Duration: 11:06-12:46 (1 hour, 40 minutes)

Participants: Jason Schwier, Amy Blank, Daniel Hegeman, Dennis Creamer, Ryan Kobrick, Kevin Sloan

Equipment: digital camera, GPS

Route:

1. 12S 0518165E 4250931N to 12S 0520160E 4248226N [Injury Site]
2. to 12S 0518165E 4250931N [Hab]

Objectives/Work Done: EVA 14 was created and implemented by the crew as a way to evaluate the procedures and roadblocks associated with rescuing an immobile crew member on an EVA in the field. Whenever an EVA is planned, a time frame of completion is designated. As a general rule of thumb, if a crew is not back when they estimated they would be, a rescue crew must be sent out to find them. Usually if a crew is late, they are gathering additional samples or ran into delaying conditions, but it could also be that they are trapped, hurt, or (worse) unconscious. The desert terrain is very unforgiving so the crew must be prepared for any scenario. Using a "late scenario" was considered but chances are if a crew was out and one member became injured, another would come back to the Hab to get more help. Thus, we decided on a scenario where a crew member got injured which then resulted in a rescue mission. Procedure is located below:

For this EVA, 3 crew members will be performing a typical Geo or Bio EVA in SIM out in the field when an emergency situation will occur.

The steps we will follow will be:

1. one member will succumb to injury (dubbed Hurt) such as broken leg or other injury which hinders motor vehicle use.
2. one member will stay with hurt member (dubbed Nurse), another (dubbed Lassie) will ATV back to Hab
3. when Lassie is within radio range of Hab, they will radio in an emergency situation.
4. crew member at Hab (dubbed Driver) will suit up to help with emergency
5. another crew member at Hab (dubbed Helper) would prepare necessary medical supplies (splint, bandages, etc)
6. once Lassie arrives at Hab, Driver and Lassie will enter PEV to return to site of injury
7. assuming Hurt can be moved, Driver, Lassie, and Nurse will load them into PEV bed
8. Driver will drive PEV back to Hab, Lassie and Nurse will ride ATVs back
9. times for various legs will be recorded by out-of-sim member (dubbed Tracker) who will ride along and record relevant observations

It is important that one member be out-of-sim to document accurately the problems and insights we encounter, as well as photograph the mission.

The goals were to:

• Simulate a situation where a crew member becomes immobile while out on EVA and the rest of the crew must rescue them.
• Practice safety procedures and heightened awareness.
• Record time it takes to determine an EVA crew is in trouble, locate said crew, and return them safely to the Hab.

Amy was injured and then carried .02 km to a shaded spot. Once the rescue crew arrived with the PEV, she was carried/driven roughly .2 km from the shade to the car. Further details such as a complete timeline of events can be found in the Special Safety Report written by Ryan Kobrick. The crew learned as a result that rescue missions are difficult but possible. The focus wasn't on how to treat a victim of a particular emergency so much as to locate, rescue, and return the victim. While this was a simulation, it can be assumed that similar procedures would be followed by trained professionals.

Weather: Slightly cloudy

Maximum distance from Hab: 3.16 km

Lessons Learned:

1. Running in an extreme situation is difficult because of the 20 lb oxygen bag, incompletely fastened helmet, and limited mobility that comes with a full body suit. Only a reduced jogging or quick walk can be achieved.
2. Since most of the crews' radios are already fastened to the suits, suiting up could be achieved rather quickly -- 5 minutes -- compared to the 30 minute crew suit-up time.
3. Carrying an injured member is difficult because of the awkward geometry of the packs and lack of viable handholds. If a member must be carried, we suggest using the two-person seat carry, with or without a bar for leg support, or use of a stiff medical board.
4. We should have used the ATVs for transportation immediately after injury instead of carrying Amy half the way and then deciding to use it. Also, the most comfortable and easily accessible position on the ATV was riding on her stomach on the rear rail-support.
5. The crew was very happy with how it turned out. This was an idea conceived by Daniel and implemented by the crew and whose ideas and results can benefit future crews. Future options or alternatives to consider are multiple victims, greater distances, medical remedies on-scene, or traveling over highly varied terrain.