Mongol Derby - Medic's Blog
After a long flight from the UK I finally arrived in Ulaan Baatar, the capital of Mongolia, at 0100 this morning. Two local girls arrived in a saloon car to take myself and another rider on my flight back to our hotels. I don't think they had anticipated that we were both over 6ft, both had heavy rucksacks and the fact that I was carrying 2 stretchers, 2 medical rucksacks and a trunk came as something of an unexpected surprise! Never the less, they proved good humoured and resourceful and we all squeezed in, although I'm not actually sure anyone could see out of the windscreen! It did give the impression, however, that the people involved in the Mongolian Derby; riders and staff alike, were a flexible and robust group. A promising start.
I finally met up with Jez early the next morning on our way to breakfast. We managed to plan our day really well before we were due to meet our interpreter at 1000. Our goal was to check out as many of the local, potential receiving hospitals as possible and also make a solid evacuation plan, preferably using a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Service) should the worst happen to any of the riders. Our first stop at the SOS hospital in UB proved very successful - we met a very assertive and experienced South African Clinical Manager (ex nurse and paramedic) who helped us arrange a comprehensive helicopter evacuation plan. Whilst the hospital itself could not provide advanced trauma management for life threatening conditions, it would be able to organize transfer to the most relevant agency, be that the UB 'Trauma Centre' or transfer to Seoul or Hong Kong if appropriate.
After a very beneficial tour of the facilities, Jez and I both felt it would be fruitful to check out the other medical facilities. Having toured UB all morning and seeing various establishments we discovered that the Mongolians were keen to help, even offering the use of Military aircraft and assistance should the case require it and certain bureaucratic objectives met. Following our clinical tour of the capital we made our way, against a flow of unpredictable and restless drivers (who tend to use their horns as armrests) back to meet the organisers of the Derby at their HQ. The atmosphere there was really quite exiting.
The Mongolian Rally, a car race from London to Ulaan Bataar was in the process of finishing and there were a number of extremely battered cars, people and even a token, abused looking fire engine that had made its way over.
There is still a lot of work to do before we leave tomorrow. Sorting kit, finalising evacuation plans and designing a training brief but we are both keen to get stuck in.