What
Make sure your pack has a first aid kit and that you’ve had
the training to use it. Because most SOTA adventures are pretty short, I
recommend just enough gear to stop the bleeding. Anything more than that
and you are probably going to need to press the SOS button anyway.
Why
Accidents happen. Activators are outside and exposed
to all sorts of stuff. Emergency response isn’t 5 minutes away, you
may need to survive or help others till it does arrive. For example, when
I was setting up an antenna, I stumbled backward and did a very simple fall to
a sitting position. No big deal normally. Unfortunately, I fell
onto a dead pine with a broken off branch that went into my leg. I put my
medic training into action, calmly pulling myself off the log (I said
“calmly”, not quietly), getting to my pack, and took actions to stop the
bleeding. I immediately had a plan A, B, C ready to go if the bleeding
didn’t stop (never mind the stuff poking out). Once the hole was
patched, I ate and drank some water (I didn’t have anything stronger), and I
let my wife know I’d need a lift to the ER when I got home. I also pinged
my location using my Garmin Inreach available on a web map just in case my wife
wanted to come get the dog.
Many times, SOTA activators find themselves leading a group
because going on a hike was their idea or they are the most experienced.
You should be ready to help others and you may come across others that need
your help as well.
What I And Others Do
I carry a small
two-person kit that has some small bandages for cuts and scrapes,
antiseptic wipes, large bandages, gauze and tape, cling wrap, tweezers.
In addition, I have some extra bandaids for when I decide a summit just needs
some blood sprinkled on it. I also have some luco tape for the hot spots
I might aquire.
Get training. I was an Army medic and a trained EMT,
but I probably need some recurrent training since it is a perishable
skill. I’m ready to treat others but only to my level of training (fixing
your boo boo). If injury is beyond your capabilities, stop the bleeding,
provide comfort and warmth and get help. Knowing multiple ways to stop
the bleeding, maintaining an airway, and treating a bit of shock will go a long
way to allow you or others to survive until support arrives.
I love N6JFD’s advice, “#1, bring your brain”, it’s simple
and to the point. Stay calm, remember your training. Jamie also
recommends tossing in a couple sanitary napkins in your kit in case you
encounter a larger wound.
There’s a lot more to know about patient care, like treating
shock, heat injuries, and more. Look for wilderness first aid classes in
your area.
Visit HamNinja.com/safety
for my safety article, and HamNinja.com/safetytips
to see all the tips as they are published. I have more safety tips to
come.
The Ham Ninja’s SOTA Safety Tips
SOTA Safety Tips is a weekly series of quick tips to
remember to improve safety of the hobby. This was inspired by the SoCal
SOTA group’s meetings on this topic and will be sourced from my own and others'
experience. Don’t forget, you also need to support your group and others
with this knowledge. I’ll keep these as short as possible. Send
feedback to safetytips@HamNinja.com.
I am not a safety or health professional, doctor, or other
expert, just an amateur. Be careful out there and do your research.
I’ve activated 817+ summits since Oct of 2017 in Southern California, Arizona,
New Mexico, and several other states. Over that time I’ve hiked 2,540+
miles and climbed 626,000+ feet. I don’t have skills beyond class 3
hiking and really, “scrambouldering” and light snow pack are my upper skill
limits and my hikes are normally 2 miles, NTE 18 miles. I was an Army
medic and was a certified EMT. I have received training on desert
survival, and recurrent first Aid training in other roles. First Aid
is a perishable skill, get training..
You can contact me at safetytips@HamNinja.com.
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