D of E ExpeditionsEmergencies and First Aid

Keep water supplies clean if wild camping – take drinking water up stream and wash down stream.

Boil water or using purifying tablets – especially if water is stagnant.

Maintain normal personal hygiene as much as possible.

Hygiene

Avoid problems as far as possible:Wear appropriate clothing.Carry the rucksack properlyTake care walking – beware slippy rocks, do not run down hill

Plan a bad weather alternative (bad weather = strong winds AND rain).

Accidents and Emergency

Bad weather = strong winds, rain, misty. Plan a bad weather alternative – a low level

route – if your planned route goes high. Keep warm and dry. Eat. STAY TOGETHER.

Bad Weather

Use your map and compass skills to try to work out where you are – see if you can get back on route.

Try to make contact with your supervisor using the emergency mobile phone – give as many details about the location as you can.

If high on a mountain, make your way to lower ground – but avoid following a stream.

Note features and keep trying to identify your location.

Lost

Give appropriate first aid treatment. All members of the group – keep calm, work

together. Decide on a course

of action.

Injury and Sickness

Possible situations – badly twisted ankle, dislocated ankle, broken leg, exposure. There is no mobile phone reception.

International distress signal:

Six blasts on a whistle in one minute – evenly spaced intervals.Wait one minute – repeat.Answer = 3 blasts in one minuteKeep signalling after an answer call – to guide the rescuers.

Note – NEVER mess with the whistle (blowing when not an emergency).

Emergency Help 1

International distress signal - night time alternative/supplement:

Flash a torch on and off six times in a minute.

Note – NEVER mess with torches at night (when wild camping).

Emergency Help 2

If the international distress signal fails to get a response then you need to go to get help.

Before going write down: o name and condition of the injured person,o names of the people staying with that person,o grid reference, name of location (if there is one), o description of as many features as possible, o time of accident and time setting off for help.

Going for Emergency Help 1

EMERGENCY NOTE Exact position:

Grid Reference ________________________________________________________ Name of Place ________________________________________________________ Description of features _________________________________________________

Details of the Group at the scene of the accident:

Number of persons in the party __________________________________________

Number of persons injured _______________________________________________

Nature of injuries ______________________________________________________

Time of accident: Time _______________________ Date ____________________ Names of people in the party _____________________________ Other information _____________________________________________________

Plan your route – you need to get to a telephone.

Aim for a pub or telephonebox. If you pass a farm house, call in.

2 people go for help. Walk quickly but not recklessly – do not add

to the number of injuries.

Going for Emergency Help 2

Contact the supervisor first for advice. If phoning for emergency help:

Have your written details ready Dial 999 Give your message clearly and concisely.

Phoning for Emergency Assistance

What would you do about:

Blisters Cuts and grazes A burn or a scold Bee sting Sprained ankle?

First Aid Problems

Cuts and grazes – wash (water or antiseptic wipe), cover with plaster to keep clean.

Blisters – use blister plasters (eg Compeed). Burns or scolds – cool the affected area using water or

a damp material then cover with eg cling film, plastic bag.

Insect stings – remove a bee sting (tweezers). A sting in the mouth is serious – get to a doctor asap.

Wrenched/sprained ankle – prevent swelling by, if water is near, place the foot in it, bandage to support, wear boots firmly tied (but not too firmly).

Basic First Aid

What is it? What can cause it? How do you treat it?

Shock

Shock – oxygen supply through circulation is not good enough Symptoms: shallow breathing, sweaty/clammy skin, weak pulse,

paleness – then thirst, nausea, dizziness, aggressiveness. What to do:

o Treat the cause of shock – eg bleedingo Keep the person warm – put on extra clothing, put in a bivvy bag,

put in a sleeping bag, put up a tent.o Make them rest.o Raise feet above the height of the head.o Loosen tight clothing.

http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/shock.aspx

Serious injury first aid 1

Broken arm. Broken leg/ankle. Dislocated ankle. Bleeding.

Serious injury first aid 2

1. Casualty complains of feeling cold.2. Skin becomes cold.3. Casualty feels cold to the touch.4. Casualty shivers.5. Co-ordination is reduced – stumbles, slurred speech.6. Casualty loses interest, becomes irrational.7. Vision begins to fail.8. Pulse and respiration slow down.9. Casualty loses consciousness.

Exposure – Signs and Symptoms

What would you do as a group if someone said they felt cold, had lost interest in the expedition and shivered quite a bit?

What would you do if someone said they were very cold, they kept tripping up on things, they were saying odd things (swearing, bad tempered, aggressive), complains that they cannot see properly?

Exposure

DO NOT1. Rub the casualty to warm them – blood will rush

away from vital organs to point of rub.2. Do not give alcohol. DO 1. Stop.2. Find shelter.3. Dress in warm, dry clothing.4. Give food and drink – warm (emergency rations).5. Put up tent, use sleeping bag (if severe).

Exposure - Treatment

CAUSES OF EXPOSUREo Cold, wet, windy conditions.o Lack of fitnesso Run down of energy PREVENTIONo Keep warm and dry – use cagoules, overtrousers etco Do not get overwarm – take of cagoules etco Eat well – hot meals for breakfast, evening. o Eat little and often.

Exposure - Prevention

What should you do to avoid suffering from exposure on a cold and wet day?

Preventing Exposure

Tiredness caused by becoming too hot – in hot weather conditions.

Protect from the sun: Wear a hat Use protective sun cream (strong factor). Take some clothes off if appropriate. Drink to keep hydrated.

Heat Exhaustion

NEVER spread out across a road – always walk in single file or 2 people side by side.

Walk on one side of the roadfacing oncoming traffic (unlessthere is a blind bend).

Concentrate!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Avoiding Accidents on Roads