all they could for the patient and as the ramp was lowered on the aircraft the ambulatory patient walked on to the C-17.

"He needed surgery and he couldn't get it down there," said Maj. Vansickle. "The sooner we could get him into surgery the faster he could recover; so it's better not to waste time," he said.

As the patient laid on the litter in the C-17 the medical team kept busy insuring the patient was comfortable and taken care of at all times.

"We have to give the best care we can to the patient on the plane so when we get to New Zealand he can get the more definitive medical treatment he needs," said Master Sgt. Howard Halter, 446th AES medical technician. "

Although medical evacuations from Antarctica are not uncommon to have an entire Air Force crew is. During the season the National Science Foundation hires a medical nurse to handle evacuations on the C-17. Since the main season had yet begun there were few options and the Air Force took the lead.

"I like medevac missions because that means we are helping people," said Lt. Col. Jim McGann, 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander. "We are the only country in the world that can do this- in one day, generate a mission for one person anywhere around the world," he said.