Sarah Outen – makes it with a little help from EWM!! The first Britian to row in the India Ocean and the first female ever!

Sarah Outen in a breathtaking achievement and with a little help in terms of support and training from Expedition and Wilderness Medicine has successfully become the first Britian and the first woman ever to row across the Indian Ocean and the youngest woman to solo any ocean- massive congratulations to her from us

A very exciting, record-breaking, and ever so slightly crazy sort of challenge. It involved my little boat, the Indian Ocean and lots of chocolate. April Fools Day 2009 I set out from Western Australia in a bid to become the first woman to row solo across this ocean. 124 days later after 4,000 miles, having eaten all my chocolate, faced storms and mid-ocean capzies , I landed in Mauritius. It was raw and elemental – just as adventure should be.

Find out more about Sarah’s epic row at http://www.sarahouten.co.uk or donate online via JustGiving

Landing at the end of the record breaking row

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Volunteering in Zambia

 

Life In Luangwa , Zambia

“Doctor Emergency”! I had seen the blood spattered wheelbarrow parked on the veranda that served as the waiting room and now the sign of the shuffling flip flops told me I was about to meet its occupant. He entered the room uncertainly, supported between his two inebriated friends. The blood soaked tea towel adorning his head giving a big clue as to his presenting complaint. Removal revealed a 7inch gash across his forehead down to the skull. His helpful friends informed me it had been inflicted by an axe, two nights ago, in a fight and they excitedly asked me to examine his leg which had been stabbed by a spear.

The Life-Line Clinic, Namibia | Job Oppurtunity

Namibia Medical volunteer
This challenging programme offers you a unique opportunity to work at a small, rural Bushman clinic in Africa and make a difference to the lives of those in most need.
N/a’an ku sê is a unique and special place in the heart of Namibia which is committed to conserving wildlife and improving the lives of the Bushman community. Live your African dream and help make a difference by volunteering at our Lifeline Clinic.

About N/a’an ku sê’s Lifeline Clinic
• Bushman are treated as third class citizens and live in extreme poverty
• Adult onset diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer are sharply increasing in Bushmen and alcoholism has become prevalent
• Many Bushman children suffer from malnutrition, disease, discrimination and abuse

The N/a’an ku sê Lifeline Clinic was set up in 2003 to address the needs of the rural indigenous communities in Epukiro, a remote part of Namibia. The demand for a basic but comprehensive health service became apparent to medical professionals working in the area when they witnessed the tragic and unnecessary death of a young child due to the failure of ambulance service and hospital staff, largely due to the fact that the child was a Bushman.   This vital service relies upon the time and dedication of volunteers and donations from supporters to continue to run and serve the communities in need.

EWM supported Indian Ocean rower Sarah Outen’s progress so far

Expedition and Wilderness Medicine has been supporting Sarah Outen’s attempt to row across the Indian Ocean by providing specialist medical training, advice and support. Sarah is now well into her challenge and you can follow her incredible progress via her website – Sarah Outen’s Indian Ocean rowing expedition.

Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Director visits South Georgia

Black and White view of South Georgia

In March of this year Mark Hannaford was lucky enough to get a fantastic photographic project down to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands with the Scott Polar Research Institute (http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk ) and the South Georgia Heritage Trust (http://www.sght.org ).

Mark tells us about this project, SPRI and the amazing history behind these islands. “Prior to landing I asked a colleague, well known naturalist Dr Peter Cary, if it was realistic to compare South Georgia with the Galapagos Islands and his reply ‘only if you want to downplay South Georgia’. Which surprised me but the islands lived up to and exceeded any expectations that I had.

The perfect Christmas gift!! The Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Handbook

Well look no further – what could be better than the Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Handbook written by the guru on the subject, Dr Sean Hudson with contributions from other experts.  

 

Get your copy for Christmas

‘An invaluable resource for anyone planning a trip in the outdoors, either as part of an expedition or a wilderness adventure’

The climber Andy Cave IFMGA mountain guide, mountaineer, author and conference speaker was even more effusive in his praise;

‘As I was reading this manual I found myself frequently exclaiming “God if only we’d have had this book back then!” I will be keeping it very close to hand on my next adventurous trip I can promise’.

You can read more of his review here | REVIEWS

See the different chapter headings | CHAPTER HEADINGS

Order you copy here £18 – the real thing, £15 – download | ORDER YOUR COPY NOW

 

Remember if you sign up for an Expedition Medicine course you get a copy with EML’s compliments.

 

Expedition and Wildnerness Medicine website

Media Crew Expedition Medical Support

Media Medical Logistical Support

At Expedition and Wilderness Medicine we are aware that many TV projects are getting more adventurous and travelling to more remote environments. In these circumstances it is vitally important to have a qualified doctor or medical professional on site should the unexpected happen. Many locations do not have first world medical facilities and an Expedition Medicine medic equipped with the latest mobile medical kit and satellite communication can provide the peace of mind to allow you to focus on the production of your project. 

We can provide full medical cover for production teams and celebrities on your television or photographic project worldwide. We have an impressive portfolio of experienced medical professionals on our books, many of whom have media experience both on and off camera. Using Expedition and Wilderness Medicine to provide your medical cover resolves some of the most important logistical and safety considerations of foreign travel in remote environments.   Through our ties with Across the Divide Expeditions we are also able to assist in the provision of outdoor specialists and logistical support in the worlds most remote locations.

We also provide other expedition equipment, preparation and back up services such as:

• Expedition Leader
• Casualty Evacuation Plan 
• Risk Assessment 
• Pre-expedition medical advice for all crew 
• Satellite phone 
• Radios 
• Medical Kit including fluids and drugs 
• Gamov Bag 
• 24-hour phone medical cover

A selection of our customers          

Ginger Productions

BBC Natural History Unit (NHU)

ITV 2

Pirelli Calender

Price list

Item	Investment
Fully qualified and experienced medic	£350/day including pre-expedition meetings and travel days
Expedition Leader	£350/day including pre-expedition meetings and travel days
Wilderness Medical Kit	£350/week including fluids and drugs (only to be supplied with an EML doctor)
Risk Assessment	£300/day for all travel, in-country research and report write up time
Pre-expedition medical advice for all crew	£300/day
Satellite phone	£100/week + £1/minute talk time
Casualty Evacuation Plan	£300/day for all travel, in-country research and report write up time
Radios	£40/week/radio (includes mains and in car chargers)
Gamov Bag	£100/week
24 hour medical help line	£300/week

Please be aware that this structure can be adapted to suit the needs of your project since no two expeditions or remote locations are alike. We work with you to define your needs and recruit the appropriate medical professional. 

‘I’d just like to say thank you for all your help – I’ve had lots of applicants through Expedition Medicine from all over the world, so that’s been really great. For your information, as of late Wednesday afternoon we have found our medic, so I no longer require our ad to be ‘out there’ so to speak!’ … ‘We would definitely consider using Expedition Medicine in the future, if a suitable role comes up’. C.M | ASSISTANT PRODUCER | BBC NATURAL HISTORY UNIT 

Satellite driven ‘reach-back’ facility

Expedition Medicine are in the position to offer a satellite driven ‘reach-back’ facility to UK based doctors. We are able to provide medical advice to clients in the field on all medical issues from primary care, tropical diseases and through to emergency medical conditions. 

We can act as your specialist medical back up; supporting and empowering you to effectively deliver medical services in remote or hostile environments. 

Access to this facility is just a phone call or satellite communication away.
We can provide 

• The capability to communicate via BGAN or Irridium satellite communications directly with the UK accessing real-time advice on dealing with the most demanding medical situations
• We can provide the equiptment and the expertise for you to feel confident and comfortable in any hostile or remote location. 

High lift jack demonstration - Namib Desert

More Information

For specific information about your media project or expedition please ring Piers Carter, Expedition Projects Director on 07801 104604 or email Piers, our media manager here.

All of Expedition Medicine’s doctors carry medical indemnity underwritten by UK based companies.  Part of the conditions of contract with Expedition Medicine specifies that in the event of a medical negligence claim, all parties agree to disputes being settled under British Law, in British Courts.

Expedition and WIlderness Medicine

Expedition Medicine launches a new course on Dartmoor

Our highly rated Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Training Course is heading south.

We are really excited about our new course – following the same schedule as our Lakeland course and with many of the same inspirational faculty we have linked up with Dartmoor’s premier training faculty, the Heatree Centre located near Newton Abbot to provide an additional course in May.

We are hoping that will make the travelling time shorter for some of you and reduce to carbon footprint of the courses, we will of course be working with the Woodland Trust as well to identify one of their projects close by which the proceeds of the course will help support.

Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Dartmoor Course

Expedition Medicine

EML Director sets up online gallery of images

Mark, whose images appear regulary in the travel sections of a number of national newspapers, has establish a new web gallery of some of this best images at the Red Bubble website.

If you would like to see more of the stunning images available as cards, prints and posters follow this link; Travel Photography Gallery

What to put in your expedition medical Kit

  

Expedition Medical kits, everything but the Kitchen Sink by Dr Sean Hudson

Probably the most common question I’m asked as an expedition medic is ‘What shall I put in my medical kit?’  The question is very hard to answer and would receive a different answer from probably every doctor involved in remote medicine. It is dependent on skills, experience, environment, preferences, and purpose of expedition.

There are several items, which I always carry in my pocket if I’m working on an expedition in a wildnerness area:

· Roll of zinc oxide tape- covering blisters, taping injuries and dressings
· Ibuprofen- simple analgesia, especially useful for musculoskeletal injuries
· Imodium- To control the problem of gastroenteritis whilst participating in essential activities
· Tincture of iodine- used to purify water and antiseptic for wounds
· Gauze dressing- Simple dressings
· Compeed or similar dressing- adds padding to nasty blisters

The rest of the kit really depends on your experience and distance from help. I normally would break the kit down into:

· Analgesia
· Fracture Management
· Antibiotics
· Lotions and potions
· Dressings and Wound Closure
· Medical Emergencies
· IV Access and fluids
· Specialist Equipment (depends on environment)

· Analgesia is going to differ relative to your country of origin. As a doctor I would always take Morphine, IM Voltarol, Rectal Voltarol, Co-codamol, Paracetamol.

There are a variety of ways of immobilizing a fracture, the simplest being ingenuity, some zinc oxide tape or clingfilm. Otherwise Sam Splints are very versatile and a Kendrick Traction Device is lightweight and fantastic for lower limb fractures.

You want antibiotics to cover as wide a variety of infections as possible from dental abscess to travellers diarrhoea. I normally take Co-Amoxiclav, Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole, and Flucloxacillin. Remember always be aware of sensitivities to antibiotics.

Irritating skin conditions are common on expedition especially in tropical regions, consider taking an antifungal, an antihistamine, a steroid and an antibiotic, Clotrimazole, Anthisan, 1% Hydrocortisone, and Fucidin and an Antiseptic spray or liquid.

Simple dressings possibly impregnated with betadine are useful, together with some dry dressings and crepe bandages. Wounds can be closed with steristrips, sutures, staples or even superglue. Some training is essential.

I always carry a Salbutamol Inhaler, and treatment for anaphylaxis, Adrenaline, Piriton and Hydrocortisone. IV Fluids, Giving Sets and Venflons and an assortment of Syringes and Needles.

Extra equipment is often needed for different environments.

· Altitude Expeditions are most likely to see AMS, HACE and HAPE, so the training and medication to look these conditions is imperative. Dexamethasone, Nifedipine, Acetazolamide, Oxygen and a Hyperbaric Chamber, Increasingly other medications are being trialled with some success.

· In polar environments portable devices for rewarming hypothermic patients are useful, The HEATPAC is light and easy to use.

Lightweight stretchers are useful, they can be improvised from rope but some ski stretchers are invaluable whilst backcountry skiing

As you can see there is no easy answer to this question. You may choose to take a 25kg rucksack full of equipment, or it may fit into a camera case. Look at the common conditions, endemic diseases, common injuries and logistical and medical support and adapt your medical kit to fit the occasion, and don’t ask too many doctors otherwise you’ll end up taking the kitchen sink.

Specialist equipement can be hired from Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, see their remote media support page.

About the author
Dr. Sean Hudson is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and on the expeditionary advisory board for Summit. Sean has been involved in a wide array of expeditions over the last 18 years. During this time he has trekked across the Darien Gap, The Thar Desert, worked as a trekking guide and Chief Medic for Raleigh International in Namibia and Zimbabwe, a trauma medic in Columbia and ski field doctor in New Zealand. Since 1998 he has worked for Across the Divide Expeditions as medic and expedition medicine advisor, providing medical cover on expeditions in 21 different countries. Dogsledding to Desert trekking in Namibia. In 2002, he and his wife, expedition medic Dr. Caroline Knox, helped to established Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, which seeks to provide comprehensive training for medical professionals working as expedition medical officers in a variety extreme and remote environments.