Live from the REC2 training weekend, this is part one of the two 8h training course in First Aid, where Aid comes First!
This is as close to a log diary as it gets, I do not want to forget some thing so i make notes of some stuff that were discussed in today's session.
REC is a first aid course that trains you to be prepared and equipped for when the emergency situation occurs in a remote location, where the ambulance is not likely to be there on time, a considerable longer time from an urban environment.
It also seems that the position of the body will be in a more random or awkward place. Getting there, assessing and caring for the casualty is a challenge. I guess in an urban setting, most casualties tend to be flat, on their backs one swing away from the recovery position, just about enough time for the ambulance to arrive.
Oh wait, we dont call it the recovery position any more, that assumes too much, that the casualty will recover for starts... We call it assisted airways position, basically we make sure that if there is a breath in their body, there's more chance for another one...
I won't go into the technicalities of "how" and "what" you do or "why"; do the course to get them from the horse's mouth. I will write a couple of ideas, especially the scouting aspect of it.
When we hike, we tend to use dirt tracks, the ones that go bit off the back of farms and through little copses, some woods, over another farm or field, we still hear the car noise from the nearby A or M road, right? We are in the nature but not off the grid, safe in the knowledge that if the ambulance won't come on time, the helicopters will! Can you tell I was a cubs leader?
The 7 to 15 minutes that it would take for an ambulance to go where the postman can deliver post, becomes... 45 minutes? Maybe less provided you can move the casualty closer to the main road but do you move casualties? Not in the emergency first response context. Thats a long way around of saying; REC2 is much more basic that you think, much more common and close to familiar scouting grounds.
With a group of scouts, ramblers, walkers, tourists, call it how you want, it's not only the casualty you will need to care of but everybody else, you don't want more casualties under your care because while you are tending the wounded scout the others may get wet, cold, scared, even suffer from hypothermia feeling horrible and helpless! So you might need to know how to set them safe and ready for a long night till help arrives.
Get your patrols to practice a first aid program or activity that one or two "casualties" are cared for by the first aider but everybody knows how to react, e.g. where the first aid kit is, how to call for help, how to prepare a shelter and a brew and how to evacuate. This will help moral and keep spirits high as everybody has a job, while the patrol or troop is stranded waiting for help to arrive.
Got ICE number and name on your mobile phone? I let you google this to find out what it is.
And finally, do you know where you are going to be and how it's called or how to reference it on the grid or post code address if you have to call for an ambulance or mountain rescue or coast guard?
When you prepare a hike get those things in with your first aider, they will love you when you tell them exactly where they can find you.
Oh there's more than this but I won't script the whole course here now, am I? For starts, I got one more day to go through tomorrow...
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