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Show ,,jm W&'i&fc'ttA. .jv ,r M't "' ' ' Lakeside Review South, Wednesday, June 27, 1984 5A H 1 if CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL is hoisted to safety away, from her rescuers in a practice paramedic rescue. Someday a matter of life and death; , but today, just ' , Two hikers in Farmington Canyon have lost their footing and slipped down the face of a steep canyon, one injuring her head, and the other fracturing her leg. Neither is able to move. The "victims, Charlotte Campbell, secretary at Weber State College, and Sally Brush, nursing instructor at Weber State Paramedic School, arrived early in the morning at the canyon, decided what injuries they would have, walked a log over the river, and climbed the steep hill to wait for paramedics school graduates to save them. Rescuers would have to cross the supposedly torrential waters to bring them back to safety. The mock rescue scene culminated a week of rescue training where students added to their medical training acquired over six months at Weber State. Planned by students, the scenario would require them to combine medical ktiowl- edge and rescue skills. For six months prior to this exercise, the trainees poured over medical books studying subjects 'like cardiology and pharmacology. To graduate they had to make grades above the 80 percent level. "They know their heart rates better than those coming out of medical school do, explained Evelyn Draper, program director at the school, who was at Farmington Canyon to help with the mock rescue. The week of mountain training began at Davis County Sheriffs Department where paramedics were taught capabilities and safe use of helicopters. Ships are first to be called to any mountain rescue operation. Proper rope use was taught, and students rappeled on ropes down the side of a 50 foot platform used for rope training at Hill Air Force a practice... of the ravine to the other. Trees supported the system of ropes. As carabeeners were attached, four pairs of hands pulled and held the special knots tight. Pulleys were installed and edge tested. . On the hill preparations were underway for one of the most, tedious steps in the rescue operation- the lowering, belaying, of the victims down a rock face-- a procedure which involves three men. Two men took positions on ropes above and to the side of Howard Faight, who would lower the litter. Ropes were pulled around trees and fastened-on- e to the litter and one to Faight-t- o give slack or tautness as he needed. Slack on me,or Slack on litter were mands issued by Faight for the men to give more rope. Break on me, or break on litter ordered them to hold back. Ms. Campbells return to safety depended on the success of the belaying operation. A mistake could be disastrous. She would have to place complete faith in the three men and 'their abili- ties. From the other side of the ravine Faight could barely be heard as he calculated his steps backward and down lowering the litter and shouting directions until he and Ms. Campbell were at the bottom of the steep hillside. Then, finally, Ms. Campbells litter was carried to the suspension system and attached to the pulley. Four or five men struggled and tugged together to pull her across the ravine, above the river. Base. "Are you okay? Concerned friends leaned over her as she was lowered to the ground. She began to shake, then broke into tears. "Do you want a smoke? Someone joked. Id love a smoke, she said. And I havent smoked Two teams of rescuers finally arrived at the scene with instructors from Davis County Sheriffs Department. Captain K.D. Simpson, and J.R.Hunt remained with a six man team on the near side of the river, while other Sheriffs instructors, Bill Jenson and Dave Bushe, were the river with the victims. It is crucial to get someone across the river immediately to attend to the victims, said Ms. Draper. . Even though the river can be crossed by log, a rope was set up next to the log simulating more dangerous conditions.The most important thing we is the safety of the paramedics-otherwiscould have another victim, said Ms. Draper, who has been training paramedics for ten years. Injuries were bandaged and the fractured leg set in a splint by the paramedics, but a half hour had gone by since the first medical people reached the patients. The sun was getting hot. They lay waiting for litters to arrive which would take them off the hill. Paramedics worked as fast as possible while still- taking every safety precaution. High above e the river a suspension system was constructed to carry victims on litters from one for seven years.? Her safety belts were released, and as she stood, she regained her her composure. More fhan once she emphasized how important it was to hear Farghts reassurance. Its so important for them to tell you what they are doing, and to tell you everything is going okay, she said. Ms. Brush, next to be rescued from the mountainside had been through it before. She shook it off joking and smiling. , In a real rescue operation, a helicopter would be at the scene, either on the mountainside, if there were a place to land, or at some distance away. Simpson explained later that Life Flight was scheduled to accompany the mock rescue, but was needed at another call. Five or six years ago, he said, teams of rescu- e, ers on the ground would handle the whole mountain rescue operation. Helicopters are now called by the Sheriffs Department five or six times a month for any type of emergency, and always accompany a mountain rescue operation. - man-mad- Photos by Robert Regan Story by Cheryl Archibald ALL HANDS grab the harness system until well-tie- d knots take over. M J BEHIND HANDS solves the problem of terror, HIDING t f STRAINING MANPOWER brings the litters of .injured" over Farmington River. (,v .VI 4 . a,, .V. tjh Wt' ', A ttU ut- fl M |