Preparing for Medical Emergencies
Like any type of research, there are inherent medical risks while conducting field research. Supervisors should ensure that in the event of a medical emergency while in the field, team members are equipped to respond to the emergency quickly and calmly.
Considerations for Minoritized Scientists
Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare are common, and may be more likely in remote healthcare facilities. For example when comparing white, Black, and Hispanic patients at emergency medical departments, Black and Hispanic patients are less likely to be given high-urgency scores for admittance, are more likely to experience longer wait times, are less likely to be admitted to the hospital, and are more likely to die in the emergency medical department or hospital (Zhang et al. 2020). Therefore, it may be important to have colleagues accompany marginalized scientists at medical facilities, and to advocate when marginalized scientists are not receiving requested medicare care.
Considerations for Health and Disability
A team member should decide what medical information they are comfortable disclosing with supervisors and team leaders. Team members are encouraged to disclose any medical information about allergies or health conditions that may require emergency treatment while in the field. While team members are not obligated to disclose personal medical information, telling a supervisor, team leader, or another field member about prescription medications, like EpiPens, asthma inhalers, or seizure medication, increases the team member’s safety in the event of a medical emergency. Team members may feel more comfortable designating a ‘field buddy’--who may be a peer or supervisor--who is aware of the location and use of emergency or rescue medications, location of medical ID bracelets or tags, and can communicate with emergency first responders in the event of an emergency.
Before You Go
Complete appropriate medical trainings
If team leaders and team members will be conducting field research in remote field locations, supervisors may consider providing Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder training for their team members. These courses typically are multi-day courses that cover the basics of emergency first aid in the field, such as heat or cold related exposure emergencies, bone injuries, serious allergic reactions, and hypothermia. Supervisors can search for in-person classes at Wilderness Medical Associates, through REI or online courses at School of First Aid.
Write a field safety plan that outlines possible risks
Supervisors should write a field safety plan (Appendix 4: Field safety plan) that lists anticipated risks at the field site, establishes mitigation plans to reduce those risks, and outlines what to do in case of an injury. At a minimum, field safety plans should include standard operating procedures and location and phone number of the nearest emergency medical facility. Supervisors will likely want to make more detailed plans if field research will be in very remote locations or foreign countries. Supervisors should review safety plans with team leaders and team members prior to the start of field research so team members can anticipate and prepare for all known risks. Team leaders should carry multiple copies of the plan with them during the trip.
Assemble a well-stocked First Aid Kit
Supervisors should have a well-stocked first aid kit for field research (Appendix 5: List of first aid kit essentials). The extent of the first aid items should depend on how far the field site is from medical facilities, how many days the field team will be out in the field, and the specific medical needs of field team members. All first-aid kits should contain a short list of action items to follow in the advent of a medical emergency (Appendix 6: What to do in a medical emergency). This document should not be considered a substitute for first aid training for team members.
Ensure proper medical coverage
For international field research, supervisors should make sure all team members have adequate medical coverage in the event of a medical emergency. PSU has a Foreign Liability insurance package that includes emergency medical coverage. When students and faculty travel through the Education/Study Abroad program at PSU, there is insurance coverage that includes medical expenses. This package costs the traveler approx. $2.00/day. For more information, contact Risk Management.
Note: This program only provides insurance for PSU-affiliated students, staff, and faculty. If supervisors have team members from other institutions, they will likely need to verify additional medical coverage from the members’ home institution.
Get necessary immunizations
Supervisors should make sure team members are aware of recommended vaccinations for domestic and international travel. Supervisors can find a list of recommended vaccinations for international travel through the CDC’s Travelers Health website. At PSU, students may be able to get some vaccinations at the Center for Student Health and Counseling and staff members can contact Environmental Health Safety for employee vaccination coverage.
Provide General Liability insurance
Some land owners or property managers may require documentation of General Liability Insurance. At PSU, supervisors can request a Certificate of Insurance from Risk Management. This general liability insurance applies to PSU employees and/or PSU students conducting research as a condition of their academic program for academic credit
Be a responsible ‘field buddy’ when a colleague discloses personal health information
If a team member chooses to disclose private health information, the designated ‘field buddy’ should ask the team member how they can help, details about specific tasks where the team member may need assistance, and all necessary information needed to complete those tasks. If a field buddy feels they are unable to support their team member safely, they should let the team member know. Field buddies should never disclose private medical information without the team member’s permission. In the event a team member needs assistance, field buddies should follow the lead of the team member because they know their personal needs the best. In the event of a medical emergency and the team member is unable to advocate for themselves, field buddies can then share as necessary private health information of the team member with first responders.
In The Field
Stay calm and follow emergency plans if a team member is unconscious or has a life threatening injury
In case of injury to you or a team member, remain calm. Team leaders should coordinate the team’s response. If an injured team member is unconscious or the injury is life threatening, the team leader should have someone call emergency services (e.g. 911) immediately. The dispatcher can work with the field team to stabilize the team member and to determine how to get the injured team member the quickest medical care. If field teams are in remote locations that do not have cell phone service, team leaders will need to rely on the first aid training to stabilize the injured team member and then follow the field safety plan to efficiently and safely evacuate the injured team member. Team leaders and members can refer to the medical emergency procedures in the first aid kit (Appendix 6: What to do in a medical emergency) to guide them through the most important steps in a medical emergency.
Administer first aid to non-life threatening injuries
If the injured team member is responsive and does not have a life-threatening medical emergency, team leaders should refer to their first aid training, wilderness medical guides, and the medical emergency procedures (Appendix 6: What to do in a medical emergency) packed into the first aid kit. After the injured team member’s injuries are stabilized, the field team can discuss whether the team member needs to seek further medical attention and how to transport the team member to a medical facility.