Ariel rescue

[RogerM]

There could not have been a better tech in the tree for our comp. I have your four dollars. Please grow the beard back. ;&lt

 

[Fairfield]

Don't move the victim until EMS arrives and tells you to do so.


Well what if the vic has possably had a heart attack. Why would you wait for EMS then? They will get there and tell you to get them down anyway. The only time you will not go up and come down right away is for spinal injury. In that case how many climbers on here know how to secure a hanging vic to a board??

 

[RescueRat]

[ QUOTE ]
Well what if the vic has possably had a heart attack. Why would you wait for EMS then? They will get there and tell you to get them down anyway. The only time you will not go up and come down right away is for spinal injury. In that case how many climbers on here know how to secure a hanging vic to a board??

[/ QUOTE ]

To assume the victim has had a heart attack would mean that someone witnessed the incident - i.e., "I saw him grab his chest, groan, and pass out." If this is the case and you are able to assess the victim and determine that no secondary injury has occured (such as hitting his head after passing out), it may be reasonable to perform the rescue without waiting for EMS and begin CPR once you reach the ground.

My primary issue goes back to the scenario that I have most often witnessed at TCCs... "You have an uresponsive climber in the tree. GO!"

Heart attack? Heat stroke? Bee sting? Broken arm? Broken back? Crushed skull? Electrocution? Seizure? ETOH? Flu? Sleeping? Praying? Attacked by chipmunk?

Don't just assume "EMS will want him out of the tree when they get here, so I'll just go ahead and do it now." Protocol requires us - that is, licensed medics - to take full C-spine precautions with an uresponsive accident victim or when circumstances lead us to believe that the RISK of c-spine injury exists. A person in a tree presents such risk.

 

[easyphloem]

Good to see this discussion continuing.


Last weekend we had a Fire Captain and some firemen out at a climbing seminar, and we had an Aerial Rescue event set up (in accordance to ITCC rules).

We showed them what we do for the competition and then we asked them what they would most like to see if they got called to a jobsite and an injured climber was in the tree, no access for a ladder, and a capable rescuer on the ground, awaiting their orders.

The Captain told us in no uncertain terms that unless it is a spinal injury that is suspected, the best thing that could happen is that the victim is on the ground so that they can get moving to the hospital. He said that time is critical, and he also said he was impressed with the event and how smoothly the dummy was being handled, which isn't always easy in a high angle rescue.


Personally, I think it all boils down to a case by case basis, and you have to trust in your first aid and CPR training to get you by until EMTs arrive.

For the TCC, I think the event is adequate but not true to life.


SZ

 

[Fairfield]

RR,
I go with what you are saying all the way. That is where my issue comes to play we all assume that the rescue is going to be made in a tree with a canopy. What about the spar that is on a 30 degree lean and is still all of 65-80ft tall. Oh ya it is in the back yard nothing around it besides the house. Fire crews cant get the ladder to the person. Sorry for going a little of topic of the comp. I just dont ever see any fire training for this case.Maybe there is out west but not over in the east that I know of.
I think the best answer to it is if we could go to a training night at the local fire houses and try to teach them what we know ( I know I know, good luck with that ). At some point though there is going to be a rescue that takes three hours when it should have only taken 1/2 hour at most. Thats to late to start cross training.