There will be times when we're kilometres away from any medical help or hospital, and you'll need to act fast. Therefore, we should ALL be aware that venturing into the mountains and natural environments involves certain unpredictable risks like falls, fractures, disorientation, weather conditions, insect bites, and occasionally even animal attacks, which could lead to extreme situations we're unprepared for.
We're not trying to scare you - almost never (if not never) does anything serious happen, but better safe than sorry, right? That's why we also recommend planning your route carefully and taking all appropriate safety measures. Stay alert.
1. Secure the area
The first thing to consider and do is to analyse and assess the situation and ensure the safety of the rest of the group. Stay calm and think clearly. Secure the accident site and make a decision - nobody should move for safety reasons until the situation and surroundings have been properly assessed.
If it's safe for everyone, then we need to consider how to rescue the injured companion.
2. Protect the casualty
Assess the situation and risks. By instinct, we all tend to rush to help the injured person, but this can sometimes be dangerous for others. If it's safe to approach them, let it be the companion with "some" medical knowledge who checks for potential injuries, bleeding, fractures etc. Examine them from head to toe, check their pulse, palpate to check for pain responses, examine their pupils etc.
Try to talk to him/her in a normal conversation. If they're agitated, try to calm them down - this will always be beneficial and will help them cooperate better.
3. Alert emergency services
It's absolutely crucial that we always carry a charged mobile phone for these situations. The emergency number is 112. Often you won't have signal to make the call, so you'll need to move away from the accident area.
Never leave the casualty alone. If there are only two of you in the group and you must leave them alone temporarily, keep them warm, leave some food and water, and go find an area with signal to call for help.
During the call, you'll need to clearly explain the situation, what happened, your location, how many people are involved... etc
4. Administer first aid
After calling emergency services, you'll need to take action if the situation requires it. While waiting for the helicopter, you should attend to the casualty. IMPORTANT: don't attempt to move them unless absolutely necessary or unless you're trained to do so. If they're wearing a helmet (recommended), leave it on. Monitor any bleeding and stay with them as long as needed.
This video shows the international helicopter distress signals - we recommend familiarising yourself with them for when evacuation becomes necessary.
Now that you know what to do and how to handle extreme situations, we recommend you go to the mountains because, above all, it's a relaxing activity that helps you disconnect from daily hustle and bustle.
That's why we suggest the best hiking routes in Spain.
