Post by dougsanders on Sept 30, 2013 14:24:00 GMT -8
With MOFA no longer being supported by The Mountaineers there is an opportunity to affirm, modify, replace or delete the 7 Steps. (The Mountaineers have no control on the MOFA replacements.)
1. Take charge
2. Approach safely
3. Perform emergency rescue & immediate first aid
4. Protect self & patient
5. Treat other injuries
6. Prepare a plan
7. Follow your plan
The MOFA 7 steps have been around since the 70's and memorized by thousands. They have served our community well providing guidance during stressful emergencies when our ability to think clearly is compromised. Within FOTH, they are found in both First Aid and Alpine Rescue chapters.
For F8, the Alpine Rescue chapter committee took pains to become consistent with the 7 Step approach used in First Aid chapter and MOFA first aid training. In the process a flaw became apparent but was never cleanly dealt with.
Steps 2 & 3, form the basis for small party self-rescue technique. The planning, set-up and application of crevasse and rock rescue techniques can be quite complex. Yet, these Steps are glossed over in the 7 Steps explanation (I think the original 7 Step focus was on first aid technique not self-rescue technique.)
The F8 Alpine Rescue chapter places small party rescue ('Approaching safely' and 'performing immediate first aid and emergency rescue') in Steps 6 and 7 rather than in 2 and 3 where it rightfully belongs. This was done because Steps 6 & 7 were the only Steps that address the planning and technique application characteristic of small party self-rescue. In F6, Step 2 'Approach safely' was covered in two sentences.
In addition to resolving this issue, I would suggest that some tweaks to the 7 Steps, something along the lines of:
1. During an accident.
2. Take charge
3. Party safety first!
4. Access safely (Approach safely)
5. Perform immediate first aid and emergency rescue
6. Protect party (self) & patient
7. Treat other injuries
8. Prepare a plan
9. Follow your plan
10. Monitor and adjust the plan
Note: Prevention (safety) should remain separate.
The suggested Steps 1-3 focus on immediate actions to take for personal and party safety, gaining control, minimizing panicked induced activity, and securing those who might further endanger themselves', all aimed at not making (i.e. 'loss control') matters worse.
Step 10 acknowledges, that as adrenaline levels drop, things calm down, a better plan usually surfaces -its OK to change the plan.
In any respect there should be a universal framework or approach to emergencies and consistent use throughout FOTH. For sure, we need to avoid the chapter by chapter, isolated from the rest of the book, approach that characterized earlier editions.
1. Take charge
2. Approach safely
3. Perform emergency rescue & immediate first aid
4. Protect self & patient
5. Treat other injuries
6. Prepare a plan
7. Follow your plan
The MOFA 7 steps have been around since the 70's and memorized by thousands. They have served our community well providing guidance during stressful emergencies when our ability to think clearly is compromised. Within FOTH, they are found in both First Aid and Alpine Rescue chapters.
For F8, the Alpine Rescue chapter committee took pains to become consistent with the 7 Step approach used in First Aid chapter and MOFA first aid training. In the process a flaw became apparent but was never cleanly dealt with.
Steps 2 & 3, form the basis for small party self-rescue technique. The planning, set-up and application of crevasse and rock rescue techniques can be quite complex. Yet, these Steps are glossed over in the 7 Steps explanation (I think the original 7 Step focus was on first aid technique not self-rescue technique.)
The F8 Alpine Rescue chapter places small party rescue ('Approaching safely' and 'performing immediate first aid and emergency rescue') in Steps 6 and 7 rather than in 2 and 3 where it rightfully belongs. This was done because Steps 6 & 7 were the only Steps that address the planning and technique application characteristic of small party self-rescue. In F6, Step 2 'Approach safely' was covered in two sentences.
In addition to resolving this issue, I would suggest that some tweaks to the 7 Steps, something along the lines of:
1. During an accident.
2. Take charge
3. Party safety first!
4. Access safely (Approach safely)
5. Perform immediate first aid and emergency rescue
6. Protect party (self) & patient
7. Treat other injuries
8. Prepare a plan
9. Follow your plan
10. Monitor and adjust the plan
Note: Prevention (safety) should remain separate.
The suggested Steps 1-3 focus on immediate actions to take for personal and party safety, gaining control, minimizing panicked induced activity, and securing those who might further endanger themselves', all aimed at not making (i.e. 'loss control') matters worse.
Step 10 acknowledges, that as adrenaline levels drop, things calm down, a better plan usually surfaces -its OK to change the plan.
In any respect there should be a universal framework or approach to emergencies and consistent use throughout FOTH. For sure, we need to avoid the chapter by chapter, isolated from the rest of the book, approach that characterized earlier editions.