first aid

[jupija]

had a nasty experiance two days ago. Me and a friend went to do a bridge that we usualy jump from. It was nice exit but he lost one command line and throw away the other one so he had to do a lot manoeuvreing with back risers above trees. Let put it this way he wasnt gentle with the risers he overpuled and crashed, but made it from the trees , catch is that he made with opened braking of leg and i was the one who had to give him first aid. At first i was scared, of getting his leg infected with helping him. My question follows: how many of u in BASE comunity has any experiance with giving first aid, and if anyone took special first aid course or just the one that u do when applied for driving licence - my personal opinion is that that is not enought. I think it would be a good thing that everyone would have first aid course taken again.



why dive if u can BASEdive:7

[base428]

I took a First Aid/CPR course a few years ago and it has proved helpful. It was a 10-hour course provided by the Red Cross and I would recommend it to every jumper.

Only a few weeks after taking the course, I showed up at my DZ to find a skydiver who had broke her arm and nobody knew first aid but my wife and I. We gave her some basic first aid and checked her over to make sure nothing else was damaged until the ambulance arrived.

In past years, I've seen broken femurs, legs, wrists, cuts, etc. where I could have helped the victim, but I had no training. If you're not trained, at least in basic first aid, you can make things a lot worse. Even if it's YOU who is all busted up, you'll know the proper procedures to save your own life.

As for the lost brake line, why release the 2nd brake line also? Steer with one toggle and one riser so you don't lose stability in the entire tail of your canopy. One toggle is better than none. This method is slowly replacing the old "release both toggles" method that is not as safe.

Best wishes to your jumper friend.


------------
Jason Bell (BASE428)
Email: jbell@vertical-visions.com
Web: www.vertical-visions.com or www.bridgeday.info

[dexter]

Solid first aid skills are essential training for anyone who is serious about BASE. Every jumper needs to know how to control bleeding, splint fractures (including improvising traction splints), stabilize the cervical spine, and provide basic life support (CPR), etc...

These skills are also a potential screening question when talking to potential groundcrew also.

I would highly recommend taking an EMT-Basic course to everyone, BASE jumper or not. This will give you a good base of anatomy and first aid knowledge and also enable you to rapidly assess a jumper after an accident to determine the proper course of action.

I would also like to see jumpers carry a Kendrick Traction splint (small, collapsable, and will fit into a fanny pack) which can go a LONG way to relieve pain and reduce the chance of damaging the femoral artery in a femur fracture situation.

Personally, I'm an EMT-IV/Airway, Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support instructor, Advanced Cardiac Life Support provider, as well as trained in triage and combat medicine.

Stay safe out there! ---Dex
dexterbase@hotmail.com

[yexotay]

I would have to agree with dexter, I took the EMT-I course and also a wilderness first responder because you never know what the heck is coming your way. I feel better when I jump if there is someone there that isn't going to make things worse by trying to help/not help.

[Thomas]

what if I ask my groundcrew to "pull the plug", so to speak. If they see a serious situation, to LEAVE.
what then? what if that is what I want?
Respect, or care for the "human" race?


Thomas

[Tree]

Well now Thomas,

Now that you have been banned from DZ.com I see that you have returned. Will you be seeking the gold medal in being banned? There is a famous quote you should heed that says "You have two ears and one mouth, use them in proportion". This means you would be much better off if you spent much more time listening and much less time babbling on about things you know little about. Maybe just turn the computer off and go out into the real world and make a few friends. Good luck as I know you need it. The clock is running.

Tree :*

[gowaylow]

I have been all over the world jumping.
I personallly have never seen any one get hurt and need medical assistance. I personally think your time would be better spent at a para military (seer) course.
you can find them Soldier of fortune mag.



Have a GoWayLow day
Naked BASE #7