This is my first ever published article back from 2006, which I was asked to write for the Austrian Mountain Rescue Member’s Journal. It is published once a year in paper.
 

Originally it was written in German, you get a translation here in order to not overload the Google Translate server. You might even get the punchline. Some of the “equipment” depicted has changed, but the points are still valid. For all linguists among my readers or for nostalgic reasons, you can download the original article here. 

 

From one second to the next…

Have you ever thought about how fast you as a mountain enthusiast could end up in a situation where you could have to render first aid?

How do you treat a unconscious patient that lies in front of you on the trail, or a partially paralyzed mountaineer?

You should never count on the help of better qualified others. The suddenly out of thin air appearing rescue helicopter included medical doctor and mountain rescue team can be found in various movies, but the reality looks quite different. It will always take time until professional aid is on scene.

This has nothing to do with a constant fear of something bad happening. But much rather with an inner peace coming from the knowledge on how to act in an emergency. 
 

How about you?

May I dare to ask when you last have participated in a first aid course or even trained on how to help those in need? Has it been decades ago when you took your driving license? Meanwhile the content has changed and in addition, everything needs training.

Your financial contribution [everyone can become a member, check it out here] is extremely important for the financial support of the mountain rescue teams and your personal insurance in case of damage.

This is already more than many mountaineers contribute to alpine safety, but you can also contribute physically.

In order to bring back relevant topics into memory and cover new doctrine, I recommend you urgently to join one of the many first aid courses held by organizations like the Red Cross [or mine].

I’d like to point out some of the first-aid related specifics in the Alpine area, because this seldomly is part of a first aid course.

In addition to the Alpine emergency signals one should memorize also a list of gear that you always should have with you:

• Of course the first-aid kit including a SAM-splint, CPR face shield and rescue blanket [this can be discussed, check my view on this here]
• A bivouac bag and weather gear (Jacket), because the injured patients suffers from hypothermia much faster in the mountains than in the tempered space.
• A signal whistle and signal torch or headlamp
• A cell phone

The continued preached important topics like obtaining:

• A weather report
• the avalanche grade for the whole area including the correct assessment
• and to inform someone on where you will go.

Further on the yearly training with the avalanche transceiver* and the correct behavior for digging out casualties. Also this belongs to the responsible alpinist.

In the end

The fear of doing something wrong is unfounded in most cases! A healthy common sense should take over the action from a certainly frightened or even shocked “me”. Flight would be the overcome instinct, but being drawn from panic to “how do I help?”, unfortunately far too often nothing happens at all, or far too late. And this doesn’t just apply to the mountains, but everywhere you one day might find yourself as a first-aider.

Literature

Here is a list of further reading:

• Erste Hilfe und Gesundheit am Berg und auf Reisen. Treibel, Dr. Walter (ISBN 3-7633-6027-1)
• Behelfsmäßige Bergrettungstechnik und Anleitung zur Ersten Hilfe. Hoi, Klaus & Jenny, Dr. Elmar (ISBN 3 7633 6070–0)
• Erste Hilfe – Bergrettung. Durner, Günter & Römer, Alexander (ISBN 3-9807 101-2-2)

* By the way, the German word for it is LVS = Lawinenverschüttetensuchgerät. Now say it 10x fast to memorize it and impress that voluptuous lady in her Dirndl at the next Oktoberfest.