Copy That: The Ultimate Guide to Expedition Communication

In the high-stakes world of expedition medicine, effective communication isn’t just about exchanging information—it’s about survival. The more extreme the environment, the more crucial clear communication becomes for managing human factors and ensuring mission success. From polar expeditions to high-altitude rescues, mastering communication techniques can mean the difference between success and failure in challenging wilderness environments.

Why Communication Matters in Expedition Medicine

In expedition environments—from Arctic expeditions to desert treks—clear communication becomes essential for:

• Reducing errors in critical wilderness medicine scenarios
• Making quick, informed decisions during expedition emergencies
• Building strong expedition team collaboration
• Learning and improving from each wilderness medicine experience

Managing Human Factors Through Communication

Face-to-Face vs Radio Communication

Whilst face-to-face communication is ideal in expedition settings, we often rely on radio communication in remote wilderness locations. This means expedition teams need to be more deliberate and structured in how they communicate to manage human factors effectively.

Key Communication Strategies for Expedition and Wilderness Medicine

1. Closed-Loop Communication
   • Essential for expedition medicine safety and error prevention
   • Works in three clear steps:
     1. Sender gives a clear, specific message (“Give 5mg of adrenaline”)
     2. Receiver repeats back the critical information (“5mg adrenaline, copy that”)
     3. Sender confirms accuracy (“Correct”) or corrects any misunderstanding
   • Examples of proper use:
     • During drug administration: “Push 10ml of saline” → “Pushing 10ml saline” → “Confirmed”
     • For navigation: “Bearing 275 degrees” → “275 degrees, copy” → “Correct”
     • In emergencies: “Start chest compressions” → “Starting chest compressions” → “Confirmed

1. NATO Phonetic Alphabet
   • Standard system used worldwide in expedition medicine
   • Critical for:
     • Communicating grid references (Alpha-Five-Charlie)
     • Spelling patient names (Mike-Alpha-Romeo-Yankee)
     • Drug names (Papa for Paracetamol)
     • Equipment requests (Oscar for Oxygen)
   • Reduces errors in challenging environments where sound quality might be poor
   • Example: Instead of “B for Bob” (which could sound like “P” or “D”), use “Bravo”
2. Shared Mental Models in Expedition Teams
   • Creates a common understanding of:
     • Team roles and responsibilities
     • Emergency protocols
     • Equipment locations and uses
     • Decision-making hierarchies
   • Developed through:
     • Pre-expedition briefings
     • Regular scenario training
     • Clear documentation of procedures
     • Post-incident debriefings
3. Information Chunking for Expedition Medicine
   • Based on Miller’s “Magic Number 7” principle
   • Practical applications:
     • Breaking down complex medical protocols into clear steps
     • Organising equipment checks into manageable lists
     • Structuring radio communications effectively
   • SBAR framework in practice:
     • Situation: “We have a 35-year-old climber with suspected HAPE”
     • Background: “Started experiencing symptoms 2 hours ago at 4000m”
     • Assessment: “Showing signs of severe respiratory distress”
     • Recommendation: “Immediate descent and oxygen therapy needed”
4. Active Listening in Extreme Environments
   • Key components:
     • Full attention on speaker
     • No interrupting
     • Body language showing engagement (when face-to-face)
     • Note-taking for critical information
   • Example scenario: During a mountain rescue briefing:
     • Listen completely to the incident details
     • Confirm understanding: “So to confirm, patient location is…”
     • Ask specific questions: “What’s their current oxygen saturation?”
     • Document key points for reference

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Managing Groupthink in Expedition Teams

When expedition teams prioritise harmony over critical thinking, it can lead to poor decisions. Combat this by:

• Encouraging diverse perspectives in expedition planning
• Appointing a devil’s advocate for wilderness medicine decisions
• Creating space for constructive disagreement
• Maintaining psychological safety for all team members

Implementation Tips

• Practice these strategies during regular training sessions
• Use scenario-based learning to embed these skills
• Regular team reviews of communication effectiveness
• Adapt strategies based on environmental challenges
• Document and learn from communication failures or near-misses

The more challenging the wilderness environment—whether it’s a polar expedition, high-altitude climb, or remote medical emergency—the more important these communication principles become. By implementing these strategies, expedition teams can work more effectively, make better decisions, and most importantly, stay safer in the field.

→ Want to improve your expedition medicine skills? Check out our Human Factors course, where we dive deeper into managing human factors in wilderness and expedition environments.

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