RAF aeromedical evacuation specialists train to survive -20°C arctic temperatures

Royal Air Force medics have been testing how vital medical equipment functions in the freezing arctic conditions in northern Norway, with temperatures reaching -20°C.

The aeromedical evacuation specialists deployed to Bardufoss Air Station for Exercise Arctic Phoenix to test  equipment on the ground and in the air on board an Atlas A400M.

They were looking at how medical operations could be affected by cold temperatures, assessing more than 20 individual pieces of medical equipment, including patient monitoring and testing devices, blood storage containers and communications systems.

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The exercise involves specialists from across the RAF including communications, security, engineering, logistics and aircrew. 

RAF Typhoon fighter jets are operating with Norwegian F-35As further south in Ørland, while the ground forces test equipment, procedures and tactics in the bitterly cold north.

The medical element of the exercise included specialists from the RAF’s Critical Care Air Support Team and Medical Emergency Response Team, who are responsible for treating and evacuating wounded personnel on military operations.