Kay talks to the RCN about the Xtreme research heights she goes to

Xtreme Everest team member Kay Mitchell was recently interviewed for the latest Royal College of Nursing bulletin. Kay, who is a member of the RCN Critical Care and In-flight Forum and Research Society was asked about her role in the research work undertaken by Xtreme Everest.

Kay has been a key member of the team since the first expedition back in 2007, helping to not only run the laboratories, which can involve taking samples or instructing participants in exercise tests all whilst at high altitude but also looking after the recruitment and management of the subjects and investigators for all the expeditions. Included in this she is also carries out the day-to-day management of the finances and development administration of the research group.

Xtreme Everest conducts experiments at high altitude in order to better understand critical illness. We look at issues such as hypoxia (the deprivation of oxygen to the bodies vital organs such as the brain) which is a common condition in patients who find themselves in intensive care. Testing on patients when they are on ICU can be difficult, so taking healthy volunteers to Everest means we can stimulate these conditions.

Kay say that the motivation for the research is "the hope that this research will ultimately lead to improvements in outcomes for intensive care patients". The most recent trek saw the team take indentical twins, children and Sherpas to Everest for testing.

If you are keen to get involved with Xtreme Everest and help raise funds to continue our research, please get in touch with us.