Volume 7, Issue 3
| Top of the Hill | Boots and Blisters | Business as Usual:Meeting Minutes | |||||
| Who's Who and New | Medical News | Feature Article | |||||
| Web News | Disclaimer/Copyright | ||||||
| Recent Missions |
Calendar |
Callout Information |
| Top of the Hill | by David Dixon , President |
We all know the value of the individual on missions. Without dedicated volunteers there would be no searches, no rescues. All of us are also expected to be knowledgeable and physically and mentally capable. (Back to that weakest link thing). Those links are obviously important but it is the chain, the team, that ultimately is paramount in search and rescue. Remember this: we do not send single individuals into the field - we send teams. But it is not enough to delegate teams and send them out. Those teams should be able to work together well to accomplish their assignments. Leaders need to work with their team, discuss options, deal with disagreements and explain decisions. There is no place in the field for inflexibility and arrogance that turns off members and hinders team performance. In addition, field teams are often made up of members from different SAR groups, which makes working together even more of a challenge. It shouldn't be hard, mutual respect goes a long way. Outside of individual personalities and abilities there is something else that would help teams function better and more efficiently in the field. That is standardized protocols. Cibola has become a better team, we are in fact a very good team right now due in large part to our established protocols. We send a well prepared responder into the field. Our members know how to do a litter tie-in or search because of protocols kept up to date with required trainings and evaluations. If there were similar standards that state teams adhered to, missions would logically run more smoothly, problems in the field would decrease and subjects would ultimately benefit. I encourage the state to consider this.
As was discussed at the last meeting I have approached the president of AMRC about establishing a joint litter protocol. I hope their organization also sees the benefit in this and they work with us in its establishment. It could be the start of further standards in other areas.
As far as Cibola is concerned we're doing great on missions! I'm proud of our ability to work together and with other teams at being successful in the field. Keep up the good searching and rescuing.
Let me end with a continued call for newsletter additions. Last month's was pretty bare and could use a good Feature Article, Mini-lesson or Member Profile. Consider adding yours next month.
| Boots and Blisters | by Aaron Hall, Training Officer |
February's evaluation was Land Navigation. Thank you Charlie Irland for helping me lay out the compass course. I noticed that the one skill that people seemed to have trouble with is terrain identification. One of the best ways to improve your terrain identfication skills is to pratice. Look for the handout from last weekend's GPS training, there are some suggestions in it that will help you use your GPS for terrain identification. Our next evaluation will be Search Techniques. It's scheduled for Sunday, March 24th at 9:00 am at the Embudo trailhead on the east end of Indian School. Rumor has it that the evaluator is going to hide some unusual clues.
A PACE exam is tenatively scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd in Tijeras, NM. Monitor the hotline for more details. This is one of two opportunities for those who don't have their PACE exam to take it this year. The other opportunity will be at the annual Escape conference. Escape will be held at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, NM on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. If you've never been to Escape, its definitely worth attending.
The Albuquerque Sunport will be having a disaster drill in late May. Volunteers are needed to spend the day at the airport participating in the drill as either injured subjects, or family and friends showing up to meet the injured. Subjects will have make-up applied to them to simulate injuries and will get transported to local hospitals. The drill is expected to take all day. For more information contact me, or Bruce Berry.
I'm pleased to be seeing a good turnout at trainings and evaluations. Keep it up, its one of the best ways to get more enjoyment out of Cibola. Also thanks again to everyone who helped me put together this month's trainings and evaluations. I really appreciate it, I need all the help I can get. If you have an idea for a pre-meeting training or would like to put together a regular training please contact me, I'll help you get all set up.
| Business as Usual:Meeting Minutes | by Joyce Rumschlag, Secretary |
Former member Don Gibson presented pre-meeting mini-lesson, now in Incident Command. He shared some of his many experiences working with the Search and Rescue Community
Dave Dixon opened the meeting at 1915 hours by introducing new officers. He mentioned that the board has chosen to review the member's guide, as it has been several years since this has been done. Steve Buckley will chair the committee; Aaron Hall, David Dixon, Adam Hernandez, and Mike Dugger will serve on the committee.
Aaron Hall commented on the nature of evaluations. He re-empathized that evals are not the time to do training. The airport disaster drill will be held on May 21, 2002. Anyone interested in helping out with this should get in touch with him. We need to establish a litter handling protocol with AMRC so both teams can work better in the field. Ultimate goal is a joint training session with AMRC.
Art Fischer reported the finances of CSAR. The team has received three donations. Two came from subjects of missions and one came from the New Mexico Mountain Club.
Stephen Hochmann and Lili Ziesmann are our latest new members.
David Dixon and Steve Buckley explain why David Chapek is receiving this prestigious bronze boot award.
Tony Gaier reported that he now has the 4.5 batteries and is in need of someone in the Tijeras area to help check out the teams gear.
Mike Dugger and Mickey Jojola reminded WFR's that took the classes in September, that they need CE's by the end of the calendar year.
Francis Robertson, who was not in attendance at the meeting, was reported to have accepted this position.
| Who's Who and New | by Steven Buckley, Membership Officer |
I have also emailed and directly contacted several individuals who are interested in Cibola membership and expect to see them at this month's meeting. I am anticipating more new prospective members and need mentors. Please email me if you are willing to serve.
I have completed the first iteration of the latest Member's Guide revision. Those of you who would like to participate in this review process, please email me and I will send you the first cut. If you need a particular format, please let me know your requirements. Aaron has been working on the equipment list so we will include that review in the process as well.
| Medical News | by Mike Dugger |
The EMS Region III Annual Conference will be held April 22-28 in Ruidoso, NM. There are many pre-conference courses available for an extra charge. The conference proper begins on Friday, April 26 and goes through Sunday, April 28. Registration for the whole event is $95. There are CE courses offered at all levels, up to EMT-P. Basic Life Support (BLS) CE's are what most medical providers need for recertification. As a reminder, Wilderness First Responders need 8 hours of BLS medical CE's during each recertification interval. At the Ruidoso conference, you can pick up 2 BLS CE's on Friday, 7 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. One-day registration for Saturday is $60. More information is available at (505) 769-2639, or our members can contact me or Mickey for help with registration.
Here's the answer to the last Medical Question of the Month:
Compare and contrast the diagnosis and treatment of frostnip versus frostbite.
During the winter months (and even in the summer if the conditions are right such a altitude) people who adventure out doors for any period of time are subject cold temperatures which, if not properly protect, could end in frost nip or even worse frost bite. Frost nip is characterized by numbness and tingling of the skin (usually that of the fingers, toes, ears, cheeks and chin) with the skin either a red, yellow or even a gray color. These tissues are soft and resilient and as a rule usually not painful and there is no freezing of the tissues. In contrast, frost bitten tissue may lose its sensation, and become solid. The color is generally pale, blue tinged, waxy and wood like. These tissues are not resilient and may form bloody blisters.
Treatment for frost nip is to warm the affected area by placing next to a warm part of his own body or that of another and removing form the cold environment. A full recovery is generally the rule with frost nip. Treatment for frostbite on the other hand (no pun intended) is more involved and painful. Generally the affected area is treated by rapid thawing (since the tissues are actually frozen) in a warm (105 degrees F) bath. This should not be done until the person is in a warm environment where refreezing will not occur. If the tissues were to refreeze then thaw again, significant damage to tissues will occur (place a tomato in the freezer, thaw it out then repeat. Note the mush that is left). If in the field it may be necessary for the subject to "walk out" on the frozen feet, but once rewarming has begun avoid walking at all costs.
Next months question, Describe how you would splint a broken humerus/radial, ankle, tib/fib... How about a femur?
| Web News |
| Critical Incident Stress Management, Part One of Four | by Joyce Rumschlag |
It's the stress level. Our only levels of stress are not from SAR work. We come into a SAR situation with as much stress as the rest of the population. (Whose pagers do not go off at 0200 hours.) This stress builds and can build to dangerous levels if we do not find a way to disperse it before it does mental and physical damage. Did you know that when you are stressed there is a bio-chemical outpouring of 11 chemicals? The fight or flight thing. What happens to these chemicals? They are stored in our muscle tissue. How's that low back pain you experienced during the holidays or at final exam time? It's been clinically proven in the 50"s and 60"s that 80% of low back pain is related to stress. The only way to get these chemicals out of you muscles is to exercise them out.
That all being said, How do we achieve some level of physical fitness (and stress reduction) on a time budget? First let's figure out what we're going to do to get into shape. Find something you like to do. Make a realistic plan when you can do your program and set a time in which to do it. Set goals you can achieve. But don't make it too easy on yourself!
I 'm not a one-activity person. I enjoy hiking, biking, snowshoeing and skiing and backpacking. The different seasons get me out to do different things. Variety keeps fitness interesting. When I don't get out as much as I feel that I should, I rely on the old aerobic tapes or my dog gets a really nice treat and I walk her in the bosque. Goals are nice to have. Like getting in shape for the quad or a backpack next summer in Colorado or the old class reunion incentive. Once you've realized how much fun/work it was to achieve your goal, you may not be willing to stop your program and risk backsliding. However, life moves forward and you may need to get other projects done. While you're accomplishing these tasks, get into a routine maintenance program. You may not be increasing your strength and cardiovascular fitness but you won't be loosing it either. People who only enjoy a one-season activity find the maintenance program a good way to avoid trying to jump-start a fitness program before their active season and risk injury when rushed into. Double your fun. Work out with a friend or significant other.
Next month "turn signals optional"
| Disclaimer and Copyright notice | the Editors |