Posted by Global Administrator on Tue, Dec 13, 2011 @ 12:07 PM
Mark Tenerowicz was just a few weeks into his deployment to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan when he fought what might have been the most important battle of his military career.
He was a Major in the United States Army Reserve Medical Corps, an emergency medicine physician attached to the 325th Field Hospital. He worked in an ER that handled a huge number of amputations – soldiers and civilians who had been wounded in Russian mine fields – but the case that stands out most in his mind was one called in over the phone.
A colonel stationed in remote eastern Afghanistan had suffered a heart attack and there was no sufficient facility in the area to treat him. After hearing the details of his condition, Dr. Tenerowicz recommended that he be airlifted to Bagram immediately. The major on the other end of the line, at the Tactical Operations Center,refused, saying the colonel would be taken to the nearby Salerno forward operating base because he could not spare the aircraft for the longer flight to Bagram.
Dr. Tenerowicz insisted. What followed was a standoff between the two majors.
“I told him, ‘Look, we’re the same rank,” Dr. Tenerowicz recalled. “I can’t tell you what to do with your aircraft, but I can tell you, if you take him to Salerno instead of here, he will die.”
Dr. Tenerowicz spoke to a sergeant at the TOC and pleaded with him to convince the major to spare the aircraft. He finally did. When the colonel arrived in Bagram, he looked ashen and gravely ill. Dr. Tenerowicz administered medication to break up the clots in his blood vessels and begged the transport office to take him to Europe right away.
They conceded, and the colonel went on to make a full recovery.
“That was a big win for me,” Dr. Tenerowicz said. “It was very analogous to what we do at Global Rescue. First and foremost, we’re patient advocates.
“It may be unpleasant, but I spend an awful lot of time getting people to do what is right for our clients.”
As the Associate Medical Director for Global Rescue, Dr. Tenerowicz is one of the first doctors to hear about a patient’s case from the triaging paramedic. He supervises the initial medical recommendations offered to the member, advises on cases when appropriate and directs specific cases to other physicians at Global Rescue or specialists at Johns Hopkins Medicine. At the end of the day, his job is to make sure the patient is getting the best medical care and advice available. He has been an integral part of a team that has saved many members’ lives.
Dr. Tenerowicz started off his career in the emergency room of Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, where he worked as a nurse’s assistant the summer after his junior year at Trinity College. While it wasn’t the career as a firefighter he had dreamed about after watching “Emergency!” on TV as a kid, the visits to the emergency room had him hooked on the field.
“I remember thinking, “You know what? This is a blast. I enjoyed coming to work,” he said.
The trouble was, in order to work full time as ER nurse he’d need to spend two more years on the other floors. Instead, he decided to apply to medical school, and was accepted early decision at Brown University.
After Brown, he performed his Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. One huge advantage of that program for Dr. Tenerowicz is that they operated a medevac helicopter. In fact, working aboard as a flight physician is one of the requirements of the residency. If you’re not comfortable working on a helicopter, you won’t be admitted.
After a year as an observer, second-year residents are promoted to flight physician. The day that Dr. Tenerowicz entered his second year, the radio sounded at 1:30 AM with the brief instructions, “Life Flight Crew One, Code 1, general direction: south.” (Dispatchers there do not describe the case in detail, so that a pilot cannot take the nature of the emergency into consideration when deciding if the weather makes it permissible to fly.)
In this case, it was a very serious car accident. So serious, in fact, that there was very little that could have been done for the patient. His upper body was already turning a deep purple as they were loading him onto the aircraft – he had ruptured his heart when striking the steering wheel.
For the next six months, Dr. Tenerowicz said, he was scared to death the radio would go off. He revisited the case over and over in his mind, wondering if he could have done more.
After he completed his residency, he realized his dream of becoming an attending physician on an emergency room at the Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, MA, and later became its EMS Medical Director. He heard about Global Rescue from one of the paramedics he supervised there, and joined the company in 2008.
When he points to his motivation to assist travelers in need, the backdrop to the stories is often a military hospital in the Middle East, from one of his three separate deployments to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.
At the emergency room in Bagram, for example, he remembers a woman came in exhibiting signs of liver failure. Although Dr. Tenerowicz said the joke around the base was that he was the cardiologist, neurologist, etc. at the sparsely equipped outpost, he readily admits that none of these fields are his specialty. When he encounters a patient with serious signs such as these, he knows exactly where to refer them.
Unfortunately for the patient with the failing liver, she was a civilian – an expat who had been living there for years – and therefore ineligible to be medically evacuated by the U.S. Government. But she needed to be seen by a Western-trained cardiologist immediately. Dr. Tenerowicz told her that she needed to raise just enough money from family and friends for a one-way ticket to Boston, to get in a cab and go to the emergency room at a certain hospital. The next day when he came to see her on his rounds, she was gone.
Dr. Tenerowicz has experienced first hand that sound and timely medical advice, and the ability to get to the right medical care, is often the difference between life and death.
Posted by Global Administrator on Mon, Dec 12, 2011 @ 09:00 AM
(Photo: Erik Boomer)
Adventurers Jon Turk and Erik Boomer recently have been nominated as “Adventurers of the Year” by National Geographic Adventure, an elite list of 12 athletes who have set records and reached new heights in their fields.
Fitz Cahall described Turk and Boomer’s ground-breaking circumnavigation of Ellesmere Island in the glossy’s pages; the end of the story, the medical evacuation of Turk by a Global Rescue team from the northernmost continually occupied settlement in North America, can be found here.
The duo’s adventure was wrought with danger from the start, as Cahall describes:
“What do you do when a polar bear charges you? We found yelling colorful language was more effective than gentle talking,” says 65-year-old writer and Arctic explorer Jon Turk. “The right tone could communicate, ‘You’re bad. We’re just as bad.’”
Turk and pro kayaker Erik Boomer discovered this when, during the final week of their 1,485-mile circumnavigation of Ellesmere Island, a polar bear ripped a hole in their tent—while five other bears looked on.
The journey around the world’s tenth largest island, which took Turk and Boomer 104 days on skis, in kayaks, and on foot, was considered by polar experts to be the last great unattempted polar expedition, so daunting due to its remoteness and dangerous ice conditions. No one had attempted it before this summer.
You can vote for Turk and Boomer , or any of the other adventurers, on National Geographic Adventure’s website. The other nominees are:
Nick Waggoner, skier
Travis Rice, snowboarder
Cory Richards, climber
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, mountaineer
Jennifer Pharr Davis, hiker
Carissa Moore, surfer
Alastair Humphreys, adventurer
Danny Mac Askill, rider
Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa and Sano Babu Sunuwar, mountaineers
Posted by Global Administrator on Mon, Nov 14, 2011 @ 12:02 PM
Global Rescue's recent security evacuation of climbers from a miner's riot in Indonesia is the subject of a story in Outdoor Life, in an article written by Tim MacWelch, author of "The Survivalist" column and founder of the Earth Connection School of Wilderness Survival. He writes:
Imagine the thrill of mountain climbing in the remotest parts of the world. Fun, right? Now imagine that someone in your group just received a critical injury. You manage to haul the injured man to the nearest medical care facility, only to find a full blown riot taking place there. Your fun just got replaced with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach.
Now let’s change gears a third time. Imagine the relief you would feel after a sat phone call said a chopper was on the way. Global Rescue just performed such a security evacuation for a group of climbers in the highlands of Papua, Indonesia, after the party found themselves trapped in a violent uprising...
Forget that stupid gym membership--I just figured out a better membership that I want for Christmas. Let us know in the comments if you have had a hairy situation where you could have used an extraction; or needed medical, security or rescue services on the ground.
Read the full story here.
Posted by Global Administrator on Thu, Nov 03, 2011 @ 08:28 AM
Global Rescue has performed a security evacuation for a group of climbers in the highlands of Papua, Indonesia, after the party found itself trapped in a violent uprising.
The group was camping at the base of Carstensz Pyramid, the tallest point in Oceania and one of the Seven Summits, when a large rock slide injured some of the group’s porters, one of them critically. The nearest medical aid was at the adjacent Grasberg mine, which is located about 50 miles outside of Timika, Indonesia. The severely injured porter was treated at the mine’s clinic.
The Grasberg mine sits on the largest known reserve of gold ore in an otherwise impoverished region, and has been a political flashpoint for many years. The frequent uprisings in the region have been described by the New York Times as “a seemingly unending conflict in a part of the world famous for both its awesome remoteness and the incredible wealth on and beneath the ground.”
When the climbers arrived, the mine was in the midst of a labor strike that had escalated to a violent riot. The road from the mine to Timika was blocked by protesters and large piles of rocks. There were several reports of travelers being attacked along the road, leaving no viable overland exit for the party.
One of the climbers, who had purchased a security membership with Global Rescue, called the company’s Boston Operations Center for assistance. The company’s security specialists ascertained that the member was in danger and arranged a helicopter to transport him and the group to the airport in Timika, where they boarded their previously scheduled flights home.
Posted by Global Administrator on Thu, Oct 27, 2011 @ 09:17 AM
When physician Michele Donsky returned from her ordeal on Mt. Kilimanjaro, after she was evacuated by Global Rescue from Africa’s tallest mountain with signs of a life-threatening illness, she decided to contribute to a local charity called Art à la Carte, “in honor of the Global Rescue team who helped me this past summer,” she wrote in an email.
The non-profit organization, based in her hometown of Calgary, brings comfort to hospitalized cancer patients by decorating their rooms with paintings and photographs from local artists, and more importantly, bringing conversation and new friendships to the patient’s bedside.
“The essence of our program is, in fact, not the art,” the program’s Executive Director Debbie Baylin wrote in an email. “The art is merely a conduit for connection both physical and intellectual - people, memory, passion, purpose. Our program reminds people of the fullness of their lives and that they are so much more than their diseases. Michele embodies all of this when she ministers to her patients and, as such, understands the objective we, in our very small way, attempt to achieve.”
The mission is not dissimilar to some of the work that Global Rescue does around the world. In addition to life-saving advice and the comfort of having Global Rescue personnel bedside, it is often the attention paid to the little things -- like bringing chocolates, cards from home, or a take-out meal from a local restaurant --that is remembered long after the patient has recovered.
“We admire the work that the volunteers at Art à la Carte are doing for patients,” said Global Rescue Chief Executive Officer Daniel Richards. “For people who are in their darkest hour, the value of having a reassuring presence at their bedsides cannot be overstated.”
(Alan Littlewood Reprinted with permission – St. Michael's volunteer newsletter May 2005)
("Island Paradise", Image by Saunders)
Posted by Global Administrator on Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 09:08 AM
On August 26th of this year I became seriously ill after descending from our first ascent of Sasser Kangri II (7518meters) in the Eastern Karakoram north of Leh, India. I awoke at 3AM coughing while sleeping in our tent on the glacier at 5,800 meters. That in itself was not unusual - I had been suffering from a bad cough for over a month now. What was unusual was my cough produced a thick mucus that I couldn't get all the way up - it was sticking in my airway and I was choking on it.
After a couple of episodes of this I woke my partners, Mark and Freddie, to get some help. They witnessed me gasping for air after each one of my coughing episodes where I could only clear part of my airway. While they consulted with a doctor in the United States by satellite phone I wrote a note for Mark to ask, "Could I choke to death on this thick mucus that is getting lodged in my airway"? Mark listened to the doctor's response and then turned to me and said, "He says that yes you could" which wasn't what I wanted to hear. Sometimes the coughing would leave me with a completely obstructed airway and I couldn't breathe at all until more coughing and hacking created a passageway to let in just enough air to allow some restricted breathing.
Based on their observations and a recommendation from the doctor, Mark and Freddie determined that I should be evacuated immediately to a medical facility. All three of us had medical evacuation memberships in Global Rescue so we called them to manage this operation and provided them with our exact coordinates. After receiving this request, Global Rescue soon learned that we were located in a restricted area near the border with Pakistan and China that is not open to civilian aircraft. Also, since we were at an elevation of 5800 meters we were above the maximum altitude that most helicopters could reach. So it was necessary to use an Indian Air Force helicopter that was allowed to operate in this area and was designed to reach this elevation.
Global Rescue operations staff and several friends in Leh spent hours on the phone to expedite all the approvals that were required by the Indian government before they would issue the orders for the helicopters to take off. In the meantime I had been sipping tea for hours which rehydrated me enough so that I could finally clear my airway by coughing up a less thick mucus onto the snow. It was a tremendous relief to not be choking any longer and I felt that I was now out of immediate danger - but still quite sick.
Late that afternoon, two Indian Air Force helicopters arrived at our advanced base camp on the South Shukpa Kunchang Glacier. They made a circle around our camp and then one landed on the helipad that Freddie had marked on the glacier. Freddie and two of our Sherpas pulled me out of the tent where I was resting and we hurried to the helicopter where I climbed into an empty seat in the back of the small bubble cockpit. The two pilots sitting in front of me got us off the ground and we immediately headed down-glacier and back to Leh where I was admited to the hospital.
At the hospital they administered an intravenous antibiotic and I began the slow process of feeling stronger each day. Since returning to the United States I have made a complete recovery and have resumed my usual training routines.
I’d like to thank Global Rescue for all their efforts to deliver a successful rescue operation. Without Global Rescue, the Indian Air Force, and my friends in Leh, I might not be here today.
Steve Swenson
Posted by Global Administrator on Tue, Oct 18, 2011 @ 08:53 AM
Travelers headed to Zambia this fall have expressed concern about a local outbreak of anthrax that has resulted in more than 120 suspected cases in humans. The source of the outbreak, according to the country’s Ministry of Health, is a population of diseased hippopotamuses in the Luangwa River, where 62 animals have died.
“Travelers should avoid any contact with diseased or dead animals,” advised Dr. Phil Seidenberg, the African Regional Medical Director for Global Rescue, based in Lusaka. “In particular, they should avoid hippos in rivers, and avoid eating the meat.”
Signs of the disease include skin lesions, which typically begin like any bite but progress to larger sizes and eventually ulcerate.
In addition to proper wound care, Dr. Seidenberg continued, “Doxycycline or Ciprofloxacin is the treatment of choice. If there's a doubt or even history of possible anthrax exposure, it’s better to be safe than sorry and present to the nearest clinic and begin a course of doxycycline.
“Incidentally, many travelers to Zambia may be on it already for malaria prophylaxis. For anthrax, the dosage would be increased.”
An alert this week in the Hunting Report, a publication that covers hunting throughout Africa and the world, stated that “the outbreak was first detected in early September and infected areas were reportedly closed. According to sources in the hunting community, the infected areas in Chama were outside of the hunting areas and mortalities in the Lower Zambezi were not officially confirmed as cases of anthrax.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that anthrax is not known to spread from one person to another, but warns that “humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by breathing in anthrax spores from infected animal products (like wool, for example). People also can become infected with gastrointestinal anthrax by eating undercooked meat from infected animals.”
It is not uncommon to see anthrax outbreaks in certain rural areas during a drought season. In September, Bloomberg News reported that the Italian Ministry of Health identified an outbreak of anthrax in livestock just south of Naples that has killed at least 19 cattle and sheep.
Posted by Global Administrator on Mon, Oct 10, 2011 @ 04:26 PM
Ski & Snowboard Club Vail has partnered with Global Rescue in order to offer its athletes the same medical evacuation and advisory services provided to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Teams, the organizations announced today.
SSCV’s athletes frequently travel to South America and Europe as well as North American destinations for training and competitions, and have selected Global Rescue to ensure that injured skiers and snowboarders receive the highest standard of healthcare no matter where they are in the world.
“Global Rescue is a category leader just like Ski & Snowboard Club Vail,” said Nigel Cooper, Program Director for the SSCV. “Partnering with Global Rescue supports our athletes all over the planet when they are training or racing and gives us the peace of mind needed in helping develop the best young athletes in winter sport. Global Rescue helps mitigate risk for us and protects our most precious resource: the kids.”
Global Rescue is the official provider of medical evacuation and advisory services to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Teams, and regularly assists its athletes. The company recently performed a medical evacuation for Olympic racer Marco Sullivan when he suffered a subdural hematoma after a crash in Austria.
“I can’t tell you how comforting it was to be able to speak to your medics and hear that safe transport would be arranged for our athlete,” Adam Perreault, the head athletic trainer for the U.S. Men’s Alpine Ski Team, wrote in a letter to Global Rescue afterward.
Founded in 1964 to provide training and competition programs for aspiring young ski racers, SSCV is one of the Vail Valley's oldest non-profits. Today, the organization remains true to our roots by instilling the values of character, courage and commitment in more than 450 kids who participate in our on-snow winter sports programs each year. Programs are available in Alpine, Freeskiing, Freestyle, Nordic and Snowboarding for all ages, abilities and interests.
Posted by Global Administrator on Wed, Oct 05, 2011 @ 04:53 PM
Global Rescue has medically assisted and transported a fisherman after he suffered a heart attack in Vancouver, BC.
William Mitchell was en route to a fishing trip, to go angling for steelhead near Smithers, British Columbia, and was awaiting his connecting flight in Vancouver when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed to the floor. Medical staff at the airport resuscitated him with a defibrillator and he was taken via ground ambulance to a Vancouver hospital. Once there, he contacted Global Rescue.
Global Rescue physicians reviewed his test results, discussed the diagnosis with the attending cardiologist and recommended aeromedical transport to a facility near his home in California. He was medically evacuated to the Monterey area, where Global Rescue paramedics had ensured he would be seen immediately by a heart surgeon. He was given an internal cardiac defibrillator, and he is now recovering at home.
“We were constantly receiving follow-up calls from Global Rescue while in intensive care,” Mitchell said afterward. “It was simply outstanding. I have recommended Global Rescue to all of my friends who travel internationally – especially sportsmen.”
Posted by Global Administrator on Mon, Oct 03, 2011 @ 10:06 AM
Two of the leading paddle sports magazines have been telling the story of Global Rescue's medical evacuation of Jon Turk from the Canadian Arctic.
In an interview with Canoe & Kayak magazine, Turk's traveling companion Erik Boomer had this to say:
“It was about 36 hours after we completed the expedition. We stayed a night in a house where we began the trip. And he woke up in a lot of pain, without being able to pee. We zipped him over to a health office—they have one nurse for the entire community—and they ran a bunch of tests, and they found out his kidneys weren’t working.”
“So we called in Global Rescue, which is an awesome, awesome rescue company by the way. We had to wait three days before a jet was able to get in there, because of the fog, and once he got further south they ran all the blood work. And they were all pretty appalled at how bad his blood was, and really glad they got him down there when they did. Right when they went to hook him up to the dialysis machine, his kidneys kicked back on and started working. So he was in the hospital for six days, but he’s home now in the forest of Montana.”
Turk also recounted their adventure to Paddling Life:
“As for harrowing moments, most of the time the journey was difficult and the future uncertain, but at least you could look forward and say, well, nothing bad will happen in the next 30 seconds, so short term, at least, we’re fine,” says Turk. “But when a walrus attacked Erik in open water, things looked pretty grim for a few moments.”
They got grimmer at trip’s end. Fifteen hours after arriving in Grise Fiord, Turk awoke in the middle of the night with the fearful sensation that his metabolic system had broken down.
“Friends drove me to the local medical clinic, where my condition was considered ‘life threatening,’” says Turk, currently recuperating at his home in Montana. “I was medi-vac'ed to Ottawa by Global Rescue, which stepped up to the plate when my life was on the line. After six days in hospitals and medical clinics, I returned home.”
