Always be SAFE

[shepherd]

little story from yesterday, with a simple message, always be safe in unpopulated areas as you never know what could happen! - this is more a tale for people new to buhscraft/being outdoors/etc. - im not trying to teach the experienced members (far more experienced than me) to suck eggs!

I was out and about yesterday and found a sheep neck deep in a bog - i only found it as i heard its 2 lambs bleeting for it - wasnt one of our sheep but i thought as it was most likely a friends sheep so id pull her out before the crows got at her eyes.

i got over to her and started to try and pull her out, she must have been stuck for some time as her legs were basically useless and she was a dead weight. it was after about 10 mins i realised i had sunk very far myself, about thigh deep and was struggling to free myself, i was stuck fast for a while and the more i sturggled the deeper i got.... it would appear i have the same brain capacity as the sheep i was attepting to free. using said sheep as a floatation device i managed to lean on her and free my legs, i found a better footing and in the end dragged her out. after a while she regained her strength and staggered off.

I did have someone with me to call for help should i have got in a serious situation, but my point is if you are going to do something like that and 'take a risk' - especially if your in the middle of nowhere take all possible measures to be as safe as possible. tell people what your about to do, get someone out to help or if that isnt possible simply dont do it... as other members have mentioned on here before... help takes a long time to arrive in the hills.


EDIT: My next installment of this story is Danner Cayotes vs Washing Machine...! :D

[Silverback]

In my old teams Operational Area there is a spot they call the bog monster...it regularly catches people unawares. I am 'lucky' enough to live on the fringes of the Dark Peak which is famed for its desolate and exposed tracts of moorland top, and ... with extensive blanket peat covered by cottongrass bog and heather moorland.

Another worthwhile nugget of info is that on a day like today for instance here at home we have a dusting of snow above 500m, heavy rain, localised flooding, and an ambient temp of 3 deg C...at 500m its 0 deg C and with the windchill its in minus temps.....once you get yourself out of the bog, wet and tired you have a perfect recipe for becoming hypothermic - look out for the symptoms...the 'umbles...stumbles, mumbles, fumbles and grumbles.

Try and get out of the offending environment as quickly as possible and get warm, beware warming too quickly, avoid stimulants like coffee, definately avoid alcohol and if safe to do so change wet for dry clothing......several hypothermics were evacuated in the lakes last weekend and as shepherd quite rightly says rescue in mountainous and upland areas of the UK can and will take a lot longer than 8 mins. Also worthy of note...Air Ambulances cant fly at night,or in bad weather and the RAF/RN/HMCG helos may be anything up to 60 mins away !

[paulthefish2009]

Good story mate,a lesson to be learned there for all of us,well done for saving the sheep T^

[Stamp]

Good story and sound advice from you and Sapper

[butchthedog]

Yep, agree. Some good advice there. T^

[saxonaxe]

" .once you get yourself out of the bog, wet and tired you have a perfect recipe for becoming hypothermic - look out for the symptoms...the "

That's a very good point worth remembering. Years ago as a young teenager before I knew any better, I got wet to the waist trying to get water from a lake...and I was wearing jeans. Up in Wark Forest, by Kielder Water. I was solo and by the time I got back to the tent believe it or not I couldn't work out how to get the tent zip open!!
That was in late October too. Hot face, thumping headache, couldn't think straight and completely numb from the waist down...close. :(

[shepherd]

great add-on sapper, and you were lucky saxonaxe! - the joys of being young! haha

[snowleopard]

Very sound advice from both of you!

Joel

[Silverback]

remember the difference guys

HYPO (LOW) thermic..... low core temp


HYPER (HIGH) thermic..... high core temp

[David_JAFO]

hello,
DITTO on Sapper4083 comment. Coming from 'The Sticks' myself (countryside) knowing full well the dangers of living near such terrain :oops:
Regards
David

[OakAshandThorn]

T^ Sound words from the wise... ;)

[shepherd]

T^