A casualty in a mountain crevasse and an injured patient on a ship present very different rescue challenges. Yet the priorities behind their care have much in common.
In this session recorded at WEM24, Oliver Kreuzer draws on his experience with Air Zermatt and U.S. Air Force pararescue to explore the principles that connect medicine and rescue across mountain, maritime and military settings.
Through operational examples, Oliver discusses reaching the casualty, identifying essential interventions and planning extraction to definitive care. He examines how environmental hazards, limited access and evacuation delays influence decisions about treatment, equipment and monitoring.
The session also explores the preparation behind effective rescue teams, including realistic training, physical readiness, mentorship and honest reflection on performance. It offers a practical perspective on keeping the patient’s needs central when the rescue itself is complex.