I was packing the night before in preparation for the scenario. How could I bolster my meager personal first-aid kit to make my pack a Leaders Day Pack. Extra warm clothing is a given as well as plastic produce bags to keep socks and feet dry in wet boots. I know first hand how they helped me and they're such an easy fix. This is the time to pack that emergency space material bivy. All materials to combat hypothermia.
We were to come to campus at 11 a.m. at which time we were given a sealed letter telling us to plan our personnel needs and roles. Discussion ensued and as we planned, often talking over each other, tension rose. Some want detail and more concrete decisions, while others want to wing it given the theoretical nature of the game. Lots of hashing and rehashing. People began to mentally check in and out. I was fortunate to glance Ian's way in time to catch his understated shooting of himself and saying "WFR scenario" as he got up from his table to take a break. His priceless timing caught me in my own suppressed tension and I started a church-like laughing jag. Seeing the results of his handiwork made Ian laugh as well. Before we all left, the top 3 positions in the chain of command were chosen and the rest left to determination by the scenario. I jokingly offered to be a runner and suggested that we all remember that we're on the same team and to remain as calm as we can.
Instructed to open the 2nd letter at 1 p.m., we learned that it was not the rumored all campus emergency but instead, we would be driving to Farley Ledge. At this point we needed to determine what equipment we would bring: variety of ropes, litters and/or back boards, carabiners, pulleys, variety of medical supplies, extra clothing, etc. for the twisted ankle to the person who doesn't make it.
On the ride, I held my "awakening activating inner powers" and "Victory after Struggle" medals, determined to stay calm, to role with whatever came my way, and to learn what I could. No one would die in reality. And though Beth said a few times to have fun with it, the situation is one of tension and pressure and apprehension. As we walked in on the trail, we came across two "hikers" and I stopped to talk with them and ask if they were aware of the emergency. They were plants, had limited information and had called 911. One said she had vomited from what she saw at the scene and as I asked them about any possible injuries to themselves. They appeared fine and said I had likely given them the full verbal head-to-toe. Well, I said resignedly and with a chuckle, I guess I'll move on.
I continued down the forested trail, unable to see anyone ahead because of the rocky terrain. When I arrived at the site, many WFRs were moving to assignments with equipment. Mark asked if I'd mind scouting off to the right for any other victims. I hustled off, relieved to postpone any encounter but also not at all sure what I might find in the craggy rocks ahead. I gave a fairly thorough search in the area wanting to make sure I didn't miss someone who might be found hours later.
I reported back that I found no one and was asked if I would go out on a search and rescue looking for 4 people, 2 men and 2 women. George and I would go, calling in in 20 minutes, and it was suggested we bring as help the two "hikers" who had come back to the base camp, our choice. We figured more eyes and ears the better and had them keep more safely to the trail while George and I walked right and left of the trail 10'-15' out. We arrived at a significant stream which I would have appreciated with different eyes in different circumstances. Here, it was a potential threat in which to find more injured and it was a crossroads. Paths went in 2 or 3 directions and the "hikers" indicated they had information but we needed to ask the right questions to get any answers (since they were instructed not to help us). We took too much time trying to determine our direction but once we did, marched on quickly. We had hiked maybe 2000 yards or more when the "hikers" told us they thought they heard voices back on the trail. . . way back near the stream. I tried to keep my temper when I asked why they hadn't mentioned it then since, as members of the search and rescue, they should at least be giving us that type of information. We hiked back, trying to hear any response to my shouts of "Search and rescue. Anyone there?" We didn't hear it but the "hikers" apparently knew that the lost had climbed up toward the top of the stream. As we climbed, we got a call from the base camp confirming that we only needed to find two lost rather than four.
Okay, we're on. We found Joan and Emily. Joan's foot was trapped in the stream and Emily was sitting on a rock nearby. . .both fulfilling their roles as lost and injured. George got out to Joan first so I assessed Emily's condition. She was apparently fine with some ASR (acute stress reaction) so I got her off the rocks and onto relatively dry ground. Kate, our assessor, came over to me, called time out and asked urgently, "Eileen, what is your main consideration with Joan?"
"Hypothermia," I answered.
She asked another question that confused me and had to do with our resources and I went fairly blank. I thought she wanted me to call for a hypothermia wrap but when I conferred with George, he suggested that getting Joan out of the water first was a priority. I appreciated the benefits of multi-tasking but decided to help George maneuver Joan out of the water and onto a rock. We employed the "hikers" to help carry her to the shore and onto George's space blanket ground cloth. Her foot seemed in good condition though she also complained about her knee hurting (Beth said Joan got creative as that wasn't part of her story).
I'm not sure how long Joan was actually in the water but she was clearly in early and potentially advancing stages of real-life hypothermia. I set to getting her wet clothing and boots off, thankful that I had packed some extras. Kate held up a privacy shield and Joan asked that I keep her underwear on (Beth checked in about that in our debrief and I assured her that in a real situation, I would have taken everything off that was wet). I told Joan she was in luck 'cause I had some expedition weight underwear that was going to feel toasty warm. I also had some thick wool socks that would help her feet feel good. Still shivering, I remembered the emergency space blanket bivy in my pack so we slid Joan in, wrapped her up and rubbed her to get her blood moving. I asked one of the "hikers" to give her a hug from the back so they might transfer and keep some heat. We added toe warmers a short while later.
At some point, the "hiker" suggested I might want to take Joan's vital signs. Oh, yeah! Great idea. It took a while to find her pulse but determined she was in the normal range. Turns out, all the volunteers were nursing or EMT students. . .score. (I felt shaky on the medical end of things but couldn't have been happier with my collection that more than fit the bill.) George and I managed the people well which now had 5 people plus our assessor. The 5th was videotaping the scene. Great. We had since learned that there were no resources available from operations so decided to try Joan's knee and see if we could walk her out since it was starting to get dark and we had limited headlamps to hike down the steep and uneven ground. I had yet another resource--plastic bags to put over her dry socks and feet since her boots were soaked. I doubled them up and they worked like a charm.
Joan and Emily played their parts, concerned (whining) about their condition or wondering about their friends and annoyed that we couldn't tell them anything about them. I assured them that they're friends were being taken care of and that our priority was the two of them. And of course distraction is the primary tool. Talk about what they're going to do on the weekend. Keep steering the conversation anywhere but where it will heighten their concerns.
Lessons learned.
- We should have tried Joan's knee sooner because getting her walking would have made her warm up more quickly.
- If someone may be capable of removing their own wet clothes, keep them emotionally comfortable by asking before I just do it.
- Focus on getting back to operations rather than being on our own so long.
- I didn't do it perfectly, but I did a lot of things well, including preparation.
- I was grateful for hypothermia rather than something more medically demanding. I trusted I'd get what I could handle.
- I actually can say that I did have some fun with it, as Beth suggested was possible. The fun was in the management of things done well and the crossovers in conversation to real life.
Nursing and EMT students received credit for participating and WFR is done for now!
Next week--assessments.
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