KEY POINTS
- Scene safety is the most important part of any rescue.
- Approach cautiously, asking yourself if you could fall victim to the same hazard and thinking about how you can make your approach safer.
- Beware of loose gear, especially if a helicopter rescue is planned.
EXPLANATION
Making the scene safe is critical when responding to an accident. A safe scene prevents further injury to the casualty and avoids any more casualties amongst the group. Even if you only make the scene safe and do nothing else, you will still have been a huge help to the injured participant and to the rescuers.
Stop as you approach the casualty and think about why the accident happened. Could it happen again?
Look at the casualty, the environment and the rescuers. What hazards are still out there? For example, are there canopy lines everywhere? Are there loose rocks, powerlines or strong turbulence? Is the ground steep or slippery? Are the rescuers exhausted, cold or wet?
For example, for a paraglider still in the air, keeping yourself safe could mean deciding not to land at all. Alternatively, you might judge it best to land at a distance and then approach the casualty on foot.
Depending on the situation, there may be a number of ways to make your approach safer. Try to consciously think about these before you rush to help. If you are in a group, then think out loud so others can share their own ideas or concerns. For example, perhaps you should take a longer route around the hill to avoid a cliff edge? Should you all keep your helmets on? Should only some of the group go forward and the others hang back? Will you need to tie the casualty onto anything to secure them when you arrive?
Don’t forget to control your gear. Loose canopies, reserve parachutes and lines can be a considerable hazard. Deal with loose equipment early. Detach and stow the injured participant’s gear or weigh it down with rocks. Think too about the rest of the group’s gear. Others may have rushed to the scene leaving their gear half-unpacked. Once they get to the casualty, they will become very focused and may not notice the wind rising, or the approach of a helicopter.
Securing the Work Area
Once you have made your own approach safe, turn your attention to the area immediately around the casualty. Move bystanders and uninjured group members to a clearly identified safe point, preferably uphill and upwind of any fuel, dust, or loose equipment. A single calm instruction such as “Stand by that large tree and do not come closer” is more effective than general shouting. If the casualty is on a slope, choose a spot where helpers will not dislodge rocks or snow onto the patient, and have one person act as a lookout.
Loose lines, paraglider fabric, ropes, and clothing can suddenly catch the wind or become tangled around rescuers. Before you kneel beside the casualty, gather or secure anything that could flap, whip, or trip someone, but only if doing so does not put you at risk. In strong wind, a half-collapsed wing can re-inflate with surprising force; weigh it down with packs or ask one calm helper to hold it at the leading edge.
- Paraglider lines and risers
- Rucksack straps and walking poles
- Loose rocks, branches, and ice
- Fuel bottles, stoves, or canisters
Controlling Energy Sources
Many accident scenes contain stored energy that can injure rescuers long after the initial event. Look for fuel leaks from stoves, camp cookers, aircraft, or vehicles, and for damaged batteries, especially lithium-ion packs used in cameras, radios, or electric bikes. A cracked battery can ignite without warning; if you see swelling, hissing, or smoke, move everyone well back and do not cover it with your hands.
Downed electrical lines are an extreme hazard. Treat every line as live, even if it is not sparking. Keep yourself and all helpers at least the full length of the line away, and do not attempt to move it with a branch or dry stick unless you have specific rescue training. Electricity can arc through wet ground, so your safety distance must increase in rain or snow. If a vehicle or aircraft is involved, turn off the ignition and, if safe, disconnect the battery only after confirming you know the correct procedure.
Also be alert for pressurized components such as fuel canisters, suspension units, or gas struts. A damaged canister may vent suddenly or explode if exposed to heat. Move such items away from the casualty only if it is clearly safe to do so, and keep all ignition sources at a distance.
Weather and Terrain as Active Hazards
Weather can change faster than you expect, particularly in the mountains or near the coast. Before you begin care, identify the direction from which bad weather would arrive and choose an escape route that does not cross a stream, gully, or exposed ridge. In thunderstorm conditions, avoid high points, isolated trees, and long metal objects. Lightning can strike several kilometres from the visible storm, so hearing thunder is enough reason to move the casualty and the group to lower, safer ground if the casualty’s injuries allow.
Terrain should be treated as a hazard even when it appears stable. Soft snow can hide a cornice, loose scree can slide, and wet grass can be as slippery as ice. When working on a slope, keep your weight low, brace your feet, and use a rope or walking pole as a third point of contact. Never turn your back on a potential rockfall area, and post a lookout whose only job is to watch the slope above.
Cold and heat can also make rescuers less effective, which in turn makes the scene less safe. A shivering, exhausted helper is more likely to drop equipment, stumble, or make poor decisions. Rotate people out of exposed positions, keep a warm layer on, and do not allow a determined rescuer to stay in freezing water or full sun until they collapse.
Organising People and Communication
A safe scene depends on clear leadership, even if you are not the most medically trained person present. State who is in charge, keep instructions short, and use people’s names when possible. For example, rather than saying “somebody hold his head,” say “Tom, kneel behind him and hold his head still with both hands.” Specific instructions prevent several helpers from doing the same job or, worse, doing nothing while assuming someone else has acted.
A simple verbal handover prevents confusion. If another rescuer arrives, tell them what you know: what happened, what hazards remain, what has been done, and what you believe should happen next. Do not assume they can see the same risks you saw when you arrived. If you have placed packs over lines, moved the group uphill, or identified an escape route, say so explicitly.
- A leader or scene coordinator
- A lookout for slope, weather, or traffic
- Someone to manage bystanders
- A person to prepare equipment for evacuation
If a helicopter rescue is possible, assign one person to secure all loose items well before the aircraft arrives. Tarps, maps, hats, and clothing can be blown into the rotor or engine. Keep everyone low and stationary when the helicopter approaches, and do not move toward it until the pilot or crew signals you to do so.