First Aid Tips
This page is not meant to provide people with comprehensive or professional advice on how to treat casualties on the mountains but rather to give invaluable basic tips which could save lives. This page will aim to give anyone a basic idea of how to cope in an emergency but be aware that professional rescue services are there to help YOU!
1. Assessing the situation:
This is very important. If you come across a casualty, you need to be able to answer the following:
- How did the person injure themselves?
- Does that or anything else pose a risk to me?
- Will the casualty remain safe in their present position?
- Can I do anything to help and are the Emergency Services required?
2. The ABC
These are the primary life giving functions and must be preserved over everything else. If you are not trained in CPR or Artificial resuscitation then DONT TRY IT or you may end up injuring the casualty more. However if the casualty is having difficulty breathing then lay the person in the recovery position. If you are not sure what this is then just try to position the casualty so that they can breathe comfortably, this will mean positioning the body so the windpipe is free of obstructions and in an open position. Always support the head and neck when positioning the casualty.
recovery position drawing
3. Common Injuries
Falls
Cuts & Bruises – These are common and usually insignificant. However if the bleeding is more serious then bandages may be needed. Apply these firmly but not tightly over the wound. Elevate the limb if required to stem the blood flow. If the bleeding continues then apply another bandage a little more firmly than previously.
Spinal Injuries – These are hard to diagnose. If in doubt treat as a spinal injury. There is very little you can do as these injuries require specialist treatment. Mountain Rescue or any other appropriate emergency service should be contacted as soon as possible. What you can do to help:
- CALL THE EMEERGENCY SERVICES
- DO NOT MOVE CASUALITY UNLESS MEDICALLY NECESSARY ie. ABC
- KEEP THE CASUALITY WARM
- KEEP THE CASUALITY TALKING
- DO NOT REMOVE ANY CLOTHING OR HELMETS
Obviously if the casualties airway is restricted then the casualty will have to be moved. You prime aim is always to PRESERVE LIFE even if this means risking damaging the spinal column.
Head Injuries – This is very similar to treating spinal injuries as specialist treatment is required. It is vitally important that if the casualty is wearing a helmet then DO NOT REMOVE IT unless it is required for preserving the ABC.
Broken Bones – If this is an open fracture (bone sticking out), then control the bleeding as described above. Depending on your situation the emergency services may or may not be needed. If you are in a remote area then the damaged limb may have to be immobilised by any means possible for evacuation and treatment. By this it is meant that movement of the broken area is restricted. This involves initiative as it depends on your situation and medical supplies available.
Temperature Related Injuries and Conditions
Frostbite – Prevention is always better than treatment so ensure that you always protect extremities such as the hands, feet and nose tip well. Ensure that in winter conditions you are always prepared with a spare set of gloves and socks. If you do suspect that someone in your party has frostbite then you should always suspect hypothermia as well. If tissue is allowed to freeze completely then it will freeze the blood vessels which can lead to gangrene and the tissue will die and be permanently lost.
The only way to treat frostbite is by firstly moving the casualty to a warmer sheltered environment. The area to be treated MUST be allowed to warm up slowly. Put the affected area in water at about 40^C. DO NOT massage the foot or put in hot water. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if serious.
Hypothermia – Hypothermia is a potentially lethal condition which should never be underestimated in severity. Due to the nature of mountaineering activities it may not always possible to remove a casualty to shelter quickly. If you are climbing in winter conditions then it is essential that you carry a SURVIVAL BAG.
The condition arises when the body’s core temperature drops below 35^C. It is essential that the casualty is evacuated to shelter, even if this is just out of the wind. Wind is the prime source of heat removal. Signs to look out for might include:
- Early shivering – which may pass off
- Skin is cold and dry
- Pulse is slow
- Rate of breathing is slow
- There is drowsiness which can be mistaken for drunkenness, this can lead to a coma
It is important to warm the body gradually but without delay. NEVER assume a casualty has died as hypothermia is the body’s attempt to protect the brain from lack of oxygen and a person can survive much longer than a person suffering a cardiac arrest. What you can do to help?
- SEND FOR THE EMERGENCY SERVICES
- GET THE CASUALTY TO SHELTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
- USE A SLEEPING BAG OR SURVIVAL BAG AND SHARE THIS WITH TO CASUALTY TO SHARE BODY HEAT
- CHECK THE ABC
- GIVE FOOD AND HOT DRINKS IF AVAILBLE
However you must NOT under any circumstances:
- RUB OR MASSAGE THE CASULATYS LIMBS
- GIVE ALCOHOL OF ANY DESCRIPTION
- IMMERSE THE CASULTY IN HOT WATER OR USE HOT WATER BOTTLES
Rubbing, massaging and the use of hot water bottles will divert the blood flow from the critical organs to the surface which will make the situation worse. Hence NEVER TREAT FOR FROSTBITE if hypothermia is suspected.
It is also vitally important that climbers are aware of medical conditions that their climbing partners may have. Information on whether a casualty is asthmatic, allergic to anything, diabetic etc., can be vital in saving that persons life and must be passed on to any emergency service personnel.Every situation you find yourself in will be unique and you must use your judgement and experience in conjunction with any training you may have to adopt the right approach though the general procedure is the same each time.