Rescue training as casualty

I had missed a few trainings; the last one I had attended had been in July. There had been one during our field trip. That would have been a bit much. But now there was an all-day training on a Sunday coming, and I had indicated I would attend. It would be in the East, so quite far away, but so be it.

A few days before the training I got an email from our training officer. Was I willing to be the casualty? And I said okay. It did mean I would be quite passive, but someone has to do it. And additionally; I would have to arrive early, as I was supposed to already be in position when everybody else would arrive. Jonty, the training officer, asked me to be there at 8:45. It is an almost 1.5 hr drive to Minera Lead mine, the venue. Oh dear. But on the day I made sure my car was already loaded up with my kit. So I got up, fed myself and the cat, and set off.

Once there I was briefed on the scenario. I had been digging with one of the other team members called Tony, and a big rock had come down onto my leg. The rock would be too big to remove in one piece, so Tony had come to the surface to alert the emergency services. I had a broken tibia and fibula. And the team would have to break the rock into smaller bits to remove it from me.

Tony led Jonty and me down to the site. There we found the rock the team would have to split, a few metres from an actual dig. The 'rock' on my leg was a big red tackle bag. I been ready to wait hours for the team; I had supplies and a newspaper. But Jonty stayed with me. And the team showed up in about an hour! That was quick.

 

Me in position with the fake rock on my leg

When they were there the circus kicked into action. The first thing that happened was a casualty carer assessing me. And as we did not have communications established yet, a runner was sent out with information. And I understood that between me and the entrance, there were teams rigging all the pitches that would have to be negotiated. 

After a while, people showed up to break the rock. That did mean that the drill was not available to the people rigging. It seemed that the people rigging a bit hesitant to release it, as I would really have to be hold up in a stretcher, but that broke was not actually on my leg! But the idea of the training was that we would get practice breaking rocks, as carefully as possible. So the plug and feathers came out. I still really didn't want to think about really having a broken leg with a rock on it, and people drilling into it, and then hammering it. But there is no way of breaking a rock without some vibrations. In reality, I would just have to be drugged up to the brim. 

Plug and feathers in position 

The rock fortunately broke quite easily! And they could lift off the individual bits. So I thought they would then pack me up into a stretcher. But no! The person in charge decided that the first pitch was a bit iffy, and he didn't want the team to really have to hold a stretcher that. I was asked to climb up myself, and be put into the stretcher after that. So I did.

Things then went quite quickly. I was packed up soon, and not much later the stretcher carrying started. It is not a comfortable venue for that! But we need to be able to pull it off. We had had a call-out here only weeks ago. I hadn’t been available. 

After a while I was told to get out of the stretcher. Nice! I could move again. We then just all went to the entrance chamber. I lugged the stretcher, with help from Sharon. And I thought that was it, but then they asked me to get back in in the entrance chamber. Oh well. I first drank something, as I had been hesitant to drink much before getting into the stretcher. You don’t want to have to go to the bathroom when you’re in it! But now it wouldn’t be long. And I was thirsty. 

After my drink I went back in, and soon afterwards I was hoisted up the entrance pitch. That went well! And then we could de-rig, pack up, change and debrief.

 

 

Out the stretcher comes. Pic by NWCRO

 

And touchdown. Pic by NWCRO

When I got back to he parking lot a lady appeared who had lost her spaniel. That was sad! I hadn't seen any. And then things went slow. It seemed to take forever to get everyone back to the parking lot. I don't know why. One lady took the opportunity to unload a crate of apples she was trying to get rid off. I tried to keep an eye on all the kit as, of course, I had taken off my helmet and SRT kit when I got loaded into the stretcher, but I did want them back.

Finally we could debrief. Things had generally gone quite well! And it had been a training where we dealt with casualty care, comms, and rock breaking. Quite a lot on. And something unexpected went well during the debrief as well: suddenly a damp and scared-looking spaniel appeared out of nowhere. We figured that might be the missing one. One of the ladies in the team, who has a dog herself, produced a lead so we could keep it with us, and I suspect the lady had left her details, as two team members shuffled out of the way, and soon afterwards the lady who had enquired after her missing dog appeared. Success! And not long after that we finally could leave! It had been a long day...