Extensive rescue operation under way in New Zealand cave

Discuss training events, techniques, equipment, safety and related issues. Click here to visit the National Cave Rescue Commission webpage.

Moderator: Tim White

Postby Colin NZ » Sep 2, 2007 2:51 pm

The bedroll would have been the approx 1/4 of a bedroll each they carry to sit on at lunch time and in case they get stuck. The blankets would have been to foil variety. With a carbide lamp underneath they are quite warm.
Artcile is reasonably accurate.
Colin NZ
Infrequent Poster
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Aug 30, 2007 7:34 pm
  

Postby NZcaver » Sep 2, 2007 5:41 pm

Colin NZ wrote:The bedroll would have been the approx 1/4 of a bedroll each they carry to sit on at lunch time and in case they get stuck. The blankets would have been to foil variety. With a carbide lamp underneath they are quite warm.
Artcile is reasonably accurate.

Of course. :doh:

I've often carried both those items caving myself - I should have known.

Thanks!
User avatar
NZcaver
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 6367
Joined: Sep 7, 2005 2:05 am
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Name: Jansen
NSS #: 50665RL
  

Postby pete_the_caver » Sep 23, 2007 6:25 pm

just noticed the comment about wireless communications. It just so happens that there is a set of Heyphones stored at the Waitomo cave rescue depot. The problem is that when I was home in NZ a few months ago no one could be bothered to learn how to use them. They couldn't even work out that the reason they didn't work was because they had flat batteries (you can't charge 12V batteries with a 6V charger).

But getting back to wireless communication... Recently Swedish cave rescuers have been using fairly standard two-way radios with built in repeaters to relay wireless communications underground. And I heard today at the BCRA conference (Hidden Earth) that Spanish cavers may even have an underground repeater system that allows the use of cell phones!!!!
User avatar
pete_the_caver
Infrequent Poster
 
Posts: 11
Joined: Jun 11, 2007 3:22 pm
Location: Wales UK
Name: Peter Hobson
Primary Grotto Affiliation: South Wales Caving Club
  

Postby Colin NZ » Sep 23, 2007 6:31 pm

The Heyphones were tried out at the Bulmer SAREX. I believe they did not work very well in that environment.
Also - to have been of use in this event they needed to be in Nelson/Mot. By the time the Waitomo cavers were in Nelson the Michie phone wire was most of the way to the patient
Colin NZ
Infrequent Poster
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Aug 30, 2007 7:34 pm
  

Interview with NZ rescuer

Postby cavedoc » Oct 1, 2007 4:59 pm

At this site there is a link to an interview between Jeff Lehman, of San Bernardino County (CA) Cave Rescue Team and Steve Kesler, formerly of San Bernardino but now in New Zealand who was involved in the rescue. He has talks about some interesting differences between cave SAR in the USA v. NZ.

http://www.sbsar.org/joomla/index.php?o ... &Itemid=75
Roger Mortimer
User avatar
cavedoc
NSS Hall Of Fame Poster
 
Posts: 455
Joined: Sep 5, 2005 3:30 pm
Location: Fresno, CA
Name: Roger Mortimer
NSS #: 26529
Primary Grotto Affiliation: San Joaquin Valley Grotto
  

Postby NZcaver » Oct 1, 2007 7:40 pm

:kewl: Excellent, thanks for the link Roger!
User avatar
NZcaver
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 6367
Joined: Sep 7, 2005 2:05 am
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Name: Jansen
NSS #: 50665RL
  

Cave rescue 'army' honoured

Postby NZcaver » Apr 15, 2008 12:50 am

Cave rescue `army' honoured
Nelson | Friday, 11 April 2008

The army of 98 rescuers who battled for 2 1/2 days to drag a severely injured doctor from a cave beneath Takaka Hill have been honoured for their efforts.

Motueka GP Michael Brewer suffered concussion, cracked ribs and a broken pelvis while caving in the Green Link-Middle Earth cave system in August last year.

The huge effort to save him, dubbed Operation Brewer, drew cavers from as far as Auckland and Invercargill.

Last night, members of the team were recognised at Parliament, becoming the first recipients of the New Zealand Search and Rescue Certificate of Achievement.


Full story here
User avatar
NZcaver
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 6367
Joined: Sep 7, 2005 2:05 am
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Name: Jansen
NSS #: 50665RL
  

Re: Extensive rescue operation under way in New Zealand cave

Postby Cheryl Jones » Apr 15, 2008 11:17 am

:kewl: :clap: :clap:
User avatar
Cheryl Jones
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 2469
Joined: Sep 2, 2005 11:53 pm
Location: Virginia
Name: Cheryl Jones
NSS #: 14479 FE OS
Primary Grotto Affiliation: BATS
  

Previous

Return to Cave Rescue Techniques Forum

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users

cron