Saving lives in wild and remote places
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Saving lives in wild and remote places
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A critical part of mountain rescue work involves the treatment of casualties and team members typically achieve advanced levels of first aid training. There have been great advances made in medical equipment, which is now available to mountain rescue and is used by members who have received training in its use. Some of this equipment is the same as that used in paramedic ambulances, some has been produced specifically for mountain rescue.
For the treatment of hypothermia (exhaustion/exposure) 'warm air breathing apparatus' such as the little dragon have been produced. These devices produce warm air for the patient to inhale, either independently or assisted. Teams also regularly use oxygen equipment with both automatic and on demand supply, Entonox analgesics gas.
For splinting of limbs, etc. a variety of splints are used, including inflatable splints, Kramer wire splints, and vacuum splints. When traction is needed the Hare and Donway Traction Splints are more common. For spinal injuries the vacuum mattress is tending to replace spinal boards, and rigid neck collars are commonly used.
Sophisticated equipment is available for the monitoring of bodily function such as pulse, blood pressure, temperature, electrocardiograph and pulse oximetry (which is used to measure oxygen saturation and is a valuable indication for example of an inadequate airway). This type of equipment is very expensive for outdoor use and has some limitations but it is now being used by some teams. Evaluation to date suggests that although the costs are high, they are justified for teams with significant numbers of major medical problems. As the technology advances and becomes more cost effective it is anticipated that all these techniques will become routine.
Rescue Teams are equiped to deal with incidents or all types and carry programmed defribrillators for monitoring of heart attack victims, intra-venous infusion sets (drip sets), and comprehensive resuscitation sets/kits. Technology continues to advance and offers increased possibilities to improve casualty care in the future, for example the ability to transmit and receive medical information directly between rescue teams on the hill and the hospital has already been trialled.
