Guidelines
Emergency Procedures
An emergency is any event which prevents normal completion of a
walk.
On the Fells:
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If you become split from the main body of their group and
are unable see which way their group has gone;
STAY PUT
Use emergency whistle, signals etc, to attract attention as
quickly as possible better to do it sooner than later. (six
blasts with a minute's silence, repeated even when the
acknowledgement is heard - three blasts during the minute's
silence).
-
If assistance is needed, attempt to contact other St Edward's
walking parties, to advise them
of the situation BEFORE contacting emergency services (an extreme situation may over-ride
the initial Club contact)
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The whole group will pool resources to help the casualty.
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At least two (2) members the group WILL REMAIN with the casualty to
give maximum comfort and help.
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At least two (2) members of the group will GO FOR ASSISTANCE.
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Leader of the party will decide, if the situation allows, whether
any balance of members the party continue their walk; always providing such a sub-group
contains competent leadership.
-
At ALL times the leader's decision must prevail. This will dictate
the action of the party.
Getting Assistance
The following MINIMUM WRITTEN information is required:
- Accurate grid reference and time of the occurrence.
- Brief factual description of the accident and any problems
- Personal details of the casualty.
- Name
- Age.(accurate or estimated)
- Home address and telephone number
- Prior medical history, if any, if known
- Blood Group
- Emergency contact and phone number
- What action is proposed by the party
remaining with the casualty
- What action proposed by any other part of that walk
group.
Getting assistance may involve returning to high ground in order to receive mobile phone signal. Taking multiple phones on different networks would increase the probability of success.
At the Coach
-
A minimum period of one hour is to elapse after the stated
return time has passed before EMERGENCY measures are
implemented for a non-returning group about whom no
information has been previously received (i.e. Fell Rescue,
called out)
-
When an emergency has been established,
other walks will continue to completion and ONE senior club
member will be selected from senior members
present to be club accident coordinator, to coordinate base
(coach) activities.
-
All returned members will in the close vicinity of
the coach, unless directed otherwise by a club accident
coordinator.
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ALL action WILL be at the discretion of the Club accident
coordinator.
-
Action taken, to be decided by the nominated person on the
circumstances.