Primary Survey - Danger and Safety

Last updated 19/11/23

In mountain rescue we can be called to help people in dangerous areas and situations. During rescues, avoiding danger and ensuring the safety of both rescuers and the public are paramount.

Safety Starts Before You Leave The Door

It is the duty of all team members to be appropriately fit, alert, clothed and equipped for the demands of the rescues they are attending.  If upon arriving at the Base, RV point or after setting off onto the hill you find you are inappropriately equipped or not physically able to continue, it is your responsibility not to continue until the issue has been addressed.

Being inappropriately attired or ill equipped could put you or your fellow team members at risk and jeopardise the team’s ability to safely undertake the rescue. What constitutes appropriate clothing and equipment depends upon the location and conditions. As a general rule it’s best to be over prepared in terms of the personal kit you carry. You  can always leave it in the vehicles.  Remember a short simple rescue could turn into a long search, a wait at the cas site or could be followed by a second longer one.  It’s better to carry something you don’t need than not have it.

Remember – Carry a radio at all times whilst out on the hill. Spares are available from the Base and vehicles.

If you suffer a minor injury, begin to feel unwell or become exhausted during a rescue, do not try to soldier on as doing so could complicate and compromise the whole rescue.  Instead do the sensible thing. Let other team members know the situation and return to the vehicles.

Is it safe to go onto the hill and approach the casualty?

Once at the RV you need to consider the conditions on the hill and the location.

Typical things to consider are:

• Is the ground safe?

• Are there loose rocks or people above?

• Are there large cliffs or large drops nearby?

• Are there steep slopes nearby?

• Are there dangerously strong winds?

• Is there snow and ice?

• Is there a risk of avalanche?

• Are there dangerous pets or animals?

• Is there a risk from lightning?

• Will rivers or bogs need to be crossed?

• Is the casualty potentially violent?

• Are there needles or broken glass?

If there are dangers present, only approach the casualty once they have been adequately addressed.

Remember – If a rescue takes place in conditions or at a location you are uncomfortable with (e.g. on loose steep ground), do not go into that area.  There are always jobs, such as carrying equipment, to be done on easier ground or acting as a radio relay. Similarly, if the casualty is known to have died and you are unsure how you would cope with seeing a dead body, then do not go, before you have discussed it with the person in charge.

Safety concerns can be overcome by using:

• Ropes, harnesses and helmets on dangerous ground

• Use of crampons and ice axes in snow or ice covered ground

• Use of transponders in areas at risk of avalanche

• Avoiding exposed and narrow paths

• Do not walk directly below people on loose or snow covered ground and use islands of safety

• Swift Water equipment e.g throw lines

Staying safe whilst treating the casualty

Once you reach the casualty, consider the following:

• Is the casualty or a bystander potentially violent?

• Is there a risk from blood or body fluid?

• Is there a risk from sharp objects on or around the casualty (e.g. discarded needles)?

• Do you require a safety rope to secure you and/or the casualty?

• Does the area need to be closed off?

• Do you know how to use team equipment safely?

Protect yourself and others by:

• Using surgical gloves. You can use double gloving for extra protection against fluids, but remember; this is ineffective against sharp objects

• Using safe needle techniques at all time

• Using a sharps box to dispose of any sharp implements

• Using a hazardous waste bag for disposal

• Using a safe method to remove contaminated gloves

• If you have a needle/sharps injury report this to the person in charge and follow the Team procedure

How to remove gloves safely:

Working With Helicopters

There are a number of areas that need consideration when working with the helicopter and it's team. These are:- personal safety, casualty safety, site safety, communication with the helicopter and the paramedic/winchman and the winching process.

All team members must complete the on-line Bristow iSAR training package. The Training Officer will email trainees and team members their iSAR login invites when you are required to undertake the on-line training. Any problems with login issues email training@. This package gives you a good understating of the aircraft and its key features in relation to safety. Only when you have undertaken a half day training session on the Bristow helicopter will you be able to fly.

Key messages for personal safety:

• Helmets and goggles should be worn at all times

• Factor in the power of the downdraft and its impact on the safety of team members, the casualty and any bystanders

• Gloves should be worn when managing the Highline

• Only approach the aircraft when invited to do so by the helicopter crew

• Only a small number of team members should stay with the stretcher to manage the winching process and the rest of the team should move away and ensure site safety

Key messages for casualty safety:

• Identify safe site for winching

• Ensure that the casualty is 'packaged' and the helicopter strops are attached properly

• Provide goggles for casualty and protect from downdraft as much as possible

Key messages for site safety:

• Ensure team kit is secure against the downdraft and managed by a team member

• Ensure team members and any bystanders are in a safe position

• Stop any walkers coming near to the landing/winching site until the helicopter has oft the scene.

Key messages for communication with helicopter and paramedic/winchman:

• One team member to switch to helicopter channel for direct comms

• When instructed to approach the winchman, one team member only to liaise with winchman

The Winching Process

This photo shows the Team and Winchman getting the casualty and stretcher ready for winching into the helicopter.

The helicopter strops are being held up and away from the casualty, they are attached at each end of the stretcher by a karabiner to a ring on the stretcher. It is the Winchman’s responsibility to check that we have done this correctly and that is what he is doing here. You may remember an incident a few years ago when an Englishwomen was being winched from the water and then the stretcher became disconnected in the air and dropped. It is a dangerous part of the evacuation.

Also notice that we are all wearing helmets and goggles/eye protection. Ideally, we should also have ear plugs. The Winchman has a visor that he pulls down and his helmet will protect his ears.

The other thing to note is the white thin rope held by a team member - this is the Highline which we hold onto to stop the stretcher spinning as it goes up into the helicopter. Gloves are worn to manage this line once the winching begins.  

The casualty’s knees are up - normally the body would be straight and wrapped totally in the mattress but this man would not straighten his legs, probably due to the pelvic injury he had. 

Landing On - Approaching and Exiting The Aircraft

• Loose clothing and debris should be secured

• Only approach helicopters with turning rotor blades from the front and sides when signaled to do so by a crew member and only while under pilot observation

• Give the tail rotor a wide berth, especially on helicopters with rear doors. The tail rotor can be invisible when in operation

• If on a slope, approach from the downhill side, never the uphill side

• Station a team member in a safe position to direct approaching individuals away from the tail rotor

• Approach the helicopter in a crouched position to minimize the risk for contact with the rotor blades should a sudden gust of wind or movement of the aircraft cause them to dip

Do not:

• Run near the aircraft

• Drive a vehicle within 30 feet

• Shine headlights or flashlights toward the aircraft