XN000022-1981-04-25 — Page 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1981

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BE CAREFUL, HIKERS ARE WARNED

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HIKERS AND MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS WERE GIVEN A TIMELY REMINDER FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND TO FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, BY THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE CIVIL AID SERVICES, MR J.A. FORTUNE.

RECALL ING THE TWO ACCIDENTS WHICH OCCURRED A FEW DAYS AGO, ONE OF WHICH WAS FATAL, MR FORTUNE STRESSED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT HONG KONG IS NOTORIOUSLY MOUNTAINOUS AND UNLESS COMMON SENSE AND BASIC SAFETY FACTORS ARE FOLLOWED, ACCIDENTS AND TRAGEDIES

CAN OCCUR.+

HE LISTED THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS AND SAFETY HINTS:

ALWAYS WALK IN A MEDIUM-SIZED GROUP WHICH

1.

HAS AN EXPERIENCED LEADER.

2.

THE LEADER SHOULD HAVE AN ASSISTANT TO BRING UP THE REAR OF THE PARTY TO KEEP THE GROUP TOGETHER.

3.

4.

6.

7.

8.

9.

THE LEADER SHOULD PLAN THE ROUTE AND CHECK THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ENSURE EVERY MEMBER IS PROPERLY EQUIPPED. HE SHOULD LET A RESPONSIBLE PERSON KNOW THE ROUTE HE IS TAKING.

THEY SHOULD HAVE ESSENTIAL CLOTHING, INCLUDING A GOOD PAIR OF WALKING BOOTS, THICK SOCKS, LONG TROUSERS, A LIGHTWEIGHT WATERPROOF JACKET, A SUN HAT AND A RUCKSACK IN WHICH SHOULD BE CARRIED SOME FOOD, A SMALL FIRST AID KIT, A MAP, A COMPASS, A TORCH, A WHISTLE, A NOTEBOOK, A PENCIL AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF CASH FOR EMERGENCY.

THE GROUP SHOULD MOVE AT THE SPEED OF THE SLOWEST PERSON AND ENSURE NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.

DO NOT PANIC EVEN WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURS.

REMEMBER THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS SIGNAL, WHICH IS SIX LONG BLASTS ON A WHISTLE, OR SIX LONG FLASHES OF A TORCH AT NIGHT OR SIX LOUD SHOUTS. PAUSE ONE MINUTE AND THEN REPEAT. THE REPLY BY A RESCUE TEAM IS THREE LONG BLASTS OR FLASHES OR SHOUTS. NEVER GIVE SIGNALS UNLESS NECESSARY.

IF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS, TREAT THE PATIENT FOR SHOCK AND DO NOT MOVE HIM UNLESS NECESSARY.

IF YOUR GROUP HAS MORE THAN THREE PERSONS, SEND TWO MEMBERS WITH WRITTEN MESSAGE FOR HELP. THE MESSAGE SHOULD CONTAIN ALL ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR THE RESCUE TEAM.

10. AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE

SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE THE VICTIM COMFORTABLE AND TO KEEP UP HIS MORALE.