Category Archives: Medical

Yukimarimo

First sunset. Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA - A. Barbero

Translated excerpts from Albane Barbero's blog in French on snow formations and taking out the rubbish:

Tuesday, February 12: first day of winter. It is very quiet upstairs in the labs, later I understand why: the boys installed a games room and refurbished the dining room. the summer dining room has become the games room (with billiards, table football, ping-pong and darts) and the living room has been turned into a dining room with one large table for the winter crew, just like home! It’s great! In the evening, we experience our first sunset and we all stay up to watch the sun disappear below the horizon. (more...)

Moonwalking on Planet Concordia

Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA - A. Kumar

Alex wrote this entry for the New York Times blog: I coined the term Planet Concordia to describe my own “alien” feeling while living here at Concordia Station. Walking around down here sometimes feels like you are on the surface of the moon or some other distant planet. You really don’t feel like you are still on Earth — and if you are, you are living back in the ice age. These can be dangerous and overpowering sensations to deal with, especially in the Antarctic winter darkness. And that holds true even at this time of year, when the temperature can be erratic but is expected to start increasing again after many months below minus-60 degrees Celsius (minus-76 Fahrenheit).

Read more on the New York Times blog....

New York Times blog: Lost in Time in the Antarctic Ice Age

Credits: A. Kumar

Alex wrote this for the New York Times:

Living in Antarctica in what I call the Worst Winter in the World can be likened to living through the ice age — surrounded by ice, in extreme temperatures, reliant on available food and warmth for survival. Living in the darkness, with various sleep difficulties, I have observed and documented changes in my own and fellow crew members’ day-night cycles over the past eight months, and I have noticed a strange change in my perception in the passing of time.

Continue reading via New York Times... 

 

Becoming the station’s doctor and dentist

McMurdo general hospital sign

Credits: A. Kumar

Alex writes: I have been here for around three months already and it has been hectic. The original Italian station medical doctor had to return home. I was offered the position as the station’s medical doctor – it was the most difficult decision of my life, but a natural one. I felt extremely well supported - the British Antarctic Survey’s Medical Unit – led by Doctor Anne Hicks and Peter Marquis – offered me full telemedicine support alongside that already in place by the French and Italian Antarctica Medical Units.

(more...)