Medic unit train in Central for Alpine Fault scenario
The scenario — the Alpine Fault, New Zealand's largest fault line running 600km along the South Island, has just ruptured.
Found lying in a creek bed in Central Otago's Pisa Conservation Area, hypothermic and barely conscious, a man is carried to a nearby New Zealand Army medical detachment for treatment.
Two medical specialists administer initial treatment, four prepare the 11m×11m tent where the man will be stabilised before emergency services arrive.
While it may just be a training scenario for the 27 New Zealand Army Regular and Reserve Force doctors, nurses and medics from the Deployable Health Unit, scientists had predicted a 75% chance of a magnitude 8.0 or higher quake striking along the fault.
The Snowfarm Nordic Ski Area was specifically selected for its infrastructure and remote environment.
The majority of personnel attending the training recently were part-time Reserve Force medics, many of whom work or study in the medical field.
Commanding Officer of the Deployable Health Organisation Lieutenant Colonel Glen Whitton said alpine training gave personnel a unique opportunity to adapt to working at altitude and in isolated areas.
"Medical training is normally focused on combat scenarios.
However, we assist in humanitarian and disaster relief in New Zealand and the Pacific.
"The likelihood is we will be called on to respond potentially to humanitarian and disaster emergencies."
The teams which consist of a commander, doctor, nurse and two medics practised in different ways to respond.
One saw teams deployed as a mobile detachment where they would travel closer to casualties in a Pinzgauer vehicle.
The teams would set up an 11m×11m tent where medical treatment was administered under basic conditions.
The other detachment occupies hard standing buildings and in this case operated from a remote alpine hut.
"The medical detachment is designed to triage and stabile a patient on or near the location of their injury, giving them a higher rate of survival.
Once stabilised, ideally emergency services would extract them from the location to the nearest hospital," senior medic and training facilitator, Sergeant Danny Freestone said.
— APL
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