Question

Its a beautiful spring day in May. The winter semester has motivated you and several friends to go rock climbing in the nearby mountain range. Soon you are testing your limits and pushing your climbing skills to the brink until a cold wind whips the cliff, and you have to hang on for dear life! As you quickly glance over and down, you see a friend who seems to be frozen with fear...he screams, then suddenly free falls to crash on the rocks 30 feet below. You quickly climb down to the victim and notice two other friends reaching him at the same time.

1. (Evaluate) In what order of priority would you pursue lifesaving measures?
2. (Analyze) Would you move the victim or keep him where he is? What woud help you decide?
3. (Apply) After emergency care is provided, what would you do to stabilize the victim and attempt to prevent shock and hypothermia?
4. (Create) Would you evacuate the victim or bring help to him? Describe how / why you might be forced to do either.

Answer 1

The priority order for pursuing lifesaving measures are

• Assess the general condition of patient
• Examine the mental status for consciousness or unconciousness
• Ensure airway, breathing, circulation
• Stop bleeding
• Shift the patient for medical help
• CPR can be initiated as per the need.

If the place is safe ,the victim can be kept there as it is of snow the patient may soon land up in hypothermia(if body core temperature falls down) and shock(abnormaldrop in the vital parameters) therefore it is better to shift the patient.

Some of the way to stabilise the patient are

• Provide a recovery position
• Warm the patient with the clothes available, remove any wet clothes. Rubbing of the soles and palms can create a heat and prevent hypothermia
• Patient lower limb can be elevated to prevent hypotension

A fall from 30 feet needs a complete assessment and care.If patient is conscious and mobile the medical help can be called but if the victim is unconscious,partially responsive,disoriented, bleeding then the patient has to be evacuated to a healthcare facility.