Polar Medical Emergency
Guide Extra: 10/16/99
From February into November, the National Science Foundation’s Amundsen-Scott Antarctic Research Station freezes in the near total darkness of South Polar winter. Temperatures average 80 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The station is isolated from the rest of the world except for occasional telecommunications links. Planes can fly over – on some days -- and drop supplies, but they cannot land. For ten months nobody can come in, nobody can get out. Imagine being stuck there in June and discovering you have cancer.The following is the story of Dr. Jerri Nielsen as told in the official press releases of her employer, the National Science Foundation:
June 14, 1999
"On Medical Status of South Pole Personnel"
July 6, 1999
"On Medical Status of South Pole Personnel"
(update of 6/14/99 NSF press release)
July 11, 1999
"On Completion of South Pole Medical Air Drop"
July 13, 1999
"Update On the South Pole Medical Air Drop"
"Briefing on the South Pole Medical Emergency"
"Statement on Behalf of Patient at South Pole"
October 5, 1999
"Status of South Pole Medical Situation"
October 7, 1999
Photograph of Dr. Jerri Nielsen
October 9, 1999
"Update on South Pole Situation"
October 13, 1999
"On South Pole Medical Situation – Arrival of LC-130 in Antarctica"
Related Resources
Countdown
to Survival 
The mission to rescue Dr. Nielsen was no milk run. Read the story of the flight of the
National Guard LC-130 to
National Science Foundation Polar Research
U.S. Antarctic Program 1998-1999
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Renovation Project
Good insight into the conditions and problems faced by NSF in building and maintaining this South Pole facility.
Antarctica - Maps and Geography
From About.com Geography Guide, Matt Rosenberg, detailed maps and geopolitical data on the international South Polar research community.
U.S. Air Force C-141 Starlifter cargo jet
U.S. Air Force LC-130 Aircraft
