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Aerial Rescue

canopytree@aol.com
Tue, 8 Jul 1997 21:41:46 -0500

Several years ago when I took my first Advanced First Aid course the instructor taught us about how to respond to an accident scene. Jim told us, "Don't just do something, stand there."

At first it sounded pretty stupid but after some thought and discussion it makes perfect sense. When I have taught any aerial rescu work I have always shared that insight. Do you want to go into a charged tree? What about heading into a swarm of bees? Are the limbs able to support two climbers? Chaarging up a tree and ripping the "victim" out and to the ground can result in two victims.

While reading the second edition of ON ROPE there was a discussion that we as tree workers should note. They talked about soemthing called Toxic Shock. If I remeber correctly this happens after soemone has been supported with tight leg straps and the blood has pooled in the legs. Because the blood has not circulated it has become "dirty" and it the leg straps are released the blood shoots to the heart with sometimes deadly results. Has anyone ever heard anything about this? If this is true, we should know more about this.

Please resond if you have more info.

Snug ropes and strong limbs!

Tom