Tuesday 22 September 2015

Wintering team training course!

After Girton conference week, everyone who is completing an Antarctic winter attended the winters training days in a place far away up north some near chesterfield!



These training days were vital to prove to each other that we can work great as a team, also we all got to know each other alot more! Arguably the important bit of our training schedule, as when everyone leaves on the last planes and ships in late March we are the people that manage and maintain Rothera ( the antarctic base I am staying).


Additionally, white outs (when the snow is so thick and the wind so strong that you can't see your hands in front of your face - the most critical thing is to decide whether to stay put or make it back to where you can definitely make sure that you're more safe). We practiced using buckets on our head which was highly amusing! We also practiced searching techniques for if someone does get lost during what could have been a simple trip to the toilet in the UK.



As a team of 21 people ranging from scientists to generator technicians, to a doctor and field guides we all needed to be trained in rope work; so the core knots we would use for tying things down to being able to walk with a buddy.



 Most importantly here was learning how to save your buddy if they do fall down a crevasse or on the flipside we simulated on the high ropes course how to climb up a straight rope if we had fallen down a crevasse; this involved alot of body strength but more using the tools to your mechanical and frictional advantage to get the best technique for efficency made it alot easier !


There's always a lot of banter between the other bases of Halley, Bird Island and KEP the other wintering stations; we did all socalise together but the cooking turned into a bit of a competiton and it's safe to say that the bubble base a.k.a halley definitely out did us! Good luck to everyone at all the other bases this summer and winter can't wait for all of the other competing that will follow in due course such as photography and the distance challenge !


On our last day we put all of the skills that we used together for a mass incident drill on base. This included the whole team to work together and get the casualties back safely using the most efficent and best protocol!


The few days at Longstone outdoor educational center,  with the trips to the pub in the evening was awesome - can't wait to head down south. But first to graduate and then head to the office in Cambridge before more training commences.

Saturday 19 September 2015

ABCDE & PST

The British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit (BASMU) who are located at Plymouth gave us an intense course of first aid to finish off the Girton conference week.
BASMU can respond to any emergency whilst we are down south via email or phone, so if we get into any difficulty and need a specialist (even deep in the field) they can talk us through what needs to be done!


We learnt the primary survey of a patient...
A = airway
B = breathing
C = circulation
D = disability
E = exposure 


We went through lots of scenarios and little tests I between lectures so that we went over every aspect of first aid that may be needed from; eyes to cuts and burns but more importantly hypothermia and frost bite!
It was a great intense course and good again for team building which is either going to make or break a base when you are down south; or in fact in any situation!

I have an advanced first aid course in a few weeks with BASMU so that in the field I can give painkillers and antibiotics via injection or even assist the doc if there is a major incident!


To start off the weekend we completed our personal survival techniques (PST) which is sea survival. Travelling all the way to Kent for an intense day of theory and then tested our skills in a pool! Lots of water up people's noses jumping from a height and bruises from climbing in the rafts; but a fun day!
Most people do a trip on one of BAS's ships either to get to a base or back home.



 In a very long time (April 2017) I will be coming back on the James Clark Ross and looking after the aquarium full of species that we will have collected for scientists in the UK....that's genuinely the bit I'm most terrified for!

Wednesday 16 September 2015

I'm officially an adult.

For the past two days everyone who has recently been employed by BAS who is heading South, attended a conference at Girton College in Cambridge.

It has been an intense two days with short lectures ranging from; antarctic clothing, aircraft and the ships that they use, media and communication but also team building exercises and how to communicate with your colleagues whilst in a confined space.

We will be living and working in a natural laboratory for science, the largest remaining wilderness and the most protected continent on the planet!  I feel so privalliged to have the opportunity to go to the Antarctic!

Now onto First Aid for the next few days!

Friday 11 September 2015

Pre-training peparation!

Gee Hancock, my good friend from school helped me out a lot today!




We tested out my new O'THREE drysuit (courtesy of BAS ready for my deployment) at the National Diving and Activity centre  (NDAC) In Chepstow. 

 We also got Gee current diving again!





Then we practiced some mountaineering techniques ready for my training next week! It's important to understand what to do and how to react if you find your self in a tricky situation with a crevasse or similar!

My official training starts this Sunday at Girton college where I will be meeting the people I will be spending the next 18 months with woop!