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Impalements in the Backcountry

Impalements in the Backcountry

Whether from Sticks or stakes, branches or rebar, impalements can be a backcountry problem to contend with. In the field of wilderness medicine, there are specific protocols pertaining to impalements and how to manage them in a remote setting. These guidelines are attributed to the assessment and location of the impalement injury. Core  impalement. Impalements to the head, face, trunk and other core...

Wilderness Medicine Skills: Splinting

Wilderness Medicine Skills: Splinting

  One of the key characteristics that defines a "wilderness" location, apart from the 1 hour away from definitive medial care, centers on the lack of available resources and the necessity to improvise. Though field teams and expeditions may have some first aid / rescue gear with them, in emergency situations there is very seldom a surplus...

Swiftwater Entry: swim smarter not harder

Swiftwater Entry: swim smarter not harder

A swiftwater entry  doesn't have to be graceful, it just has to gets the job done. A good swiftwater entry can make or break your swiftwater swim. Part superman, part belly flop, it involves extending yourself into the current and can give you the jump start you need to make your target. In our swiftwater rescue courses...

Central Texas Flooding Report

Central Texas Flooding Report

Texas native and Sierra Rescue's own, Zach Byars recently returned to Texas to his childhood home on the Blanco river in Wimberley where his family's house was hit hard by the recent flooding. Byars wasn't able to participate in the search and rescue efforts but was able to assist friends in family in the post-flood...

Patagonia: Sierra Rescue visits the Futaleufu

Patagonia: Sierra Rescue visits the Futaleufu

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Chile and got to spend a few weeks on the Futaleufu river in Patagonia. My wife and I joined up with a commercial trip through BioBio expeditions. We bridged the gap between guests and guides, leaning more toward the guide side. Once we proved our worth with...