For some people, spending 7 consecutive
days in a cave may sound overwhelming. For me, it was a dream-come
true! Balanced Edge sent me to the NCRC (National Cave Rescue
Commission) Technical Cave Rescue Course held at Lava Beds National
Monument from June 1st - 7th to return with new
rescue and risk-management techniques and meet great people. I
accomplished that in spades. In fact, what began as a group of
strangers from all across California, became a cohesive unit of
friends with whom we trusted our safety and achieved incredible
successes.
I arrived just before midnight to a
camp full of sleeping cavers. I threw out my tarp, my sleeping pad,
and sleeping bag and crawled inside. Tomorrow was the first day and I
was excited. Being an active member of Shasta County Mountain Search
and Rescue and an instructor with Balanced Edge, I already had a
foundation of knowledge, but was eager to learn more cave rescue
techniques. Different groups have unique and innovative ways of
performing rescues- especially in caves. I walked into the classroom
at the Research Center and met 12 other students. They were as varied
as they come: female, male, old, young- all from different walks of
life.
Each day was structured with morning
classroom instruction, followed by hands-on training in the cave. The
course was very well organized, with the instructors providing
binders with check-off forms that had to be completed by the last
day. We began with a rope skills evaluation, which had each person
ascend a rope, switch over to a rappel, rappel down, tie off, switch
back to an ascend, ascend up, then down climb using our ascenders.
Everyone passed with flying colors. Our individual pride swelled into
a group pride that made it clear we were in it together.
During the course, we focused on skills
including, knots, patient packaging, and extrication. It was a very
encouraging group void of arrogance or negative attitudes. We were
all there to learn and to help others learn. We took turns with the
Sked and Ferno as we all learned the ins and outs of NCRC patient
packaging. Testing the packaging was one of the more pleasing
moments. We all loved to see how little our patients moved when
shifted around. After that we focused on moving a litter. We learned
the Lap Pass, the Turtle, and the Pass Through. All are effective
methods of extracting a patient from a cave.
Similar to Balanced Edge, NCRC focused
on team structure and leadership techniques. When it came to moving a
litter with a large “patient” through the cave, being the Team
Lead was very challenging. In most cases, Team Lead is hands-off-
meaning, they direct the work and stay out of it to get the
big-picture view. I'm the type who likes to get my hands dirty. I
knew what I had to do and I took a step back and directed. I had one
of my fellow students, David from Los Angeles, there to help me
route-find and scout the obstacles and dangers ahead. We switched
roles frequently to rotate leadership roles.
At night, we worked on our medical
check-offs (scene safety, initial assessment, including the ABC’s
(airway, breathing, circulation)). We partnered up and each of us got our check offs done. Again moving forward as a team. Practicing rigging systems and locating suitable anchors is an amazing process of observation, problem solving, and teamwork. When going vertical and surrounded by darkness, it is imperative to know that the system is good to go. Among the anchor wraps, the Wrap 3-Pull 2 became a favorite of the group.
The last full day of our course
included a mock-scenario. With part of the scenario in an ice cave,
we used all of the skills learned from the previous days and
extricated two “hypothermic patients” out of the cave. Everyone
knew their part and performed at their peak.
As a result of this cave rescue course,
I am much more proficient and confident in patient packaging and
litter and SKED handling. Friendships were formed- we trusted each
other with our lives and our successes and failures. We became a
team.
Check out the NCRC on the web and Facebook:
http://www.caves.org/commission/ncrc/national/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Cave-Rescue-Commission-NCRC/204371666317233
Written by: Jed Medin
