RE: [Paddlewise] Lost person scenario

From: Sisler, Clyde <Clyde.Sisler_at_wang.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 13:47:27 -0500
Sobering reading,

-----------------

Sobering, indeed!

Without laying blame or assessing the state of the industry, I can
sympathize somewhat with the leader when one thing after another started
occurring.

A few years ago I was at a snowshoeing workshop sponsored by the Appalachian
Mountain Club in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  One of our evening
activities was to simulate an accident scenerio.

We broke into groups of 6-8 and each person was given a role to play.  Guess
who got to be leader.  :-(

One person fell down and broke her shoulder, another sat down and became
hypothermic, a self proclaimed 1st aid specialist laid the first victim on
the ground for treatment so she became hypothermic too, one assertive,
macho, but inexperienced person demanded he be allowed to go immediately for
help, a second nitwit insisted he go along, another person was whining and
complaining and everyone was yapping in my ear.

I was pretty close to panic and just about freaked out.  In the review, I
lost one person to hypothermia (the broken shoulder) and had another
hospitalized before we were done.

That's probably why I paddle alone for the most part.
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Received on Wed Dec 09 1998 - 10:48:13 PST

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