SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 1985
THE CAS MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM THAT WENT TO THE RESCUE OF THE WALKERS LEARNED THAT THEY HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN HILL WALKING.
THE EXPEDITION ITSELF WAS TOO AMBITIOUS FOR THE WALKERS, THE IR FOOTWEAR WAS TOTALLY UNSUITED TO THE ROUGH TERRAIN AND SOME OF THE WALKERS BECAME PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED AND UNABLE TO CARRY ON WITH THEIR JOURNEY.
MR FORTUNE, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS COMMITTEE, SAID THAT DURING THE SUMMER, MID-DAY,
IT WAS TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE REGION OF 30 DEGREES CELSIUS. ALSO VERY HUMID WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SUDDEN THUNDERSTORMS AND IN MANY LOCATIONS THERE WAS VERY LITTLE COVER FROM THE UNRELENTING HEAT OF THE SUN.
+WALKERS MUST NOT OVER-ESTIMATE THEIR PHYSICAL STATE, THEY CAN TIRE VERY EASILY AND MAY THEN BEGIN TO SUFFER FROM HEAT- EXHAUSTION, SUN STROKE AND ALSO DEHYDRATION,+ MR FORTUNE SAID.
+IT IS MUCH BETTER TO PLAN A WALK OR EXPEDITION ON THE LOWER SLOPES OF HILLS AND ALONG EASY ROUTES.
+ IT IS ALSO ADVISABLE TO START OUT EARLY IN THE MORNING, AS TO AVOID THE MID-DAY HEAT, HE SAID.
SO
THEY SHOULD HAVE ESSENTIAL CLOTHING, INCLUDING A SUN HAT, GOOD WALKING SHOES, A GOOD PAIR OF SOCKS TO AVOID BLISTERED FEET AND FIRST AID KIT, SUN-TAN CREAM AND OTHER BASIC ESSENTIALS. IT WAS ALSO NECESSARY TO CARRY A TORCH AND A WHISTLE IN CASE OF BEING LOST, HE SAID.
+ THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS SIGNAL IS SIX LONG BLASTS ON THE WHISTLE OR SIX LONG FLASHES OF A TORCHLIGHT AT NIGHT. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE EITHER OF THESE, THEN SHOUT SIX TIME FOR HELP.
+PAUSE ONE MINUTE AND THEN REPEAT. KEEP GIVING THESE SIGNALS AT INTERVALS. IF THEY ARE HEARD OR SEEN, THE REPLY SHOULD BE THREE BLASTS OR FLASHES OR SHOUTS, REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES, MR FORTUNE SAID.
OTHER USEFUL HINTS TO FOLLOW ARE:
* NEVER WALK IN THE HILLS ALONE, ALWAYS GO IN A GROUP.
* EACH GROUP SHOULD HAVE A LEADER WHO IS A RECOGNISED
PERSON WITH EXPERIENCE.
* AN EXPERIENCED WALKER SHOULD BRING UP THE REAR OF THE
PARTY TO KEEP THE GROUP TOGETHER.
* THE GROUP SHOULD MOVE AT THE SPEED OF THE SLOWEST
PERSON AND ENSURE NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.
*THE PARTY SHOULD CARRY EMERGENCY FOOD, A COIL OF THIN
NYLON ROPE, GET AN UPDATED WEATHER REPORT AND INDICATE TO A RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHERE THEY WERE GOING AND THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF RETURN.
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