Dates confirmed, itinerary to follow, contact us if you are intereested in joining.

A few steps on from your basic CPR !!

 

Program Title:                       Whitewater Rescue Technician
Provider:                 Graham Wardle, Rescue 3 / The Wild Planet
Duration:                 3 Day 2 Night
Date:                     Program 1: 17 – 19 August 2012
Program 2: 7 – 9   September 2012
 
Overview
Rescue 3 International was founded in 1979 after a California search and rescue team nearly lost one of its own during a water rescue. Nearly 30 years later our mission remains the same: to provide flood, water, and rope rescue training to individuals and organizations with an emphasis on ways to keep rescuers from becoming victims. As a result, Rescue 3 has risen to become the recognized leader in water and flood rescue, training over 90,000 students throughout the US and 32 foreign countries. Known for our dynamic curriculum and utilizing state of the art techniques. Rescue 3 is constantly developing new and innovative rescue techniques, improving on old techniques, and working with manufacturers to develop equipment to meet rescuers needs.
Graham Wardle is an International School teacher, currently working in Bangkok where he lives wife his wife and daughter. For the past 26 years he has paddled, rafted, dived, trekked and climbed in 35 countries. He is a British Canoe Union Level 5 Coach Raft Guide and Rescue 3 Swift Water Rescue Instructor. He holds British Mountaineering Council, rock climbing and mountaineering awards as well as been a keen and avid PADI Scuba Instructor.  He has been instrumental in the development of White Water Safety & Rescue techniques in the UK and Europe, along with the development of coach education schemes.
 
Course Content
This is a three-day course designed for the Outdoor Professional with existing river experience to provide you with the necessary skills to perform rescues in whitewater river situations. It is both classroom and river-based and will include:

·       Hydrology and water dynamics
·       Introduction to technical rescue equipment
·       Hazard identification & risk assessment
·       Introduction to rope systems
·       Swimming in moving water
·       Medical considerations
·       Foot and body entrapments
·       Scene management
·       Contact and in-water rescues
·       Two and Four point boat and rope system
·       Crossing techniques
·       Boat pins and entrapments
·       There will also be several team based scenarios..

Practical element
The practical element will be delivered on the dates above and will be primarily bank/river based. The skills covered will build on your previous foundation knowledge
There is also some preparation work required prior to the course.

 
Equipment
All attendees will be required to be equipped as follows:
 

Wet Sessions:
·       Wet Suit*
·       Helmet*
·       Wet boots/Aqua Shoes or Trainers (NO SANDALS)
·       PFD* (preferably with harness)
·       Throwbag & River knife
Dry Sessions:
·       Outdoor clothes
·       Waterproofs
·       Sturdy footwear
NOTE: Wetsuits, helmets, PFD’s and Throw Bags are available (Please notify The Wild Planet if required).

 
 
Pre-requisites for Attending the Course
Previous White Water experience either as a Rafter or Canoeist.  Confident in swimming in moving water.
Prior to the commencement of the course please practice the following and come prepared to demonstrate:
Figure 8 Follow Through
Figure 8 on a Bight
Directional Figure 8
Double Figure 8 ( Bunny Ears)
Clove Hitch
Italian Hitch (Munter Knot)
Alpine Butterfly
Double Fishermans
Prussik Knot
Water Knot (Tape Knot)
Tensionless Hitch Tying
Two useful  Resource Sites that may aid you are:
http://www.animatedknots.com/
http://www.cmcrescue.com/ ( - If you are an IPhone/IPad User – down load the App.)
 
 
Itinerary
 
Day 1:
1100 – Arrival, Registration at The Wild Lodge, - Lunch
01230 – Course Introduction,                                                                 
Rescue 3 Course Philosophy.                                                  
·       Principles of Water Rescue,

·       Water Dynamics,

·       Management/Organization & Size-Up. Dealing with bystanders

·       Rescuer Safety & Equipment
Introduction to Ropes/Knots & Technical Equipment.
·       Communications

·       Search Management & Helicopters

·       Medical Considerations, Panic & Survival
1800 Evening Meal
1900 ‘C” Spine Rescues & Use of Improvised Collars - practical  - In the Pool
2030 Course close for the day
 
Day 2:
0800 – Travel to WW Site,  On Scene Site Safety Brief, Check PPE, Decontamination
0930 -  PRACTICAL 1
·       Throwlines – Dry land

·       Basic Swimming Position, aggressive/defensive

·       Throwlines wet – Coiled  uncoiled – Practical Assessment

·       Strainer Swim
1130 -  LUNCH – by the River
1230 -  PRACTICAL 2
·       Anchors & Mechanical Advantage Systems

·       Tension Diagonal

·       Contact Rescues

·       Paddle Boating – 2 & 4 point tether

·       Tyrolean boat on tether

·       Swimming in a Hole
1630 – Travel to The Wild Lodge
·       1730   Aggressive Adult CPR Practical Assessment
1900    Evening  Meal & Social
Day 3:
0800 – Travel to WW Site,  On Scene Site Safety Brief, Check PPE, Decontamination
0930 -  PRACTICAL 3
·       Shallow Water Crossings

·       Swimming in a Hole

·       Swim, Paddle, Shoot a line across the river

·       Foot & body entrapments/vertical pinning
1130 -                      LUNCH
1230 -  Student Scenarios – 2/3
1430 – Celebration of Achievement
1500 – Review, Reflection & “The Way Ahead”
1530 – Course Disperse. -

 
 
OTHER DETAILS: The Wild Lodge

Planet Scuba and the Wild Planet Co. Ltd. have over the last 15 years built a reputation for offering safe, fun and exciting adventure programs for Schools, colleges and corporate groups all over Thailand. Our intention with the Wild Lodge is to continue that reputation creating a location that offers first class programs, first class instruction and first class equipment within a relaxing and pleasant and ecologically sustainable environment.         
We operate the Wild lodge in a way that promotes the active stewardship of our natural resources and surroundings and encourages current and future generations to protect it, but at the same time get out into nature and enjoy it. We realize that this involves individual commitment and may not be embraced by all, but if we can have all of our guests leave us with a better appreciation of the outdoors then we are some way forwards to making a difference.
 
Accommodation
We have eight individual lodges. each lodge has a front balcony, main room and rear anti room with an en suite bathroom and rain shower. The main room is large and can be set up with beds for up to 8 students dormitory style. All of the lodges are screened against insects.
 
Our main camp building has four bunkrooms and there is a dedicated staff lodge with four rooms + 2 more Siam rooms in the main lodge. All lodges and rooms have high ceilings with fans and additional freestanding fans and are designed to encourage natural ventilation.
 
Accommodation for this course will be on a twin or triple share basis, individual rooms can be optioned subject to availability and payment of a single supplement.
 

Meals
Food will be prepared on a communal basis with participants all contributing as this course is being subsidized by the Wild Lodge.
Meals will be taken in the main Hornbill Sala, water will be provided with meals.
 
Throughout the day, water will be available during all activities; participants are also required to carry their own water bottle (given to them at the start of the program), which can be refilled on demand within the lodge. All activity locations will also have a ‘drink station’
Note: Details of other lodge facilities + directions can be found in our main brochure or by going to www.thewildlodge.com

I am just back from a WAFA course in Singapore, I attended wanting to gain another perspective on first aid and CPR and came away very impressed. Mark and Sarah gave a fantastic course and I met a great bunch of people.

We at the Wild lodge now plan to talk to the folks @ WMI in Wyoming about running some programs at the Wild Lodge in the latter part of this year.

In addition our good friend Rob Houghton will be coming over to run some two days outdoors programs with basic first aid and CPR with a Wilderness bent.

Details and scheduling to follow.

 

This document was originally published on the net byHerbert Forster & Ken Zafren as a Paper originally intended for mountain rescue first responders and rescue physicians according to national regulations.
it was consequently re-posted by Playak.com in HTML and is repeated below as we feel the information is useful to trained first responders in outdoor situatons which may preclude imediate evacuation.

Treatment of Shoulder Dislocations

Shoulder dislocations are very painful and sometimes are associated with neurologic and vascular injuries. If transport will be prolonged or difficult it is desirable to reduce the dislocation at the scene of an accident. This procedure is well accepted. If transport will be rapid (the normal case in European rescue conditions), the patient should be transported prior to reduction of the shoulder. The decision of whether to reduce a dislocated shoulder in the field requires balancing the desirability of early reduction against the risks involved.
Diagnosis and accompanying injuries

Anterior dislocation is the most frequent type and has a characteristic clinical picture. The shoulder is very painful. The patient holds the arm slightly abducted and externally rotated. In most cases, the patient supports the affected arm with the other one. Typically, the shoulder joint is locked and the arm cannot be adducted to the body. The empty glenoid fossa can often be palpated.

Accompanying bony injuries are quite frequent. Fractures of the head of the humerus can also be clinically similar to shoulder dislocation. Dislocation of the humeral head can lead to traction or pressure on the nerves. Brachial plexus injuries are present in 12% of shoulder dislocations, while axillary nerve injuries are found in 9%. Vascular injury is rare.

Treatment

If the diagnosis is not absolutely clear, reduction must not be attempted. In such cases, the arm should be splinted in the position that is most comfortable for the patient. Analgesic medicines may be given before splinting. A vacuum splint is ideal.

If reduction is to be attempted, discuss the proposed plan of action with the patient. Document neurovascular deficits which are present prior to reduction. Offer the patient analgesics and wait until the onset of pain relief. If two attempts are unsuccessful, the arm should be splinted. Overzealous efforts can do more harm than good.

Reduction should be primarily a responsibility of the physician, but can also be accomplished by rescuers with appropriate training. We recommend, without reservation, the use of the „Campell“ method in mountain rescue.

The patient will normally be found sitting or standing up. Explain the plan to the patient. The first rescuer grasps the injured arm at the inside of the elbow and applies traction along the axis of the arm. As if to shake hands, the rescuer gives the patient his or her hand (the right hand if the right side is dislocated, the left hand if the left side is dislocated). In this way, the traction that has been applied to the upper arm is transferred to the forearm. The hand that held the upper arm before, now grasps the wrist. The success of this reduction method depends on applying traction continuously, without interruption, to overcome the tension of the muscles.

Two Rescuers

whitewater safety, shoulder dislocation

At this point, ask the patient to lie down flat (supine) on the ground with the support of a second rescuer. Continue to apply traction with the arm abducted to 90 degrees and at a 45 degree angle to the ground. It is important for the second rescuer to provide countertraction. The position of this rescuer will be adapted to the terrain (see drawing).

One Rescuer

whitewater safety, shoulder dislocation

Position the patient as for the two-rescuer technique with the arm at a 90 degree angle to the ground. Apply traction continuously The shoulder should be lifted slightly from the ground.

If the reduction is successful a pop may be heard or felt and the pain resolves almost instantly. After reduction, splint the arm and refer the patient to a physician for follow-up care.

 

‘…But I’m not thirsty… ’ a common response from my students on outdoor activities when asked to have a drink!  Dehydration is one of our foremost concerns working in the tropical climate.  Consequences range from mild dizziness to death, but are easily avoided by staying suitably hydrated.  On average, a person should drink at least 2 litres of water a day, requiring additional water for any strenuous activity.  This amount will vary depending on the length of the activity and the amount the person sweats.  To combat this, we always insist on regular water breaks whatever and wherever the activity is.  Another factor often overlooked is the replacement of vital salts lost in sweat.  In extreme cases, by drinking too much water without replacing lost salts, mineral levels can drop so low that they result in a condition known as Hyponatraemia (Low Sodium Levels).  Again, this is easily avoided by replenishing lost salts with an electrolyte beverage, containing valuable salts, and sometimes sugars for extra energy.  To encourage regular drinking habits it is important to make drinking as easy as possible.  Sports bottles now come with a pop out spout, and water bladders (such as the camel-back or platypus) are excellent.  The size of the container should be capable of carrying at least 1.5 litres, but also should not be so large that it becomes a burden to carry.  There are several ways of checking dehydration, either by pinching the skin on the back of your hand and seeing how quickly it returns to its original state, or urine colour, orange being bad, clear being good!  In summary avoidance is always the best action.  Always carry a full water bottle, and drink from it regularly and refill it often so that you don’t get caught out!