Emergency Medical Care graduates need these skills to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others by providing care, hope and assistance to those who may become injured while working, travelling or enjoying South Africa’s natural wilderness environments.
They need to locate and manage injured patients in remote wilderness environments where resources are often limited, said Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medical Care Paul Allan.
Prior to their departure to the Addo Elephant National Park in the early hours, the 21 third-year Emergency Medical Care students had to complete orientation, map work, navigation and wilderness search and rescue preparation.
The simulated case over four days required the students to use map and compass work, GPS navigation and terrain identification to locate and extricate a simulated patient who had fallen, developed hypothermia and sustained multiple long-bone fractures.
The staff involved included Mr Allan, lecturer Travis Trower and Joseph Tuson from the department.
The first day involved hiking into the reserve, establishing a campsite, assessing the surrounding area, and preparing for a radial search. On Day Two students focused on terrain analysis and identifying possible access and evacuation routes, followed by relocating their camp and practising steep-slope recovery and rescue techniques.
On Day Four, the students located the simulated patient at the top of a waterfall, accessed the patient through challenging terrain, established a highline system and safely lowered the patient to the valley floor.
The task was well performed and well managed, covering multiple kilometres of hiking while carrying their personal supplies and rescue equipment.
The Emergency Medical Care thanks SANParks and Addo Elephant National Park for granting access to the area, as well as the rangers for their support.
The knowledge gained through this collaboration will assist in strengthening future wilderness rescue training and operational preparedness.