Trekking and Expeditions

Communications · Medicine · Rescue

Medical Assistance Through Remote Communications

In high mountains, at extreme altitudes, on glaciers, during expeditions, trekking routes, and in remote areas, the distance to a medical facility can make immediate medical care difficult.

Medical assistance through remote communications makes it possible to establish a communication link between the affected person, expedition companions, SAR teams, medical personnel, coordination centers, and other available resources. Information about location, condition, symptoms, progression, surroundings, and needs can be used to support assessment and coordinate the response.

Available Channels

One Emergency, Multiple Communication Channels

SAR24 can integrate different communication methods depending on coverage, location, equipment availability, and environmental conditions.

Mobile Phones

Enable direct communication when cellular coverage is available and allow the initial collection of information about location, condition, symptoms, and needs.

Radio Communications

Facilitate coordination between deployed teams, especially in areas where mobile phone service is unavailable.

Satellite Communications

Enable messages, coordinates, and updates to be transmitted from areas outside conventional communication networks.

SOS Devices

Can transmit an alert and location data from certain remote areas, depending on the device and available service.

Mobile Phones

What Information Can the SAR Team Obtain?

Approximate Location Sector, route, camp, GPS coordinates, or nearby geographical landmarks.

Available Position Data Coordinates or the last known position transmitted by available devices.

Approximate Altitude Estimated elevation of the incident site or the person's current location.

Time of the Incident Approximate time of the accident, onset of symptoms, or last contact.

General Condition Overall condition, level of consciousness, and ability to communicate.

Injuries or Symptoms Trauma, fractures, wounds, hypothermia, exhaustion, or altitude-related symptoms.

Ability to Move Whether the person can walk, stand, or requires assistance to move.

Number of People Affected Number of people involved and the individual situation of each person.

Weather Conditions Wind, snow, rain, temperature, and visibility.

Terrain Characteristics Slopes, obstacles, access routes, technical terrain, and approach difficulties.

Available Resources Water, shelter, food, first-aid supplies, and available equipment.

Remaining Power Battery status and availability of alternative communication systems.

Level of Urgency The information helps guide the initial prioritization of the response.

Required Resources Can help determine the need for ground teams, medical personnel, or specialized resources.

Access Routes The information helps assess possible approach and extraction routes.

Updates Information should be updated as the emergency situation evolves.

GPS and Coordinates

Positioning information helps determine or estimate the affected person's location and guide operational decision-making.

Guide Response Teams Provide a geographical reference to direct teams toward the known position.

Search Areas Define priority areas and reference points.

Air Operations Coordination Transmit available position data to air assets when conditions permit.

Approach Routes Analyze maps and terrain characteristics.

Extraction Points Identify potential extraction locations.

Medical Planning Support planning for transport to an appropriate level of medical care.

Satellite Messaging

Enables information exchange when conventional cellular coverage is unavailable.

Where is the person?
What happened?
How many people are affected?
What symptoms are they experiencing?
Can they move independently?
What resources do they have available?
What are the environmental conditions?

Tracking Platforms

Enable positions and movements to be displayed when devices transmit compatible tracking data.

Current position
Route traveled
Direction of travel
Time since the last update
Camps and reference points
Last known position
Locations of different teams

Medical Information Transmission

Clinical Information from the Field

What Information Can Be Transmitted?

When communication is available, field teams can transmit relevant information about the person's condition and how it changes over time.

Level of Consciousness Responsiveness, communication, and orientation.

Breathing Difficulties Respiratory problems or shortness of breath.

Visible Injuries Wounds, bleeding, trauma, and burns.

Suspected Fractures Pain, deformity, or impaired function.

Cold Exposure Duration of exposure and environmental conditions.

Altitude Symptoms associated with being at high altitude.

Hydration Availability and intake of fluids.

Exhaustion Fatigue, weakness, and response to rest.

Ability to Walk Independent mobility or movement with assistance.

Progression Improvement, stability, or deterioration of the person's condition.

Visual Information

The Terrain Tells a Story Too

Photographs and videos can supplement coordinates and verbal descriptions of the location.

Terrain Characteristics Slopes, obstacles, access routes, relief, exposure, and potential approach routes.

Technical Difficulty Cliffs, exposed sections, steep slopes, and areas requiring technical procedures.

Environmental Conditions Visibility, snow, rain, fog, wind, and terrain conditions.

Remote Guidance and Support

While response teams are mobilizing, communications can be used to provide basic operational guidance, always adapted to the actual conditions and capabilities of the people on site.

Location Confirmation Verify coordinates, terrain references, and available position data.

Environmental Protection Reduce exposure to cold, wind, rain, snow, or solar radiation.

Maintaining Communication Preserve battery power and keep the established communication channel available.

Resource Activation Facilitate communication with SAR teams, authorities, and other required resources.

Safe Movement Assess whether to remain in place or move toward a previously identified area.

SAR Team Arrival Keep information available and report any significant changes.

Emergency Monitoring

Continuous Situation Updates

Location

Condition

Symptoms

Progression

Weather

Accessibility

Evacuation

Loss of Communication

In remote areas, signal loss may occur due to topography, distance, weather conditions, obstacles, limited battery power, or device failures. Loss of communication should not automatically be interpreted as the person being lost. The last known position, time of last contact, planned route, and direction of travel can be used to develop a search strategy.

Communication Continuity

Managing Communication Systems

Battery Level

Periodically check the battery levels of phones, radios, GPS devices, satellite messengers, and SOS equipment.

Power Sources

Consider external batteries, power banks, solar chargers, and spare batteries.

Signal Availability

Select the most suitable available communication method based on location and terrain conditions.

Satellite Coverage

Consider sky visibility, location, and environmental characteristics.

Device Status

Check that equipment remains operational and is correctly configured.

Emergency Duration

Adapt power consumption to the expected duration and prioritize essential communications.

Communications for Air Operations

When air support may be available, communications make it possible to transmit relevant information for assessing approach, reconnaissance, extraction, or evacuation operations.

Incident coordinates and extraction points.

Site altitude and potential extraction areas.

Terrain characteristics and topography.

Wind, cloud cover, precipitation, and visibility.

Obstacles relevant to the operation.

Situation and condition of the affected people.

Characteristics of the potential extraction site.

Communication with the Next Level of Care

When a person requires medical evacuation, information collected during the operation can be transmitted to the facility or medical resource receiving the patient, helping maintain continuity of information across the different levels of response.

What happened

Where it happened

Initial condition

Progression

Medical care

Evacuation