title: Emergency medical support for a manned stratospheric balloon test program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Red Bull Stratos was a commercial program that brought a test parachutist, protected by a full-pressure suit, in a stratospheric balloon with pressurized capsule to over 127,582 ft (38,969 m), from which he free fell and subsequently parachuted to the ground. Given that the major risks to the parachutist included ebullism, negative Gz (toe-to-head) acceleration exposure from an uncontrolled flat spin, and trauma, a comprehensive plan was developed to recover the parachutist under nominal conditions and to respond to any medical contingencies that might have arisen. In this report, the project medical team describes the experience of providing emergency medical support and crew recovery for the manned balloon flights of the program.
  
  
  METHODS
  The phases of flight, associated risks, and available resources were systematically evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six distinct phases of flight from an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) standpoint were identified. A Medical Support Plan was developed to address the risks associated with each phase, encompassing personnel, equipment, procedures, and communications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite geographical, communications, and resource limitations, the medical team was able to implement the Medical Support Plan, enabling multiple successful manned balloon flights to 71,615 ft (21,828 m), 97,221 ft (29,610 m), and 127,582 ft (38,969 m). The experience allowed refinement of the EMS and crew recovery procedures for each successive flight and could be applied to other high altitude or commercial space ventures.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Texas Medical Branch,Galveston,TexasUSA.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Blue
authors.affiliation: 2Travis County Emergency Medical Services,Austin,TexasUSA.
authors.forename: Sean C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.affiliation: 3Independent,Nassau Bay,TexasUSA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Law
authors.affiliation: 1University of Texas Medical Branch,Galveston,TexasUSA.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pattarini
authors.affiliation: 4Center for Space Medicine and Department of Emergency Medicine,Baylor College of Medicine,Houston,TexasUSA.
authors.forename: Erik L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Antonsen
authors.affiliation: 4Center for Space Medicine and Department of Emergency Medicine,Baylor College of Medicine,Houston,TexasUSA.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garbino
authors.affiliation: 5Center for Space Medicine,Baylor College of Medicine,Houston,TexasUSA.
authors.forename: Jonathan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: 6Baptist St. Anthony Health System,Amarillo,TexasUSA.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Turney
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D013781:Texas