Form 1421-A Medical Risks for NSF-Sponsored Personnel Traveling to A

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
4201 WILSON BOULEVARD
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22230

OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS

Medical Risks for NSF-Sponsored Personnel Traveling to Antarctica
Travel to Antarctica imparts certain risks to the traveler, because of harsh environmental conditions encountered,
limitations in the medical care available in Antarctica, and difficulties, in emergencies, of providing timely evacuation to
tertiary medical care facilities in New Zealand, South America, or in the United States. United States Antarctic Program
(USAP) participants should consider these risks before deciding to deploy to Antarctica.
With no indigenous support infrastructure in Antarctica, virtually all medical care to USAP participants is provided
through the USAP medical care system. This includes medical clinic operations at all three year-round stations
(McMurdo, South Pole, and Palmer Stations), dispensary operations on the two oceanographic research vessels, and firstaid/first responder support in the larger seasonal remote field camps. The three clinics are comparable to a small
community hospital emergency room and ambulatory care facility, but without secondary or tertiary care facilities nearby
for patient referral or specialist support. Radiography (X-rays) and selected laboratory tests are available in the clinics,
but more sophisticated imaging procedures and diagnostic tests are not. Typical operating room surgical suites are not
available at the stations, although each clinic has a triage/trauma room. The USAP does not maintain a frozen blood
supply at each station, relying instead on a “walking blood bank” concept (where individual donors could provide fresh
blood if transfusions were needed and blood types matched). The evacuation of critically ill or injured patients from
Antarctic sites to sophisticated medical care off the continent (to New Zealand, South America, or the United States) is
difficult during the austral summer and may be impossible during the austral winter (February through August).
It is important that USAP participants recognize these limitations in medical care while they are in Antarctica. It is, in
part, because of these limitations, that the NSF requires medical and dental screening of personnel prior to deployment to
Antarctica. These medical screening examinations are necessary to determine the presence of medical conditions that
could threaten the health or safety of the individual while in Antarctica. They are also necessary to determine whether
medical conditions exist that cannot be effectively treated while the individual is in Antarctica. Persons who fail to meet
these medical/dental screening criteria will be notified of the specific reason(s) for their disqualification. Disqualified
individuals may request reconsideration by completing a waiver request package (obtained from the NSF’s support
contractor).
Pre-deployment screening can identify existing medical conditions that may be difficult or impossible to treat effectively
in Antarctica. USAP participants should realize that serious accidents or injuries might challenge the medical care system
in Antarctica as well. Therefore, individuals should recognize the limitations in the medical care system in Antarctica
before they engage in any risk-taking behaviors (whether on-the-job or during recreational pursuits) that may result in
accidents or injuries.
Data collected as a result of this medical screening requirement are maintained in accordance with the Privacy Act (5 USC
552a) and protected against unauthorized release, as described in the appended Privacy Notice. The collection of this
information must display a currently valid OMB control number. You are not required to respond to the collection of this
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
I have read and understand this information sheet.

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NSF Form 1421-A Page 1 of 1 (APR 2002) Original plus one copy to: Contractor Medical Staff
OMB CONTROL NUMBER 3145-0177: Expires SEP 2010

Applicants: Please retain one copy for your records