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Review
. 2021 Sep;22(3):335-341.
doi: 10.1089/ham.2020.0216. Epub 2021 Jul 28.

COVID-19 Pandemic in Mountainous Areas: Impact, Mitigation Strategies, and New Technologies in Search and Rescue Operations

Michiel J van Veelen  1   2 , Anna Voegele  1 , Simon Rauch  1   3 , Marc Kaufmann  2   4 , Hermann Brugger  1   5 , Giacomo Strapazzon  1   5
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 Pandemic in Mountainous Areas: Impact, Mitigation Strategies, and New Technologies in Search and Rescue Operations

Michiel J van Veelen et al. High Alt Med Biol. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

van Veelen, Michiel J., Anna Voegele, Simon Rauch, Marc Kaufmann, Hermann Brugger, and Giacomo Strapazzon. COVID-19 pandemic in mountainous areas: impact, mitigation strategies, and new technologies in search and rescue operations. High Alt Med Biol. 22:335-341, 2021.-Mitigating the spread of COVID-19, an airborne infection, can lead to delays in the prehospital response and impair the performance of search and rescue (SAR) services in mountainous and remote areas. We provide an overview of the developing epidemiological situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic in mountainous areas and review current protocols to determine their suitability for mountain rescue teams. We also discuss using novel technologies to reduce the adverse effects caused by COVID-19 mitigation strategies such as delays caused by donning personal protective equipment (PPE) and reduced rescuer performance due to impaired movement and ventilation. COVID-19 has spread even in mountainous and remote locations. Dedicated protocols for the use of PPE appropriate for SAR rescuers exerting physical effort in remote areas and using technologies such as drones, telemedicine, and localization and contact tracing applications could contribute to an effective and timely emergency response in mountainous and remote settings.

Keywords: SAR; airborne infection; drone; mountain rescue; personal protective equipment.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist. M.J.v.V. declares no competing interests, no personal financial interests, no funding, no employment with competing interest, and no other competing interest. A.V. declares no competing interests, no personal financial interests, no funding, no employment with competing interest, and no other competing interest. S.R. declares no competing interests, no personal financial interests, no funding, no employment with competing interest, and no other competing interest. M.K. declares no competing interests, no personal financial interests, no funding, no employment with competing interest, and no other competing interest. H.B. declares no competing interests, no personal financial interests, no funding, no employment with competing interest, and no other competing interest. G.S. declares no competing interests, no personal financial interests, no funding, no employment with competing interest, and no other competing interest.

Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Long queues to access cable-car facilities in the Dolomites area, Italy, due to the unexpected afflux of tourists during summer 2020 after loosening of COVID-19 lockdown (courtesy of Marco Bassot).
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
Initial approach algorithm of the Italian Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico during the COVID-19 pandemic (modified from Masullo et al., 2020).
FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.
Use of PPE by SAR services. (A) Helicopter SAR personnel wearing PPE during transport. (B) SAR personnel wearing PPE during HEMS and ground SAR operations (courtesy of CNSAS, Gianluca Facchetti and Giacomo Strapazzon). CNSAS, Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico; HEMS, helicopter emergency medical services; PPE, personal protective equipment; SAR, search and rescue.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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