Navigation / Tracking Training

Last weekend BAMRU conducted Navigation and Tracking exercises on the beautiful Milagra Ridge and Huddart Park in San Mateo County. We had 16 people from BAMRU and were joined by a park ranger from the GGNRA. During the training we covered navigation using GPS and compass coordinates, and conducted tracking exercises over various types of ground.

Climbing Injury

A quick story about a climbing injury yesterday from a BAMRU member...

So yesterday I go climbing with a guy. We've been at the crag maybe 20 minutes, he starts leading a sport route. Clips the first bolt no problem. Second bolt is significantly higher, almost seems too high and super sketch. He flails for a good 2-3 minutes trying to get to next bolt but finally throws a cam in a crack just below waist level. He pulls up rope to clip the cam and, you guessed it, he misses and woosh!

He falls a solid 20 feet, flips, landing head (helmeted) & neck first on a ledge 15 feet above me. Unconscious for a good 10-15 seconds.

Finally sits up and blood starts pouring out of his helmet down the rock like a waterfall. I escape belay and scramble up to the guy who is woozy but A&O x 4, throw a sam splint collar on and hold pressure on his scalp lac. Bystanders run down trail to road to drive about 15 minutes to get cell reception to call 911.

Mtn Rescue arrives soon thereafter and rigs a high angle to a steep angle and subject goes to hospital.

Subject seen at hospital later that evening and discharged. No skull or c-spine fracture or intracranial bleed, just a solid lac where his helmet impacted and the adjuster strap dug into his skin.

Bottom line folks, not that you ever doubted it, please, please wear your helmets, even for a quick jaunt to a sport crag, stuff happens. If this guy were unhelmetted, I'm scared to think of how this scenario would've turned out. Fortunately, all he has is a smallish laceration and was back out drinking beer later last night.

Wilderness Medicine at Stanford

Yesterday BAMRU presented to the Stanford Wilderness Medicine Class with an overview of various aspects of mountain search and rescue. The first part of the class included lecture with hands on class room sessions. The second session covers practical stations focusing on patient packaging and carry outs. Hats off to BAMRU's eight instructors for training and building relationships with our Wilderness Medicine community.

Accident and Donation

During a training this week, BAMRU gave assistance to a biker who had crashed nearby.

The biker wrote to say thanks:

I had a bike wipeout on Kings Mountain Road this afternoon, and was fortunate that a BAMRU training exercise was taking place right at that spot. The team took charge of the situation and took great care of me! Thanks, and keep up the good work!

The biker also made a contribution to BAMRU using our PayPal donation link! Thanks!!!

Philips AED Donation

Philips Medical Systems has generously donated a Philips HeartStart FR2+ automated external defibrillator (AED) (http://www.medical.philips.com/main/products/resuscitation/products/FR2plus/index.wpd) to BAMRU via their HeartStart Giving Program.

By doing so, Philips Medical Systems has proven its commitment to saving lives. "Early defibrillation and quality CPR have been proven to save lives. The FR2+ AED, with its clean, uncluttered design is optimized for fast, efficient operation and rapid delivery of life-saving therapy. Commands are clear, streamlined, confident, and concise: ideal for responders who are trained, drilled, and ready to save a life now." BAMRU is grateful to Philips Medical Systems for their generous donation and their commitment to saving lives.