How to carry someone out of the jungle
Every emergency situation is unique – if you break your leg while jungle trekking with hardened jungle trekkers who are super fit and many in a number it is a different situation than if you do the same while out with first timers who aren’t used to the jungle and are a bit ‘city slack’. You might be a mile for civilisation or fifty miles, there might be phone reception, there might not be, you might be in overgrown jungle or on a nice clear trail…the list goes on and on.
So, should there be some emergency the first thing to do – and do this immediately – is to do nothing at all. Or rather once any immediate danger to the person is dealt with and first aid administered, then you should S.T.O.P. (Stop, Think, Orientate and Plan). You and the group you are with should take a few minutes to think and come up with the best plan, because there are very few (I can’t think of any off hand) situations where a a few minutes of physical inaction is going to make all that much difference one way or the other, but a few minutes spent thinking and planning can make all the difference in the world.
I remember watching a programme about a couple who were on holiday, bird watching somewhere in a South American jungle and the woman twisted her ankle, her husband went off for help but then couldn’t remember the way back to where he’d left his wife and by the time they did find her (weeks later) she was dead. I’m sure all of you could think of what he should have done to make sure he could find her again (or even the alternative of not leaving her in the first place) but he was probably slightly panicked and disorientated and the real mistake I suspect he made was not to S.T.O.P.
In this video I look at the reality of carrying someone out of the jungle – it is no small task to undertake but there is a method that makes it a little easier. In many situations it might make more sense to send a small party off to get help while the rest of the group stays behind with the injured person….but only you will be able to determine what is the best option on the basis of the particular emergency situation you find yourself in
…and the best way to do that is to S.T.O.P.
Hi Paul,
Great way to tie a prussik knot, I use the larks head all the time, and your approach certainly is practical!
Of course we do not to try the stretcher with a light fabric (《50g/sqm) as material rip often means hammock failure, which is especially worse when you move someone above forrst ground, especially if there’s already an injure.
as for the S.T.O.P. action, one thing people often dont think of is to leave the bags behing if that doesnt put you in danger, you can always come later to take it, but at least while you help your friend, you can move with more agility (less chance to hurt you). carrying someone is already difficult enough.
Thanks for the work!!
Hi Wawa,
Thanks for the comment and very glad you liked the video – Prussiks are such useful knots to know!
You are right about the option of leaving the bags and the only reason I didn’t go into more detail on that sort of thing is that it all depends on what the situation is (how far you are from civilisation for example) and the key thing is to choose the option that is right for the particular scenario you find yourself in rather than follow prescribed steps that might not be appropriate, But it’s a good point and certainly if you are only a few miles from help it would be the thing to do.
…and you are absolutely right about carrying someone being difficult enough already!
Thanks for the tip,
Cheers!
Paul