With winter around the corner, Casey prepares the station, celebrates a fun St. Patrick’s day with an impressive array of green food and drink, and the lay surgical team trains for emergency.

Winter is coming

This week saw the arrival of Steve and Cary (and Matt’s return) after finishing the Wilkins Aerodrome pack down, completing the Casey winter group for 2014.

The weather over the past few weeks has clearly changed highlighting the fact that winter is not far away. Daytime temperatures are now around −10o C and we have almost 12 hours of darkness every night.

The fresh snow around station combined with the freezing of the sea water makes for some great sights around station.

We are all trying to make the most of the remaining daylight and decent weather before winter truly sets in.

Photo of everyone at Casey for the 2014 winter — all 18.
The first fresh snowfall of the 2014 winter at Casey Station.
Pattern formed in the snow by lying down and spreading arms and feet — resembles an angel
Large patches of ice with mushed edges resembling pancakes.
View of sea ice forming over Newcomb Bay from Reeves Hill
View of the sun sinking below the horizon from Reeve’s Hill at Casey station

Food and celebrations

A station’s morale is often linked with the food on offer and once again our chef, Eddie, has outdone himself this week.

Friday night saw the return of Splinters Bistro offering a traditional bar menu, which always goes down well on station.

Saturday night took it up a notch with an Italian themed formal dinner comprising of four courses of exceptional Italian food.

Celebrations then continued on Monday with St. Patrick’s Day — an evening of Irish music, questionable dancing and colourful finger food washed down with a few green beverages. 

View of Casey dining room set for an Italian themed dinner
A view of the Casey signpost, the Irish Flag, and the Australian flag flying at Casey on St Patrick’s Day
Steve Black working as slushy in the kitchen at Casey Station.
Images of sausage rolls with shamrock, green layer cake, individual shepherds pie with green mash, and chicken rissoles with green mushy peas on top
Scott Clifford and Grant Jasiunas in the bar area at Casey
Rob Bennett and Nick Johnston dressed up for St Patricks Day at Casey

Lay surgical assistants

The position of Lay Surgical Assistant is a challenging but hopefully rewarding one.

With little or no medical background, Ian, Steve B, Dan and Nick volunteered for the position in addition to their normal duties on station. Their training started prior to departure at the Royal Hobart Hospital where they learned the basic skills and knowledge required to assist in surgery or in any other medical emergency on station.

Once in Antarctica, the training continues with regular sessions focusing on improving or developing new medical skills, teamwork and communication as well as a series of scenarios to test how we all react under pressure.

This week we revised our management of an unconscious patient, practiced CPR and finished off with a mock surgical scenario. As the only doctor and health professional on station, it is a reassurance to have the support of such a dedicated and professional group.

Medical scenario for lay surgical assistants at Casey Station where they are practicing CPR
Ian Coleman and Steve Black practising medical skills at Casey Station, in this case administering medications
Dan Laban and Nick Johnston practising skills during Lay Surgical Assistant training at Casey
Casey Medical Team 2014 — Dr Grant Jasiunas, Nick Johnston, Ian Coleman, Steve Black, and Dan Laban.
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