Today we had the traditional "Ski Rounds" where all of the residents meet at Kissing Bridge Ski Resort for morning lectures and then an afternoon of fun. Several of the faculty are members of the local Ski Patrol, and many are skiing, especially back country, enthusiasts. So, they take the time to teach us a little about wilderness medicine, and we have some fun too.
The topic of discussion was Avalanches and how to survive and rescue people from them. We learned all about snow and how to be safe when going out into the back country. We learned that a person caught in an avalanche is most likely to die from suffocation and that 80% of people who are found within 15 minutes survive while only 50% of those found after 30 do. It takes 90 minutes to develop fatal hypothermia, so if the person is able to create an oxygen window, they have a bit of time.
We practiced learning how to find people in 15 minutes.
Here my colleagues have formed a line to try to find someone buried under the snow.
Here they are using a beacon which many back country enthusiasts use in case of avalanche. They are trying to hone in on the signal from another beacon that is buried below the snow presumably on our victim.
After the lectures and practice sessions, we had some lunch and then hit the slopes. I seriously need to start going to the gym again. I only lasted for a short while and then had to stop, but I did get one decent run in, and it was so much fun being outdoors with colleagues and doing something non-medical.
Back to 24 hour call tomorrow on the OB unit and then a free weekend! What will I do with myself?? :)
From the drive up:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
beautiful picture of the bridge/stream; this is neat that they can turn an educational time into also a play time!!
a weekend free; wow, what will you do? somehow I bet you'll find some things to keep you busy :)
betty
Lovely pictures Veronica. What a great way to have 'ski rounds'.
I remember my daughter had to interview a friend, (for her English course at college) who is the manager of a Water Sport Complex here in the English Lakes. He likes extreme sports and told her if you are ever caught in an avalanche and you found yourself in an air pocket under the snow to 'spit' and then you would know which way to begin digging to try to help yourself out of the situation. Assuming you weren't heavily weighed down I suppose.
I'm sure you learnt some interesting techniques from the back country enthusiast.
Do the buildings have the beacons on them in avalanche country?
Anyway...enjoy your long weekend off.
Take care
Jeanie xx
Post a Comment