An emergency is any event which prevents the normal completion of a walk.
On the walk
- If you become split from the main body of your group and are unable see which way your group has gone: stay put.
Use your emergency whistle, signals etc, to attract attention as quickly as possible (six blasts with a minute’s silence, this should be repeated even when the acknowledgement is heard (three blasts). - If assistance is needed on a walk, attempt to contact other St Edward’s walking groups, to advise them of the situation before contacting emergency services, although an extreme situation may over-ride this.
- The whole group will pool resources to help the casualty.
- At least two members of the group will remain with the casualty to give maximum comfort and help.
- At least two members of the group will go for assistance.
- The Walk Leader will decide, if the situation allows, whether any members of the group should continue the walk, always providing that any such a sub-group has competent leadership.
- At all times the Walk Leader’s decision must prevail. This will dictate the action of the group.
Getting Assistance
The following minimum written information is required:
- Accurate grid reference and time of the occurrence. OS Locate phone app can verify your grid reference and What3words app can provide additional location information.
- Brief factual description of the accident and any problems
- Personal details of the casualty
- Name
- Age (accurate or estimated)
- Home address and telephone number
- Prior medical history, if any, if known
- Blood Group (if known)
- Emergency contact and phone number
- What action is proposed by the party remaining with the casualty
- What action proposed by any other part of that walk group.
Getting assistance may involve returning to high ground in order to receive mobile phone signal. Taking multiple phones on different networks will increase the probability of success.
At the Bus
- A minimum period of one hour is to elapse after the stated return time has passed before emergency measures are implemented for a non-returning group about whom no information has been previously received i.e. Mountain Rescue is called out. The return time is usually 5 pm, but will be 4 pm on walks close to the beginning and end of the year due to the shortness of the days.
- When an emergency has been established, the other walks will continue to completion and one senior club member will be selected from senior members present to be Club accident coordinator, to coordinate base (bus) activities.
- All returned members will stay in the close vicinity of the bus, unless directed otherwise by the Club accident coordinator.
- All action taken will be decided by the Club accident coordinator.
