They have a medical provider here at WAIS for many reasons. Some field camps are small and also remote with one employee trained as a wilderness first responder which is basically first aid in the wilderness, but for the following reasons there is a licensed medical provider here at WAIS…
- We are extremely remote, 1000 miles from McMurdo which basically also has a clinic staffed by an MD and a PA.
- This is an active airport with scheduled flights about daily 6 days a week (as we know, they often get cancelled for weather here or there).
- There are upwards of 40+ people at a time (though we have gotten down to about 18 while I was here).
- There are projects that revolve around an old drilling project which means there is a possibility of injury (though less risk now that the drilling is finished), not to mention there is a lot of heavy machinery here to load and unload cargo from planes and to move snow around.
When I got to WAIS my medical tent was set up. It’s a 5 section rac tent with a small stove. My cargo consisted of many large cases which I quickly unpacked and created my own little clinic, ready for a sinus infection or a trauma. Fortunately it’s mostly the former. But most of my time is spent doing lots of different stuff around camp. Mostly I help make water (Blog to follow).
Love “seeing” your tent and environment!
So good to hear from you. I was wondering what had happened to you! Keep all the photos and info coming, it’s fascinating!😘
This is so cool, Michelle!
You, Tepper, are a bad ass!