[at-l] Plan B

[cleek@cleekhouse.com (Billie H. Cleek)]

It's also useful to remember that the universal call for distress is
3.  Three blows on the whistle, three gun shots, three smoke
signals...whatever.  I carry a whistle. It's lighter than a cell phone,
and it's unidirectional (no one can call in or expect me to call them to
tell them I'm ok).

Cleek

On Fri, 7 Dec 2001, Amy wrote:

> 
> 
> Pat Villeneuve wrote:
> 
> > We recently read a trip report of a slip-and-fall that resulted in
> > broken bones and a cell-phone-aided evacuation. I am not casting
> > aspersions on the unfortunate hiker, but for the sake of the nervous
> > folks reading along at home, what coulda/shoulda/woulda the hiker done
> > had he not had a cell phone? And what might have happened then?
> 
> 
> I missed that trip report, but I can comment on getting hurt without
> cellphones.  Since cellphones haven't been around that long, there's
> a well established procedure for what to do if you get hurt.  My mom
> has fears along these lines and I've had to spell out for her what I'd
> do if I got hurt.  I have actually carried a cellphone before, but IME
> it doesn't work anywhere but on high ridges.
> 
> 
> 0) DON'T PANIC.  If you must panic, try to do it quietly and without
> 	scattering your gear.
> 1)  Assess the damage.
> 2)  Repair yourself as best you can.  Wrap cuts, abrasions, sprains,
> 	or breaks.  Make a splint out of local wood or pack or tent
> 	parts if necessary.
> 3)  If you're still mobile, try to get to a road or somewhere
> 	 you think you'll find help.
> 4)  If you're not mobile, stay put.  :)  Try to make yourself very
> 	visible, blow on your whistle, and otherwise try to attract
> 	attention from somebody in the area who can go for help.
> 
> If you've been a good hiker and left a plan with someone, they should
> realize at some point that you've missed your deadline for reporting
> in and come looking for you.
> 
> 
> -amy in maryland, who tries to stick to the kind of accidents one can
> 	walk away from
> 
> _______________________________________________
> AT-L mailing list
> AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l
>