Movie:
Aftershock, Everest and the Nepal Earthquake
Where: Netflix
About: A three-part series from Netflix looking at the calm before, the terror during, and the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake in 2015. The earthquake killed nearly 9000 people and made hundreds of thousands of people homeless in an instant.
Why: There is a sense of dread in the first instalment, knowing what is to come. Certainly, when it hits, the handheld footage brings home the impending devastation and a snapshot of the fear felt watching death charge towards you. The series manages to balance both the personal tragedies and the scale of the disaster. It also takes care to focus on the devastated communities, and not just the expedition teams. Indeed, they reflect on the ethics of asking to be saved when others are worse off than you.
There is a terrifying insight into instigating a mass casualty triage at base camp, with real time decisions being made on screen. Left with nowhere to see people, and no equipment to help them with, the medical team resort to supportive care. Despite all the devastation and suffering around, some still want to summit the mountain, providing an interesting glimpse into the power of “summit-fever.”
We don’t know how we will react in a never-event. We train and practice and hope we will act well, but we won’t know until then. We glimpse the good and bad of humanity, with a chilling reflection that we are as dangerous as nature.
If you want to find out more about the medical side, there is a write up of the mass casualty event: Zafren K, Brants A, Tabner K, et al. Wilderness Mass Casualty Incident (MCI): Rescue Chain After Avalanche at Everest Base Camp (EBC) In 2015. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 2018;29(3):401-410.
Book:
Holiday SOS
About: Did you know that Monday the 27th is statistically the worst day for an accident? Or that most problems arise in the first 48 hours of a holiday?
‘Holiday SOS: Lifesaving Adventures of a Travelling Doctor’ by Dr Ben MacFarlane offers an insightful and often humorous look into the life of a repatriation doctor. The book chronicles Dr MacFarlane’s experiences as he travels around the world, assisting holidaymakers who fall ill or suffer accidents while abroad. Dr MacFarlane provides a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and rewards of his unique profession, by sharing his most memorable stories during his year working as a flying doctor.
Why: When sitting down on the plane, having already successfully navigated traffic, security, finding the gate, and the ever-changing baggage restrictions, there is just one phrase left that could crash the holiday spirit. The phrase is one that many medics dread hearing on the tannoy, namely, “is there a doctor on board?”
Fortunately, most doctors never have to help during a flight to their holiday destination.
From the comfort of your sofa, this book allows you to discover what kind of medical problems a repatriating doctor can encounter, from a few broken bones to life-threatening situations, such as ventricular fibrillation or a malfunctioning chest drain. Dr MacFarlane demonstrates just how creative you have to be as a flying doctor, like, for instance, using a urinary catheter to stop a severe nosebleed.
Besides these dramatic and sometimes hilarious situations, he is also able to vividly describe the flamboyant characters he meets during his repatriating duties. He shares the stories of the elderly lady who refused to go back home, and the cardiologist who knew better than him at every step.
All in all, it gives the reader a great insight into a not-everyday profession.
…Are you prepared for your next holiday?
Podcast:
World Extreme Medicine podcast: “It’s never too late to dive in and it’s kind of amazing what the opportunities will turn out to be.”
Where: Spotify
About: A diverse panel of medical professionals share their unique journeys into expedition medicine. The speakers include eye surgeons, dentists, GPs, emergency doctors, humanitarian doctors, and the director of space medicine group.
Why: It can be hard and confusing sometimes to find out how to get into expedition medicine. In this podcast the panel discuss how they expanded their traditional medical career to expeditions and beyond, and the importance of saying yes to an opportunity. The skills they have learned in austere environments appear to apply to their daily job too. It is inspiring to hear how their change of career path changed their lives drastically, and gave them a sense of fulfilment and happiness.
Despite their passion for expedition medicine, it is an honest conversation. They also discuss the negatives, such as the financial compromise, because it does not pay as well as working in a hospital, and the fact that it interferes with your family time. One of their recommendations is to find a mentor figure in the expedition medicine world. This podcast features six of them, so that’s a great start.
Watch this space to get your quarterly AM Team recommendations. We would also love to hear your suggestions!
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