D of E Expeditions Emergencies 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 properly Take 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 minute Keep 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 telephone box. 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 bleeding o 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. 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 NOT 1.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 EXPOSURE o Cold, wet, windy conditions. o Lack of fitness o Run down of energy  PREVENTION o Keep warm and dry – use cagoules, overtrousers etc o Do not get overwarm – take of cagoules etc o 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 road facing oncoming traffic (unless there is a blind bend).  Concentrate!!!!!!!!!!!!! Avoiding Accidents on Roads