The Alcor Podcast Deployment and Recovery: Inside Alcor's DART Team - Part 1
Apr 23, 2025
Shelby Calkins, Alcor's Medical Response Director and lead of the Deployment and Recovery Team (DART), shares fascinating insights into the vital operations of her team. She discusses the history and evolution of Alcor’s approach to Standby Stabilization and Transport. Listeners will learn about the crucial differences between cryopreservation techniques and why specialized training is essential. Calkins also addresses common misconceptions and highlights the importance of adapting care to individual cases, while emphasizing soft skills vital for team success.
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Importance of SST in Cryonics
- Standby stabilization and transport (SST) is vital immediately after legal death is declared.
- Rapid cooling minimizes brain damage by reducing warm ischemic time before cryoprotective perfusion.
Typical DART Deployment Process
- DART deploys rapidly after member decline notification, setting up stabilization anywhere from hospital to home.
- After death, immediate cooling and medications are given, followed by surgery and transport back to Alcor for final procedures.
Difference: Perfusion vs Straight Freeze
- Straight freeze means no cryoprotectant was used and is highly damaging.
- Perfusion with cryoprotectants like M22 is critical to preserve tissues at the cellular level during freezing.