Getting PQ’d

An arduous process....getting PQ’d (or Physically Qualified) to go to Antarctica consists of a series of medical and dental checks that ensure that you are physically healthy enough for a season in the extreme conditions in Antarctica, where medical facilities are limited in their ability to address major medical issues. Any serious medical problems would require patients to be airlifted or shipped by boat to the nearest capable medical facility, likely in New Zealand or South America. To avoid any costly and possibly fatal risky situations, getting PQ’d is a critical step in getting clearance to go to Antarctica.

Separate qualifications are required depending on whether you are a winter-over (Feb-Oct) or summer-over (Oct-Feb) traveller. A more extensive medical check is required for winter-over candidates, who will be spending nearly 6 months in complete darkness (due to the lack of incoming sunlight in the Southern Hemisphere during the austral winter). Winter-over candidates must also undergo psychological testing, which evaluates their ability to cope with these unique stresses.

As a summer-over candidate, I did not have to go for psychological testing, though I did have to complete a series of intensive medical checks, which included a full physical, a tuberculin skin test, a 12 Lead EKG, and a full blood and urine test. I also had to provide full dental x-rays to the contractor evaluating my health review. The whole process was actually quite straight-forward. I was provided with ‘Dear Doctor’ and ‘Dear Dentist’ letters to give to my care-providers, which contained information about what, why, and when all of these pieces of information were required. All of these tests need to be submitted 8 weeks before your supposed deployment date to Raytheon Polar Services Company, a contractor that works specifically with the Office of Polar Programs in the National Science Foundation, supporting the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).

After submitting your paperwork, you are reviewed by the Raytheon Medical Department. Luckily, I was just PQ’d for summer deployment! It’s always a little nerve-wracking to go through such extensive medical checks, especially since you never really know what you may find out. But, what a relief!!!

Now that I’m PQ’d, the next step is to wait for deployment details, which are generally received ~3 weeks before your supposed deployment date (Nov 27, 2010 for me!). But before then....it’s time to think about what I should bring....