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Simulated EMS care held up at altitude

Quality of prehospital emergency care at high altitude (3,450 m) by non-acclimatised EMS physicians: a randomised assessor-blinded simulation crossover study
Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine · 2026-10-30 · Added 31 October 2026

In a Swiss randomised crossover simulation study, 20 non-acclimatised EMS physicians showed no significant drop in overall performance at 3,450 m altitude (composite 82% at baseline vs 74% acute exposure, p=0.082).

Study type

Simulation

Design

Assessor-blinded randomised crossover simulation study (physician-staffed crews)

Participants

20 non-acclimatised EMS physicians (17 analysed)

Main finding

Median composite performance 82% at baseline, 74% during acute exposure to 3,450 m, 82% with supplemental oxygen at 4 L/min, and 83% after 20 hours at altitude; overall difference not significant (p=0.082)

Caveat

Simulation only, 17 of 20 physicians completed all conditions, and the study crewed doctors rather than paramedics

Bottom line

Context only

Learning goal

Recognise how acute altitude exposure affects my own clinical performance and when supplemental oxygen protects decision-making.

More

• Topic: Other
• Daily scan: 31 October 2026

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