Jubilee Centre BEL Course Notes

First Aid and Emergencies

[Home]

First aid in the middle of nowhere can be daunting.

Do a risk assessment - cut down the chances of an accident occurring, be careful not to be overprotective and make the whole venture a sterile experience.
Keep an eye on what is happening with the weather, time, the groups mental condition and their physical well-being.
Be prepared to change plans, a flexible approach to keep the venture within safe limits.
Have a first aid kit containing adaptable items that can deal with most problems, be willing to use unlikely things to get the job done.
Be quick to identify problems and symptoms, particularly those associated with Hypothermia, Heat - Stroke (Hyperthermia), Blisters and Burns, dealing with minor problems before they escalate.

If a situation does arise
Be prepared, remove everyone from immediate danger, assess your patient - ABC, once the situation is under control examine the patient more thoroughly, provide any further treatment as required - splints etc..
Next, step back from the incident, take an overview. Allow yourself a little time to make decisions, rescue in remote areas takes time, a couple of minutes spent making good decisions is well worthwhile.

Make a summary of the situation

Are you in a dangerous area, what is the weather like, when will it get dark.
How far is it to help, where is there shelter, how far is it to a vehicle or helicopter pickup point.
What gear do you have, what can you improvise.
Is the rest of the group fine, what is their physical and mental state, is their clothing and equipment good, are they injured.

You will need to decide

Whether to split the group - send people for help.
Do you move the patient - for safety, shelter or to an area easier to be spotted from.
Do not underestimate the effort required to move a casualty over rough ground.
With the amount of people using the hills these days, if you are in a popular area, it is not unusual to have help come to you. If you are off the beaten track you will need to be self sufficient.

To attract attention use the International Distress Signal

Six long blasts on a whistle, six shouts, or waves of a handkerchief or garment, or flashes of a torch at night, in quick succession, followed by a one minute pause.
Red flares are also a distress signal.

The reply is

Three long blasts, shouts, waves or flashes followed by a one minute pause.
White flares are also an acknowledgement.
Continue signalling till your rescuers reach you.

Involve your group - while some are signalling, get some attending the patient, others preparing a brew, working on a plan for getting help etc..
If you have to split your group, decide on a route to help, is it within their ability to navigate it, no point in getting people lost as well. Use your best navigator and your fittest group member to get help.

Re - distribute gear, make sure a complete kit is left, a stove without fuel is an ornament, those fetching help should have their own emergency kit.

Locate exactly where you are - everyone should know where they are, and the route of the rescue group.

They will take a written message with the following information for the police

The exact position of the injured person(s), with a six figure grid reference and a description of the place.
The number of injured and their name(s).
The nature of the injuries.
The time of the accident.
The state of the rest of the group.

Those going off will need to note carefully the area, they may have to lead the rescue party back, tell them to keep looking back, get a good memory of where the group is waiting.

Those waiting for help will probably have a long wait.
Get organised, erect a shelter (tent or improvised), keep the patient warm and monitored, get a brew on (but not for the casualty if they are likely to need anaesthetic).
Keep a look out for other people using the hills, make yourselves more visible, be alert and ready to signal rescuers in.
At night signal with torches, but conserve your batteries, if you are approached by a helicopter at night, take care they will be wearing image intensifying glasses, don't blind the pilot.

If you expect a helicopter you can mark out International Ground to Air Signals made up from clothing etc., laid out on the ground, or by a person taking up the shape, standing or lying down.

Y = yes we need help. I = serious injury - require doctor.
X = unable to proceed N = no we do not need anything

Do not approach helicopters until told to do so, secure everything down, if there is stuff flying around they will not land. Allow the winchman to land unaided or risk a sharp static shock.