1. Purpose

This Medical Plan establishes procedures, responsibilities, equipment requirements and emergency response arrangements for managing illness and injury during the Across Australia Expedition.

The objective is to:

• Prevent avoidable medical incidents.
• Provide immediate treatment in remote areas.
• Facilitate rapid communication with emergency services.
• Enable safe evacuation where required.
• Protect the health and wellbeing of all participants.

2. Medical Risk Profile

The principal medical risks associated with this expedition are:

Risk	Likelihood	Consequence
Cardiac event	Moderate	Catastrophic
Stroke	Moderate	Catastrophic
Heat exhaustion	Moderate	Major
Heat stroke	Low–Moderate	Catastrophic
Dehydration	Moderate	Major
Vehicle trauma	Low	Catastrophic
Burns	Moderate	Major
Snake bite	Low	Major
Falls and fractures	Moderate	Moderate
Lacerations	High	Moderate
Gastrointestinal illness	Moderate	Moderate
Allergic reaction	Low	Major
Mental fatigue	High	Major
Fatigue-related driving error	Moderate	Catastrophic

The most significant medical threats are:

1. Cardiac events.
2. Vehicle accident trauma.
3. Heat-related illness.
4. Dehydration.
5. Delayed access to definitive medical care.

These risks are amplified by participant age and remote travel locations.

Each participant to carry a personal medical kit and a written summary of their conditions and medications.

3. Health and Medical Considerations of Participants

 

3. Medical Coordinator

Appointment

Medical Coordinator:
Rod Dally

Responsibilities:

• Maintain participant medical records/observations.
• Manage expedition medical equipment.
• Coordinate treatment.
• Liaise with RFDS and emergency services.
• Maintain incident records.
• Conduct daily health checks.

In the event Rod becomes incapacitated:

Alternate Medical Coordinator:
Kim Epton

4. Pre-Departure Medical Requirements

General Practitioner Clearance

All participants shall obtain written GP clearance no earlier than three months before departure.

The assessment should specifically address:

• Cardiovascular fitness.
• Blood pressure control.
• Diabetes management.
• Medication requirements.
• Capacity to drive long distances.
• Existing musculoskeletal injuries.

Dental Assessment

All participants should undertake a dental examination within three months of departure.

Dental emergencies in remote Australia can terminate an expedition.

5. Participant Medical Information

Each participant must provide:

Personal Details

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Medicare number
• Private health fund details
• Emergency contact

Medical Information

• Current medications
• Dosages
• Allergies
• Medical conditions
• Previous cardiac history
• Previous stroke history
• Previous major surgery

Documentation

Medical summaries will be carried:

• Printed in sealed envelopes in each vehicle.

6. Daily Health Management

Morning Health Check

Prior to departure each day:

Participants confirm:

• Adequate sleep.
• Hydration status.
• No illness.
• No medication issues.
• Fitness to drive.

Evening Health Check

Medical Coordinator records:

• Injuries.
• Illness.
• Medication usage.
• Fluid intake concerns.
• Fatigue concerns.

7. Hydration and Heat Management

Minimum Daily Intake

Target:

• 4–5 litres per participant per day.

High exertion days:

• Up to 7 litres per participant per day.

This aligns with the expedition water plan.

Electrolytes

Carry:

• Oral rehydration salts.
• Electrolyte tablets.
• Hydralyte sachets.

Heat Illness Prevention

• Wear broad-brim hats.
• Avoid heavy work during peak afternoon temperatures.
• Monitor urine colour as hydration indicator.

Heat Stroke Warning Signs

• Confusion.
• Loss of coordination.
• Hot dry skin.
• Collapse.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency.

8. Fatigue Management

Fatigue represents one of the highest expedition risks.

Driving Limits

Maximum:

• 8 hours driving per day.

Recommended:

• Driver recuperation procedure (Rest Stop) every 2 hours.

Rest Stops

Minimum:

• 15-minute break every 2 hours.

No Driving

• When crepuscular animals prevalent (>1630/1700).
• When fatigued.
• Following significant illness.

This complements the wildlife-strike risk mitigation already identified in the Risk Register.

9. Medical Equipment

Individual Medical Kit

Each participant carries:

• Personal medications.
• Pain relief.
• Antihistamines.
• Lip balm.
• Personal dressings.
• Spare prescription glasses.

Vehicle Medical Kit (Each Vehicle)

Contents:

• Remote Area First Aid Kit.
• Snake bite kit.
• Burn dressings.
• Trauma dressings.
• SAM splint.
• Instant cold packs.
• Eye wash.
• Thermal blanket.
• CPR mask.
• Trauma shears.

Consistent with the Operations Plan.

Expedition Trauma Kit

Carried in Lead Vehicle:

• Advanced trauma dressings.
• Israeli bandages.
• Haemostatic dressings.
• Cervical collar.
• Additional splints.
• Additional burn dressings.
• Multiple thermal blankets.
• Airway adjuncts (if trained users present).

10. Additional Equipment

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

One portable AED carried in Lead Vehicle.

Rationale:

• Participant age profile.
• Long evacuation times.
• Remote operations.

A quality AED could represent the single most important medical item on the expedition.

Pulse Oximeter

For monitoring:

• Illness.
• Shock.
• Respiratory distress.

Digital Blood Pressure Monitor

Useful for mature-age participants with cardiovascular history.

11. Medical Emergency Procedures

Initial Response

1. Ensure scene safety.
2. Stop convoy.
3. Assign Incident Controller.
4. Conduct primary survey:
   • Airway
   • Breathing
   • Circulation
   • Disability
   • Exposure

Secondary Assessment

Record:

• Pulse
• Respiratory rate
• Blood pressure (if available)
• Conscious state
• Mechanism of injury

12. RFDS Activation Criteria

Contact RFDS immediately for:

• Chest pain.
• Suspected heart attack.
• Suspected stroke.
• Severe trauma.
• Major fracture.
• Snake bite with symptoms.
• Severe burns.
• Heat stroke.
• Altered consciousness.
• Serious allergic reaction.

RFDS Emergency:
1800 625 800

Information to provide:

• GPS coordinates.
• Number of casualties.
• Nature of injury.
• Vital signs.
• Communications capability.
• Landing area availability.

13. Aeromedical Evacuation

Potential Evacuation Locations

Major medical centres along the route include:

Location	Facility
Carnarvon	Carnarvon Hospital
Geraldton	Geraldton Regional Hospital
Meekatharra	Meekatharra Health Service
Warburton	Warburton Health Service
Yulara	Medical Clinic
Alice Springs	Alice Springs Hospital
Birdsville	Birdsville Clinic
Innamincka	Remote nursing services (availability varies)
Bourke	Bourke Hospital
Goondiwindi	Goondiwindi Hospital
Byron Bay	Byron Central Hospital services / Ballina Base Hospital

A detailed list of hospitals (with coordinates and contact number) will be included in the GPX file.

14. Communications Hierarchy

Priority 1

Starlink voice call.

• Starlink and PLB available as communications and emergency support layer

Priority 2

Emergency services via satellite call.

Priority 3

RFDS.

Priority 4

PLB activation.

PLB activation criteria:

• Immediate threat to life.
• Serious injury.
• Inability to self-evacuate.
• Escalating medical risk.

15. Casualty Evacuation Categories

Category 1 – Minor

Examples:

• Small cuts.
• Minor burns.
• Minor illness.

Treatment onsite.

Continue expedition.

Category 2 – Moderate

Examples:

• Suspected fracture.
• Significant laceration.
• Persistent illness.

Transport to nearest medical facility.

Category 3 – Serious

Examples:

• Cardiac symptoms.
• Stroke symptoms.
• Major trauma.
• Heat stroke.

RFDS consultation and evacuation.

Category 4 – Critical

Examples:

• Cardiac arrest.
• Unconscious casualty.
• Major bleeding.
• Severe head injury.

Immediate RFDS notification and PLB activation.

16. Travel Insurance

Local/Domestic travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is available for persons under 75 years of age for trips that start and finish at home in Australia. One insurer is:

Travel Insurance Direct

16. Medical Go / No-Go Criteria

The expedition should not depart Perth unless:

• All participants obtain GP clearance.
• Personal medical information is supplied.
• Medical kits are complete.
• AED obtained.
• RFDS procedures briefed.
• Medical evacuation insurance confirmed.
• Medical Coordinator appointed.

17. Remote Area First Aid Course

Given the age profile of the participants and the remoteness of the Road Trip, all participants complete a nationally recognised Remote Area First Aid course prior to departure.

This is likely to provide a greater safety benefit than any additional recovery equipment or vehicle modification.