site.bta Bulgarian Antarctic Base Commander: Safety Protocol, Instructions Always Followed When Engaged in Field Work in Antarctica

When working in the field in Antarctica, protocols and instructions for dealing with hazardous situations are always followed. There is always the possibility of these occurring given the specifics and characteristics of the site. The situation with Vasil Gurev in recent days is an example of this, the Commander of the Bulgarian Antarctic Base, Kamen Nedkov, told BTA.

According to him, when everything goes smoothly because everyone knows what to do, how to do it and approaches it with the necessary respect, there is always a danger of getting into a routine and neglecting small details, and when three - four small factors come together, they form one big one. This is why Kamen Nedkov says it is important to have frequent briefings and refreshers, and when situations arise, to discuss them after completion, and draw the appropriate conclusions.

Kamen Nedkov explained that the projects carried out at the Bulgarian Antarctic base are becoming more and more daring every year, more and more sophisticated equipment is used and this requires more and more proper preparation. He said that people who come to work on the base need to be prepared in advance and with more than one knowledge profile. He said there is a lot to learn, see and adapt to one's own knowledge in Antarctica so that it is applicable in a place like this. Nedkov stresses that having appropriate and trained field assistants is of utmost importance.

"In addition, we are fortunate to have Dr. Sevdalina Mihailova as one of the two doctors on base for the second year in a row," he said, adding that she is an anaesthesiologist Sofia's Pirogov emergency hospital and an active member of the Mountain Rescue Service. She has participated in many mountain rescue operations and is one of the people who lead the training of mountain rescuers in first aid.

"Also, the fact that we have had a ship for the last few years gives us a tremendous peace of mind that if something happens - we have its help. The vessel is here, in front of the base, and in the next hour can respond and be at a destination that would be far away for a boat, but a very easy one for a ship. It can launch boats and respond to remote points off the island and the waters around it. With the ship this situation would be handled quickly and easily," said Kamen Nedkov.

"Additionally for security both on land and water there is a direct link and communication with the Spanish base and very often joint activities are done on the ground with their and our boats, sleds or skiing," explained the base commander. "Collaborating with each other gives us the knowledge and confidence that when a situation arises we are in sync and can work as a team".

The occasion to recall all this was the situation of recent days, in which Bulgarian geophysicist Vasil Gurev fell into a deep ice crevasse.

The two participants in this situation, Vasil Gurev and Alexander Valchev, told BTA about it.

Field assistant Alexander Valchev explained to BTA that such situations happen on such terrains and that is why people go there with skis and alpine bindings. According to him, what happened is not something unbelievable, extraordinary or a serious accident. As the situation developed, he signalled the base and communication began between him, the base commander and Dr Mihailova. After passing the protocol for such a situation, a departure to the scene of the incident by two field assistants followed. At this time, Valchev took follow-up action to secure Gurev and extract him.

"Vasko [Vasil Gruev] was completely calm in the crevasse, we talked and reasoned together. He is experienced and took the appropriate actions he could inside. He secured himself further with ice barrels, took off his skis and unstuck himself so he could help me. I handed him an extra rope which helped him out. With a joint effort he got out, he was not injured in any way. He rested for a while, we carried out Dr Mihailova's instructions and shortly afterwards the team from the base was also on the ground. We went home together and everything ended safely," said Alexander Valchev.

"First of all, I have to say that if for Sofia this is news, for Antarctica and for those of us who have been working here for months on the glaciers, this is somewhat routine," Vasil Gurev told BTA.

"Cracks are part of the glacier, of its life. When there's a lot of snow it's more trivial - one goes skiing. But when there is less snow, the glacier is open and the crevasses are very nice to see, but there is a middle period when there is very little snow on the crevasses and ice, especially if a few centimetres of new fresh snow has fallen it is now a bit more delicate and one can fall into a crevasse. That's why we go bound by all the rules and standards," he said. He said what happened was nothing special.

"I'm feeling quite well, we are continuing the work on the glacier and a few more days here at least our team should finish the work and everything is fine," Gruev concluded.