Rescue at Very High Altitude
ICAR MED REC 0045 2025
by Kyle McLaughlin
Intended for Rescuers, Mountain Emergency Physicians and Helicopter Pilots
The Rescue at Very High Altitude Project was developed by Dr. Kyle McLaughlin and his working group. The high altitude rescue presents many different challenges to rescuers, patients and crews. Special considerations need to be taken into account for helicopter operations.
This series of publications will guide mountain rescuers how to prepare for high altitude rescues both for the rescuers as well as for the patients. Ethical considerations also need to be taken into account, which is addressed in a position paper by John Ellerton et al.
The series currently includes recommendations on helicopter rescue and on the use of supplemental Oxygen
Full recommendation:
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McLaughlin K, Shimanski C, Zafren K, Jackson I, Biner G, Folini M, Hermansky A, Ridington E, Hicks P, Strapazzon G, Falla M, Hopper A, Weber D, Jackson R, Brugger H. Helicopter Rescue at Very High Altitude: Recommendations of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom) 2025. High Alt Med Biol. 2026 Jun;27(2):107-116. doi: 10.1177/15578682251375408. Epub 2025 Sep 10. PMID: 40931781.
View article at High Altitude Medicine and Biology Journal