Wednesday, June 10, 2009

When It's Leadership and Leadership

Age 24 leading a winter skills course in the Cairngorms. The group were all vetted for health, fitness and appropriate experience. All info came back positive. We climbed up to about 3000ft in reasonable weather. All was going well when one my student dropped like a stone into the snow.

I remember two things. Firstly I remember administering the obvious first steps of help whilst thinking through longer term actions

Secondly I remember being bombarded with useless information by the rest of the team. This included sending for help, carrying off the casualty and splitting the group.

I took none of it. Being benighted age 15 in the Cairngorms one winter had taught me a thing or two – mainly its not a fun place to be. I warmed the victim, gave her plenty of hot drinks and carbohydrates, disturbed here equipment between the party and walked back as a team the way we had come. Job done all home safe. It transpired there were health issues that had not been disclosed.