Medical Plan

  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.
  1. 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
Fatigue-related driving error Moderate Catastrophic
  1. Medical Coordinator

Mike Crane is the Medical Coordinator for the Expedition

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 Mike becomes incapacitated:

Alternate Medical Coordinator:
Kim Epton

  1. Pre-Departure Medical Requirement

Dental Assessment

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

Dental emergencies in remote Australia can terminate an expedition.

  1. Participant Medical Information

Each participant must provide the following information, carried in sealed envelopes in each vehicle.

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
  1. Daily Health Management

Morning Health Check

Prior to departure each day:

Participants confirm:

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

Evening Health Check

Medical Coordinator records:

  • Injuries.
  • Illness.
  • Fluid intake concerns.
  • Fatigue concerns.
  1. Fatigue Management

Fatigue represents one of the highest expedition risks.

Driving Limits

Maximum:

  • 8 hours driving per day.
  • Driving break every 2 hours

No Driving

  • When crepuscular animals prevalent (<0630 / >1630).
  • When fatigued.
  1. Medical Equipment

Individual Medical Kit

Each participant carries:

  • Personal medications.
  • Pain relief.
  • Antihistamines.
  • Lip balm.
  • Personal dressings.

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.

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).
  1. Additional Equipment

The following items will be carried in Lead Vehicle:

  • Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
  • Pulse Oximeter
  • Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
  1. 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
  1. RFDS Activation Criteria
  • Chest pain.
  • Suspected heart attack.
  • Suspected stroke.
  • Severe trauma.
  • Major fracture.
  • Snake bite with symptoms.
  • Severe burns.
  • Heat stroke.
  • Altered consciousness.
  • Serious allergic reaction.
  1. Communications Hierarchy

Priority 1

Starlink voice call.

Priority 2

Emergency services via satellite call.

Priority 3

RFDS.

Priority 4

PLB activation.

  1. Casualty Evacuation Categories

Category 1 – Minor

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

Treatment onsite. Continue expedition.

Category 2 – Moderate

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

Transport to nearest medical facility.

Category 3 – Serious

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

RFDS consultation and evacuation.

Category 4 – Critical

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

Immediate RFDS notification and PLB activation.

  1. Medical Go / No-Go Criteria

The expedition should not depart Perth unless:

  • Medical kits are complete.
  • AED operational.
  • RFDS procedures briefed.
  • Medical evacuation insurance confirmed.
  1. Remote Area First Aid Course

All participants to complete a 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.

 Location of Medical Assistance

Return to Across Australia.