@article{ref1,
title="Search and rescue response to a large-scale rockfall disaster",
journal="Wilderness and environmental medicine",
year="2014",
author="Procter, Emily and Strapazzon, Giacomo and Balkenhol, Karla and Fop, Ernst and Faggionato, Alessandro and Mayr, Karl and Falk, Markus and Falk, Markus and Brugger, Hermann",
volume="26",
number="1",
pages="68-71",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To describe the prehospital management and safety of search and rescue (SAR) teams involved in a large-scale rockfall disaster and monitor the acute and chronic health effects on personnel with severe dolomitic dust exposure. <br><br>METHODS: SAR personnel underwent on-site medical screening and lung function testing 3 months and 3 years after the event. <br><br>RESULTS: The emergency dispatch center was responsible for central coordination of resources. One hundred fifty SAR members from multidisciplinary air- and ground-based teams as well as geotechnical experts were dispatched to a provisionary operation center. Acute exposure to dolomite dust with detectable silicon and magnesium concentrations was not associated with (sub)acute or chronic sequelae or a clinically significant impairment in lung function in exposed personnel. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The risk for personnel involved in mountain SAR operations is rarely reported and not easily investigated or quantified. This case exemplifies the importance of a multiskilled team and additional considerations for prehospital management during natural hazard events. Safety plans should include compulsory protective measures and medical monitoring of personnel.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1080-6032",
doi="10.1016/j.wem.2014.07.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2014.07.007"
}