One of our MEDIC first response watches recently took off on assignment! It was sent to be field tested in one of the most extreme climates on the planet, traveling 14,943km from Barrie, Ontario, Canada to the South Pole, Antarctica. It will be worn and used there by Ethan Rudnitsky, a Firefighter/EMT-Intermediate with 23 years under his belt. He will be in the South Pole from the end of October, 2024 until January, 2025. We have been advised by Ethan that the MEDIC will be put to good use, both in and out of a clinical setting.
In the South Pole the average annual temperature is -46° Celsius, although in the summer months of December and January it can be a balmy -26° Celsius. We are getting first-hand info on how all parts of the MEDIC hold up exposed to these less-than-favourable weather conditions.
We anticipate that the bidirectional bezel will operate as usual in Antarctica. The MEDIC will still have the functionality to measure heart rate and respiratory rate. Our Shelby Watch Co. Ambassador, Ethan, plans to get the watch into the field and showcase it in action!
For most of the time the MEDIC is in the South Pole there will be 24 hours of daylight, so the lume won’t be glowing outdoors. However, there is still the possibility of low lighting conditions indoors to test the legibility of the bezel, dial, hands, and date wheel.
Movement accuracy may be ever-so-slightly impacted by the low ambient temperatures if the watch is off the wrist. Among other factors, this is due to the balance wheel contracting, which may speed up the time.
Ethan has a 7” wrist size, so we removed two links for him to make this tool watch his own. In that cold climate though, he may need to use the micro-adjustments to tighten the fit. The bracelet can be changed by up to 19mm in 8 smaller increments.
As a field tester for the MEDIC, Ethan is a watch enthusiast who enjoys unique pieces. He also possesses first response skills that initially drew him to the Pulsometer and Asthmometer functionality. He has been a Firefighter/EMT-Intermediate for 23 years and was a Lieutenant for his department in New Jersey.
During his first time in Antarctica, Ethan spent 54 weeks straight at the South Pole. Since then, he has accumulated almost 5 years on the ice in total. This includes a stint wintering at the pole, which is something that less than 2000 people in the world can claim. Antarctica holds a special place in his heart and Ethan described it to us as a ‘fantastic continent’. Now, he will add another few months to his tally at the South Pole, with the MEDIC on his wrist.
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