Caving fatalities
- Thread starter Bob Mehew
- Start date
Alex
Well-known member
The four main causes for heat loss/transfer are:
Convection
Conduction
Radiation
Evaporation
Convection: Not really a problem in most caves but its worth trying to huddle down a side-passage away from a draft, and certainly not in a passage with a running stream you will be amazed the difference this makes.
Conduction: Rock is not your friend, it will literally drain the heat from you as you conduct your heat into the much colder surroundings. Ensure you touch as little as possible as previous posters already eluded to, get off the ground put something between you and the rock such as tackle sacks and rope.
Radiation: This is a slower form of heat loss and the only way to stop it is to try and reflect it back, obviously a survival bag is useful for this.
Evaporation: This can be from sweat or wet. If you think there is a chance you may get flooded in such as on expo when no good means of weather forcasts due to mountain weather then you need to take some dry clothes to change into.
Following all of the above (though we could not get away from the fas flowing air due to the water around us, though the shelter provided protection) is what kept us going overnight in Austria as we waited a flood out, in a cave with the air temperature just above freezing.
Convection
Conduction
Radiation
Evaporation
Convection: Not really a problem in most caves but its worth trying to huddle down a side-passage away from a draft, and certainly not in a passage with a running stream you will be amazed the difference this makes.
Conduction: Rock is not your friend, it will literally drain the heat from you as you conduct your heat into the much colder surroundings. Ensure you touch as little as possible as previous posters already eluded to, get off the ground put something between you and the rock such as tackle sacks and rope.
Radiation: This is a slower form of heat loss and the only way to stop it is to try and reflect it back, obviously a survival bag is useful for this.
Evaporation: This can be from sweat or wet. If you think there is a chance you may get flooded in such as on expo when no good means of weather forcasts due to mountain weather then you need to take some dry clothes to change into.
Following all of the above (though we could not get away from the fas flowing air due to the water around us, though the shelter provided protection) is what kept us going overnight in Austria as we waited a flood out, in a cave with the air temperature just above freezing.
JasonC
Well-known member
Cap'n Chris said:
Not so long ago, the CNCC put on a free first-aid course tailored for cavers. As it was only a few hours long, it could only cover the basics, but it was very good. One recommendation, which I pass on, was the Ray Duffy first-aid kit, which can be carried about the person (helmet/wellies): http://www.rrcpc.org.uk/newsletters/NL_V50_N1_A12.htm.
It seemed eminently sensible to assemble a kit like this and make a point of taking it with me on every trip.
To my shame, I haven't yet done so, which perhaps proves Chris's point...
As to golden hour, that is typical here as well for paramedics and the like. We specifically teach "above ground people try for the golden hour - have the person in qualified medical care within an hour greatly improves chances of survival." Underground tbis is neigh impossible and we try for the Golden Day. Within 24 hours we want you in the hospital. There are some differences between UK and US here, perhaps, in thag many of our caves are way out of cell coverage, and long hikes on rough terrain no path. So say you get hurt one caver-hour into the cave. Someone can rush out in maybe 45, but it is another 45min-1 hr back to the car, another 20 minutes or more until a phone, and then the local rescur will show up, realize they have no clue about caves, need to call us (cave rescue), at which point we get a page. This of course takes local rescue getting to scene and figuring it out to call us, which if theg listen to the caver is done upon tbe 911 call, but more oft than not, occurs after they checked the scene themselves, eating up an hour or two. So already you are three hours in and cave rescue is just called. Now we have to get ready, we are all volunteer and it is region wide. Figure an hour until our rondevu location, then an hour or two more drive to the cave. Now we have the 45min/hour hike in, gators and such cant deive us in we have to hump the gear on our back for most caves. So now cave rescue is just entering the cave, anywhere from 4-6 hours from time of injury.
Minor rescues (little passage mod, horizontal, etc) seem to take 6-12 hours from time of injury depending on cave location, location of injury, and knowledge of the caver party (how much can they accomplish if semi mobile while waiting for us? Etc). Lots of rescue callouts here are prevented by small party rescue - their own caving group gets them out. Major rescues (vertical, multidrops, etc) do hit the 24hr mark and injuries tend to be more severe which conplicate. Eg: horizontal caves a broken leg or ankle is common, but vertical we seem to deal with broken hips and head trauma.
As for hypothermia - we always preach be self sufficient for 24 hrs. This includes warmth. Common kit for all (good) cavers to have is a thick contractor bag or space blanket and a long burn candle. This keeps one toasty warm. Pull off kneepads to sit on to minimize heat loss from sitting on rock. Youll be fine. Might get a bit chilly but you wont have severe hypothermia if hypo at all, not here at least.
We really try hard to work with local rescues and teach cavers about how callout legally works here to minimize that initial time so a few hours arent waisted. We would rather be called out and canciled en route than be hours behind. It is getting better in more recent years and that is great, and it is something we continue to work on. We just want the person out and into medical care fast as possoble. Thats all that matters.
Minor rescues (little passage mod, horizontal, etc) seem to take 6-12 hours from time of injury depending on cave location, location of injury, and knowledge of the caver party (how much can they accomplish if semi mobile while waiting for us? Etc). Lots of rescue callouts here are prevented by small party rescue - their own caving group gets them out. Major rescues (vertical, multidrops, etc) do hit the 24hr mark and injuries tend to be more severe which conplicate. Eg: horizontal caves a broken leg or ankle is common, but vertical we seem to deal with broken hips and head trauma.
As for hypothermia - we always preach be self sufficient for 24 hrs. This includes warmth. Common kit for all (good) cavers to have is a thick contractor bag or space blanket and a long burn candle. This keeps one toasty warm. Pull off kneepads to sit on to minimize heat loss from sitting on rock. Youll be fine. Might get a bit chilly but you wont have severe hypothermia if hypo at all, not here at least.
We really try hard to work with local rescues and teach cavers about how callout legally works here to minimize that initial time so a few hours arent waisted. We would rather be called out and canciled en route than be hours behind. It is getting better in more recent years and that is great, and it is something we continue to work on. We just want the person out and into medical care fast as possoble. Thats all that matters.
David Rose
Active member
Bothy type shelters are invaluable. I always carry one in my personal bag. Vango make them in several sizes and they are durable, suitable for for frequent re-use - in cold expedition potholes they can be invaluable for staying warm while someone takes time rigging a tricky pitch, for example. In summer 2015 we had a sizeable support/carry party for Paul Mackrill's dive in the sump in C4. This meant about three and a half hours of inaction while he kitted up, dived twice, and dekitted. We had a stove and plenty of soup, but the shelters were also very effective at keeping us warm and comfortable.