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Everest Base Camp Clinic takes to the air
15:55 p.m. EST Mar 17, 2004
Luanne and company are en route to Kathmandu, “dash for connections, pull up to the airline desk with 150 pounds over our luggage allowance, wait in endless customs cues.... and hope that all of our precious equipment comes out intact on the other end”
Dr. Freer recently took off and should be in Kathmandu shortly. Joining her this year is Dr. Denise Merritt, “Although I have yet to meet Dr. Merritt in person, I became acquainted with her as I followed her at the HRA Pheriche clinic assignment in 2002. She left the clinic in ship shape, which isn't an easy task”
Dr. Merritt graduated from UConn medical school and has Wilderness EMT training, is a member of The Appalachian Trail Club, Wilderness Medical Society, Travel Medical Society, and a veteran of the HRA.
Back again this year will be Lakpa Norbu Sherpa. Luanne considers him to be, “…by far the most valuable member of our EBC clinic team.” Lakpa not only takes care of all the logistical woes of the team, but was huge in coordinating rescues last year, “From improvising a litter-stretcher out of hiking poles and rope to taking part in a dangerous and complicated body retrieval in the icefall, this guy is definitely MVP in my camp. And a wonderful friend, to boot.”
South Side climbers, you’ll be in good hands!
The first-ever Everest Base Camp Medical Clinic was a pilot project of the Himalayan Rescue Association last spring, and the brain-child of Dr. Luanne Freer. The clinic is returning this year.
Dr. Luanne Freer, board certified emergency physician, wilderness medicine expert, and veteran volunteer for the HRA, heads the altitude-experienced medical staff, which treats all climbers/support staff at Everest Base Camp, as well as trekkers visiting Base Camp. Luanne makes daily live updates to her website from BC.
The Himalayan Rescue Association is a voluntary non-profit organization formed in 1973 with an objective to reduce casualties in the Nepal Himalayas. The HRA will use proceeds collected from trekkers and climbers for their medical care to fund it's continuing mission to provide low cost/free health care to the native Nepali people.
Image of Lakpa courtesy of BaseCampMD.com.
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