2. You must now detail messengers. Decide best evacuation route and which first aid post to use. DO NOT duplicate your message to other posts, as this always leads to confusion. The messengers job is to get to the first aid post and it’s supervisor in one piece and to give a full and clear account of your situation. The supervisor will want to know:—

a. Nature and extent of injuries and what first aid you have given.
b. Position (exact) of injured person.
c. Number of people in your party who can assist evacuation.
d. Any other information which may help. Such as location of other party or coach. This information should if possible be written,

The number of people you send for help will vary. If some of the route to and the First Aid Post (F.AP.) is by road send two. They must commandeer transport to them to the F.A.P. quickly. If a phone box can be reached quicker the messengers should phone the F.A.P. See that they have the money and number to make this call. Another party preferably four, should follow and assist in bringing the rucksacks and stretcher.

3. The supervisor will probably come with the equipment and take charge. Give him every assistance. Or you may have to use it yourself. Instructions are contained in the First Aid Rucksack, pay particular attention to those covering the administering of morphia. . . . .

The evacuation will be very tiring and may be long. At least four preferably bearers are needed. If a long carry is required you will want a second set of bearers. The supervisor till have summoned an ambulance. One of you should accompany the injured person to the hospital. In the meantime appoint a leader to take the rest the party back to Plas. Do not let them hang about at the scene of the accident. But retain any you need for carrying.

All the foregoing refers to a serious accident. You will probably never be confronted with one. But minor mishaps are more frequent. By far the most common are foot sprains. Bind the foot tightly if possible with cold wet bandages, and carry the person to the nearest road. Best way of doing this is for one person to carry the injured “pick a back”, with another man on each side holding hands under the injured ones seat to take some of the weight. Change the carrier every two or three minutes. Keeping the injured foot off the ground all the time. The injured person may say they can hobble along themselves. If the sprain is at all serious i.e. much swelling, insist that they be carried. As any weight on the foot can change a simple bruising into an serious sprain. On reaching the road commandeer or phone for a ‘taxi.
Suggested first aid kit ‘that you should carry:—

- Tin of “Elastoplast” plasters.
- Two yards of 3” wide “Elastoplast” plaster bandage.
- Two triangular bandages.
- One 2” Bandage.
- Two I” Bandages.
- Gauze
- Lint.
- “ Detol” ointment. .
- Safety pins.
- Packet of Gluecose tablets. •
Carry a knife or razor to cut the Bandages.

It is a worthwhile idea to have a tin with all this in - it is not heavy. Put it in whichever rucksack you take out in a morning.

Further information will be found hung in the sun lounge.

I hope you will never have to use any of the foregoing.

MARCH 1974 – The foregoing advice is still correct. The mountain rescue system is now vastly more developed and linked to the 999 emergency services arrangements are steadily changing so data is not given here. SJP.