title: Search and rescue response to a large-scale rockfall disaster.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  SAR personnel underwent on-site medical screening and lung function testing 3 months and 3 years after the event.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bolzano, Italy (Ms Procter and Drs Strapazzon, Balkenhol, and Brugger).
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Procter
authors.affiliation: EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bolzano, Italy (Ms Procter and Drs Strapazzon, Balkenhol, and Brugger). Electronic address: giacomo.strapazzon@eurac.edu.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strapazzon
authors.affiliation: EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bolzano, Italy (Ms Procter and Drs Strapazzon, Balkenhol, and Brugger).
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balkenhol
authors.affiliation: Emergency Dispatch Centre 118/115, Health Services of Bolzano, Italy (Dr Fop).
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fop
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, Hospital of Bolzano, Italy (Dr Faggionato).
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faggionato
authors.affiliation: National Health Service, Sesto, Italy (Dr Mayr).
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.affiliation: Inova Q GmbH, Brunico, Italy (Dr. Falk).
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.affiliation: EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bolzano, Italy (Ms Procter and Drs Strapazzon, Balkenhol, and Brugger).
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brugger
mesh_terms: D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004190:Disasters; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D019550:Environmental Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006282:Health Personnel; D007558:Italy; D055876:Landslides; D008274:Magnesium / Q000633:toxicity*; D012449:Safety
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D008274:Magnesium; C028042:calcium magnesium carbonate
keywords: dust exposure; mountain search and rescue; rockfall; spirometry