Occupational Aspects of Alpine Helicopter Rescue Operations: Recommendation of the Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme

Thomas Küpper; Ulf Gieseler; Audry Morrison; Volker Schöffl

doi:10.1016/j.wem.2023.07.003

Occupational Aspects of Alpine Helicopter Rescue Operations: Recommendation of the Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme

Wilderness Environ Med. 2023 Dec;34(4):517-523. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2023.07.003. Epub 2023 Sep 29.

Authors

Thomas Küpper¹, Ulf Gieseler², Audry Morrison³, Volker Schöffl⁴

Affiliations

¹ Medical Commission of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland; Institute for Occupational, Social & Environmental Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Aachen, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Medical Commission of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland.
³ Medical Commission of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland; Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
⁴ Medical Commission of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland; Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany; Department of Trauma Surgery, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany.

PMID: 37778976
DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2023.07.003

Abstract

Helicopter rescue operations in the mountains or at high altitude are well-known as strenuous tasks often associated with some risk. However, there is no standardized procedure for preventive checkups of rescue personnel by occupational care professionals. Therefore, the Medical Commission of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA MedCom) suggests the procedure presented in this study. This comprehensive recommendation is based on more than 2 decades of research of MedCom members and extensive literature search. A total of 248 references were selected by the committee as relevant for the topic. To keep the recommendation handy, the complete list is available as supplemental material (see online Supplemental Material). This article recommends standardized procedures for occupational screening and better health of search and rescue personnel.

Keywords: emergencies; fitness to fly; helicopter emergency crew member; high altitude; search and rescue crew member.

MeSH terms

Air Ambulances*
Aircraft
Mountaineering*
Rescue Work