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Shrewsbury Hillwalking Club

Founded 1937

Emergency Action Information

Making/recognising a distress signal

  • Six quick successive whistle blasts
  • Torch flashes
  • Wearing bright clothing or survival bag
  • Repeated every minute

On hearing a distress signal

  • Confirm ID of signal
  • Do notreply(signal may then stop)
  • If distant, mark your position on map if there is time

Before going for help

  • Do not endanger self or group trying to help
  • Mark on map
  • location
  • time
  • ascent details
  • name,age,sex,address of casualty

Incident management

  • Safety – of group, casualty, others
  • Shelter – warm clothes, insulation, shelter
  • First Aid – ABCDE (see below)
  • Get help
    • Phone 999/112 and ask for Police then Mountain Rescue*
    • Use whistle (6 blasts) or torch
    • Make yourselves visible eg high viz clothes, orange bivi bag
    • Send 3 people for help if necessary

Phoning or sending for help - have information ready:

  • what help needed
  • location – 6 fig grid ref and/ or GPS plus landmarks & access
  • what has happened
  • how many people ill or injured.
  • what kit do you have (eg warm clothes, first aid, food & drink, group shelter)
  • number and state of rest of group
  • contact options (eg second phone)

First Aid Priorities

Medical Emergencies needing immediate 999/112:

Any uncontrollable airway, breathing or bleeding issues, eg severe asthma attack; anaphylaxis; choking; shock; heart attack; fit/seizure; diabetic high/ low blood sugar levels, head injury leading to unconsciousness. DO NOT MOVE casualty unless they are in danger or you need to maintain their airway

Action Consider
A Assess Danger? What happened? History? (eg illness? or accident?) Is it safe to approach? Think vehicles/ bikes; steep terrain; loose rock, etc
A Mechanism of injury? If the casualty suffered a fall or big impact or you suspect broken bones
A Alert Response? If the casualty is conscious but injured keep them still and keep them warm and dry
If the casualty is UNCONSCIOUS then:
A Airway Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin
B Breathing Look, listen, feel for normal breathing
C Circulation If the casualty is not breathing or is just making noisy gasps call 999 immediately and start CPR (30 compressions (depth 5-6cms, rate 100-120/min) : 2 breaths) If the casualty is breathing – is there any major blood loss? Apply direct pressure to wounds. Treat for shock – lie down on mats/insulation - head down and legs raised (do not raise if legs, hips or spine are damaged). Keep the casualty warm, keep reassuring and keep monitoring
D Damage/deformity Head to toe check looking and feeling for anything unusual. Check for medic alerts eg bracelet, neck chain, medical card, tattoo
E Emotional well being of casualty Keep talking to them
E Environment Insulation, shelter, angle of slope, dangers

Issued by Shrewsbury Hillwalking Club October 2018