User:Aricooperdavis/Draft:Cave Rescue Techniques & Practices/Introduction

Most caving expeditions experience difficulties, the challenge is one of the most enjoyable things about caving, but usually you don't notice them. Difficulties are usually noticed and avoided subconsciously; you avoid the gaping hole in the floor, you rope up for the 15m ladder pitch. These difficulties only become significant when things go wrong; when you don't avoid the hole, when you fall off the ladder, and that is when rescue operations are required. Rescue procedures are in place to deal with accidents like these, and to stop them becoming more significant, so everyone involved in a caving trip should know what they can do if something goes wrong.

The vast majority of rescue operations are unnecessary; a group is slower than expected, or forgets to cancel their call out. Whilst these false alarms are annoying, they provide useful practice in case there is ever a real rescue. In the event of a serious injury most countries have cave rescue organisations, who are trained and well practiced in cave rescue situations, however they take time to mobilise, and it is the cavers responsibility to do as much as they can to help. It is most important, however, that the rescuers do not neglect their own safety: having one injured caver is unfortunate; having a rescuer injured as well is a nightmare.

There are three main parts to this WikiBook. This first section makes a few general points about rescues; about how to avoid rescues, and equipment you should carry with you for use in an emergency. The second describes sensibles procedures to be taken in the event of a rescue situation arising, and the third describes techniques that may be useful in a rescue.

Avoiding Rescue

When it comes to cave rescue prevention is better than cure; don't get rescued if you don't have to. There are some simple, and mostly common sense, precautions that all cavers should take in order to keep safe.

• Cave carefully: Uneven ground, low ceilings, and drops make running and jumping dangerous. Climbs, crawls and rough terrain can make even a sprain a big problem for getting out of the cave. Go slowly, take your time, and make sure that you can see what you're getting into. The head of many big drops that require ropes or ladders can be unexpected, so don't go blundering into the dark, and don't go down a hole if you don't know what's at the bottom.
• Never cave alone: A group of 3 or 4 is small enough to move quickly, yet big enough to allow flexibility in emergencies. If someone is injured, at least one person should stay with them while others go for help. Having other people around is also useful to prevent emergencies; second opinions and belayers are always worth having. The more people there are, the more bags you can take, full of emergency shelters and snacks.
• Choose the right cave: This is a big issue for novice cavers, especially if the group is new to caving in the area. Caves vary in difficulty tremendously; some are easy to navigate, easy underfoot, and short, whilst others flood at the drop of a hat, are prone to collapse, or fill quickly with carbon dioxide. You can't tell from the entrance of a cave what it's going to be like, so do some research before hand, and if you can, go with someone who knows the cave well.
• Check the weather forecast: You're going underground, so you don't need to worry about whether it'll be sunny, right? Wrong! Many caves are formed by meteoric waters, like rain or snow, working away at the rock, and when it rains heavily they can fill up fast. Make sure that you know which weather conditions are appropriate for the cave, and check the forecast to make sure they'll stay that way. You also don't want to be leaving a cave after a long, tiring, trip to find that the fog is so thick that you can't find your way back to the car. Bring a map and compass and stash it at the mouth of the cave.
• Have the right kit: In the US there's a rule of thumb that all cavers are encouraged to abide by: bring three sources of light per person, two of which should be head mounted. Bring spare batteries, bring warm clothes, bring a first aid kit. Do you need a rope? Then also bring a spare, bring a knife, etc. Knowing what equipment you need could be a book in itself, and varies hugely by cave, so ask someone who knows the cave well. Know how to use the equipment that you have, and make sure that it's working as it should.
• Look behind you: It's easy to get lost in a cave, and finding the way out isn't always as obvious as it might first seem. Take the time to look over your shoulder at regular intervals, so you'll recognise the passages that you've been through on the way out.

Precautions

When your luck turns and you need to be rescued make sure that you have laid down enough precautions to make that rescue easy and effective.

Before going caving, set a call out. Different clubs have different systems for call outs, but one of the safest methods is to call someone who knows the location of the cave, and the correct way to call cave rescue. Different countries have different cave rescue organisations, but in the UK call 999 and ask for the police, before asking for cave rescue. Your call out should know the time that you set off, the trip that you planned to do, any possible deviations, and the time you intend to get back.

Be realistic about the time you set: allow yourself enough time to achieve the goals of the trip, with a bit spare to allow for minor cock-ups; but don’t set the call out time too late—if there is a problem, you will want to be rescued earlier rather than later.

If you discover some new cave passage, and the route to the new stuff is not obvious, then create some way markers: either build cairns, or leave something like a tackle-bag at the start. This will help rescuers to find you if you do have an accident.

If something does go wrong you need to be safe, warm, and dry. Each caver should have on their person a laminated pocket survey, some snacks, an emergency shelter, a lighter, and a candle. This is enough to keep warm and dry if they get stuck on their own, or to escape the cave to call for help if the group gets stuck, but the group should also have a first aid kit, a group shelter, some water, and some high energy food reserved for emergencies. Marzipan is perfect for this, but don't make life harder by giving it to someone with a nut allergy.