Suspension Trauma {presentation video}

[Jack]

This video is painfully long but probably very important to know for rescuers, trainers, bosses ... everyone. You can just listen to the audio while doing other stuff on the computer, or riding in the truck. It's just a PowerPoint presentation but an excellent presentation for all rescuers about 'Harness Hang Syndrome'.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nEn4WQ5ShTo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[pete mctree]

Put that on the "watch later" list. Thanks for finding it though

 

[MasterBlaster]

Thanks, Jack.

 

[NickfromWI]

An hour?! Yikes. Where's the Clif's Notes?

 

[bonner1040]

it happens fast (as fast as 3-4 minutes in certain circumstances), it kills/maims you, if you bring someone down hold their knees to their chest so the blood is restricted.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've felt it.

 

[Jack]

An hour?! Yikes. Where's the Clif's Notes?

Yeah, I hear ya, Nick! I couldn't watch it either. I listened to it while driving to & from jobs. You can get the entire message from the audio while driving ... makes it tolerable.

OR, listen to it while splicing.

 

[Peter]

You can also just read the article. http://www.wemjournal.org/article/s1080-6032(10)00320-0/fulltext

The conclusion is somewhat different to what we were taught on an arb specific first aid course last week, but the bottom line is you aren't going to get suspension trauma in a tree harness unless you get stuck in an upright position and you are unconscious or unable to move your toes. You could get it hanging unconscious from a bucket in a full body harness though.

 

[Jack]

Thanks, Peter.

Here's a link to a PDF so it can be down-loaded for reading off-line, printing for a class handout, or general reference:

Risks and Management of Prolonged Suspension in an Alpine Harness
- Roger B. Mortimer, MD
- From the Department of Family Medicine, UCSF-Fresno Medical Education Program
- University of California at San Francisco, Fresno, CA.
- WILDERNESS & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE, 22, 77–86 (2011)