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.

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.

Health and Medical Considerations of Participants

Mike Crane is the Medical Coordinator for the Expedition and will:

• Maintain participant medical records/observations.
• Manage expedition medical equipment.
• Coordinate treatment.
• Liaise with RFDS and emergency services if required.

In the event Mike becomes incapacitated or leaves the Expedition, the Alternate Medical Coordinator is Kim Epton.

Pre-Departure Medical Requirements

General Practitioner Clearance
Dental Assessment
Participant Medical Information
Documentation

Driving Limits/No Driving

Our Standard Operating Procedure as detailed in the Operations Plan has been followed for many years and has proven effective and easy to maintain

Participants will drive a maximum of eight hours per day.

A minimum 10 minute rest stop every 2 hours.

No Driving

• When crepuscular animals prevalent (before 0630/0700 and after 1630/1700).
• When fatigued.
• Following significant illness.

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

Medical Equipment

Individual Medical Kit

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

Vehicle Medical Kit (Each Vehicle)

• 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

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

Additional Medical Equipment

One portable AED carried in Lead Vehicle.
Pulse Oximeter
Digital Blood Pressure Monitor

Remote Area First Aid Course

Participants will complete a refresher Remote Area First Aid Course prior to Across Australia.

This is considered a greater safety benefit than any additional recovery equipment or vehicle modification.

Medical Go / No-Go Criteria

The expedition will 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.

 

A series of Medical Emergency Procedures have been devised based on Best Practice. As these are beyond the scope of a Remote Area First Aid Course a written list of them will be carried by the Medical Coordinator.

 

Return to Across Australia.