Field Manual for the United States Antarctic Program

354 Pages·2001·4.37 MB·English

by  Lisa Mastro

FFiieelldd MMaannuuaall
ffoorr tthhee
UUnniitteedd SSttaatteess AAnnttaarrccttiicc PPrrooggrraamm
First Aid
Emergency Action Principles
1. Survey the Scene
• Is this scene safe?
• What happened?
• How many people are injured?
• Are there companions that can help?
2. Do a Primary Survey of the Victim (ABCs)
• Check the Airway (head-tilt/chin lift).
• Check the Breathing (look, listen, feel).
• Check Circulation (carotid pulse).
3. Radio for Rescue / MEDEVAC
• See Radio Emergency Action on next page.
4. Do a Secondary Survey of the Victim
• Interview the victim and/or companions.
• Check the victim’s vital signs.
• Do a head-to-toe exam.
Radio Emergency Action
Sending a Distress Message
In an emergency, stay calm, assess the situation, and use the
following steps to call for help:
1. Select the correct frequency.
2. Speak clearly. Take your time.
3. Call “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.”
4. Listen for a reply.
5. When a reply is received, tell them who you are, where you
are, and the nature of your emergency, and that you are
trying to make contact with the closest permanent USAP
station in your area. Give any information which may assist
the rescue.
6. If no reply is received:
• Check your equipment.
• Repeat your call at regular intervals -- allow listening
periods between calls.
Action on Receipt of a Distress Message
1. Listen carefully. Write down the message(s) and time.
2. Listen for an acknowledgment from a major station.
3. If another station does not acknowledge the distress call,
acknowledge the distress call and retransmit the distress
message to the closest permanent USAP station in your area,
using the words:
“MAYDAY Relay, MAYDAY Relay, MAYDAY Relay.
This is. . .” (repeat your station call sign three times).
4. Give distress message as broadcast by station in distress.
5. Give assistance to station in distress if possible. Advise your
base station of what you are / are not doing.
6. Continue to listen in.
Cancellation of MAYDAY messages
If help is no longer required, don’t forget to announce
cancellation of your distress or urgency call!
Avoid Unnecessary Traffic At All Times!
Acknowledgments
This manual was prepared by Raytheon Polar Services
Company (RPSC) field support staff for the National
Science Foundation/Office of Polar Programs (NSF/
OPP).
We are most grateful to all the scientists who gave their
time to review the prototype of this manual, offered
additions and changes, and contributed their past
experiences and solutions to problems encountered
while working in Antarctica. We especially thank Dr.
Bill McIntosh for his invaluable input regarding the
snowmobile chapter.
Mimi Fujino created from first-hand experience all
illustrations, except those as noted. She also helped
develop the production standards and procedures for
this manual.
Brooks Montgomery, Tim Cully and Marian Moyher
worked on the Peninsula-Area information with re-
searchers experienced in those locations to develop
those sections of the manual.
Bill McCormick edited this 6th edition (2001-02 field
season) of the Field Manual. Jim Mastro did the layout,
based on an original design by Lisa Mastro.
Cover photo courtesy Dr. Daniel Costa (© Dr. Daniel
Costa 2001).
Introduction
The United States Antarctic Program (USAP) supports
researchers working in Antarctica, whether in the
Continental region (McMurdo Station, South Pole
Station, and inland field camps), the Peninsular region
(Palmer Station and island field camps), or on USAP
research vessels (R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer and R/V
Laurence M. Gould). Though each of these different
areas poses unique environmental challenges, the USAP
abides by safety requirements and waste handling and
environmental protection policies that are standard
throughout the program. In addition, much of the
equipment that the USAP issues to researchers is the
same at all locations.
This edition of the Field Manual for the USAP has been
revised to include both common and area-specific
information. When a chapter contains information
specific to both regions, the chapter will begin with
common information, followed by McMurdo-area
information and then Palmer-area information.
If you are new to the program, this manual will help
prepare you for the time you will spend in Antarctica.
Read it thoroughly before packing and leaving, as you
will find helpful and important information regarding
planning and preparation, clothing, extra equipment you
may wish to take, and what to expect in the field.
(NOTE: If you are deploying to remote locations in
Antarctica, you should have a strong background in
cold weather survival or, at the very least, you should
employ a safety-survival guide with previous Antarctic
experience. A remote field camp in Antarctica is not the
place to learn cold weather skills.)
Finally, this is intended to be a reference manual and it
should be taken into the field with you. Many chapters
contain information on the equipment you will be
issued, some of which is very specific to polar work.
Also, detailed information on trouble-shooting radios,
Zodiacs, and snowmobiles is included. Systems that are
unique to working in polar environments, such as roped
travel with Nansen sleds or crevassed area travel with
snowmobiles, are discussed, and valuable advice is
provided on rescue techniques.
Use of this manual, and adherence to the guidelines set
forth within it, will enhance both your safety and
productivity while working in Antarctica.
RPSC Field Support Staff welcomes any comments or
feedback on this manual.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Extreme Cold Weather Clothing 1
1.1 USAP Clothing Issue............................................... 1
1.2 Dressing for the Cold: Layering.............................. 2
1.3 Cold Weather Clothing Accessories ........................ 4
1.4 Clothing for Deep-Field Deployment
by Aircraft (McMurdo Area)................................... 5
1.5 Special Clothing Considerations for
Peninsula Operations............................................... 6
Chapter 2
Science Support Services 8
2.1 Science Meetings..................................................... 8
2.2 McMurdo Science Support Areas............................ 9
2.3 Palmer Science Support Areas .............................. 11
Chapter 3
Basic Field-Party Preparation 14
3.1 McMurdo-Based Groups....................................... 14
3.1a Day 1.................................................. 14
3.1b Days 2, 3, & 4.................................... 14
3.1c Day 5.................................................. 20
3.1d Days 6, 7, & 8.................................... 20
3.1e Days 9 & 10....................................... 20
3.1f Day 11................................................ 21
3.2 Peninsula-Based Groups........................................ 22
3.2a Field Communications....................... 23
3.2b Field-Safety Training......................... 24
3.2c Field Equipment................................. 25
3.2d Food for Field Parties ........................ 25
3.2e Mechanical Equipment...................... 26
3.2f Field-Camp Liquor Rations............... 26
3.2g Safety................................................. 27
i
3.2h Safe Water Handling.......................... 28
3.2i Human Waste Management............... 29
Chapter 4
Standards of Conduct in the Field 30
4.1 Appropriate Field Conduct in Antarctica .............. 31
4.2 Environmental Conduct in the Field ..................... 31
Chapter 5
Field-Safety Training 34
5.1 McMurdo Field-Safety Training
Requirements......................................................... 34
5.1a McMurdo Field-Safety Course Descrip-
tions.................................................... 36
5.2 Peninsula-Area Field-Safety Training
Requirements......................................................... 40
5.2a Peninsula-Area Field-Safety
Course Descriptions........................... 41
Chapter 6
McMurdo Area Helicopter Transportation 43
6.1 Helicopter Pad (Heli-pad) ..................................... 44
6.2 Preparations: Flight Requests and Cargo .............. 44
6.3 Hazardous Cargo ................................................... 46
6.4 Resupply Cargo ..................................................... 47
6.5 On the Day of Your Flight..................................... 48
6.6 Helicopter Loading and Unloading....................... 49
6.6a The Boarding Process at the Heli-Pad 49
6.6b Survival Equipment ........................... 49
6.7 Estimated Flight Times.......................................... 50
6.8 Clothing for the Flight........................................... 50
6.9 Day Trips............................................................... 51
6.9a Radio Equipment ............................... 51
6.10 Daily Communications.......................................... 52
6.10a Field Resupply................................... 53
6.10b Schedule Changes.............................. 54
ii
6.11 Retrograde from the Field ..................................... 54
6.12 Camp Pull-Out....................................................... 57
6.13 Helicopter Safety Guidelines................................. 57
6.14 Planning Information for Helicopters.................... 58
6.14a Bell 212 Helicopter............................ 58
6.14b A-Star 350 Helicopter........................ 59
Chapter 7
McMurdo Area Fixed Wing Operations 60
7.1 Flight Schedules .................................................... 60
7.2 Planning for LC-130 Transport to the Field.......... 61
7.2a Load Planning.................................... 61
7.2b Aerial Reconnaissance (Recce) ......... 62
7.2c Equipment Packing............................ 63
7.2d General Cargo.................................... 63
7.2e Hazardous Cargo................................ 64
7.2f Frozen Food....................................... 64
7.2g Bag Drag............................................ 65
7.2h The Day of the LC-130
Put-In Flight....................................... 65
7.3 Planning for Twin Otter Transport
to the Field............................................................. 66
7.3a General Cargo.................................... 67
7.3b Hazardous Cargo................................ 67
7.3c Getting to the Aircraft........................ 68
7.4 Radio Communications......................................... 69
7.5 Weather Briefing ................................................... 69
7.6 Ski-Way Marker Equipment.................................. 69
7.7 In-the-Field Procedures......................................... 70
7.7a Camp Put-In Procedures.................... 70
7.7b Marking Grid North........................... 70
7.7c Daily Communication with
the FOCC........................................... 70
7.7d Communications with
the Fixed-Wing Coordinator.............. 72
7.8 Preparing for Camp Pull-Out ................................ 72
iii
7.8a Pull-out Schedule and Retrograde
Advisory............................................. 72
7.8b Waste Retrograde............................... 72
7.8c Equipment Staging............................. 72
7.8d Hazardous Equipment
Repackaging....................................... 73
7.8e Ski-Way Preparation.......................... 73
7.8f Hourly Weather Observations
for the Pull-Out Flight........................ 74
7.9 Camp Pull-Out via LC-130 Aircraft...................... 75
7.9a Communication with Incoming Aircraft
75
7.9b Loading the Aircraft........................... 75
7.9c Last Minute Camp Pull-Out
Details................................................ 76
7.10 Returning to McMurdo Station ............................. 76
Chapter 8
Peninsula Area Boating Operations 77
8.1 Zodiac Allocation .................................................. 78
8.2 Preparation Before Leaving Palmer Station.......... 78
8.2a Checking Out..................................... 78
8.2b Loading the Zodiac............................ 79
8.2c Checking the Boat............................. 80
8.2d Gear.................................................... 80
8.3 VHF Radio ............................................................ 82
8.3a Radio Check & Communications...... 82
8.3b Radio Use While Boating .................. 83
8.3c Returning Radios to the Station......... 83
8.4 Boating Hazards and Precautions.......................... 83
8.4a Weather.............................................. 83
8.4b Icebergs and Glaciers......................... 84
8.4c Brash Ice............................................ 84
8.4d Rocks ................................................. 86
8.4e Waves................................................. 86
8.4f Wildlife .............................................. 87
8.5 Troubleshooting..................................................... 87
iv