What to do, if things go south.

[supertopoz]

Dear All

Could 5 minutes save you hours of torture and torment to you or your loved ones?
Warning: Climbing is dangerous, can cause serious injury and death, plus great anguish to your loved ones, if they have no idea what happened to you.

I have been thinking of this for a while.
Here on KOTR, there are a number of experienced climbers, some beginners and some intermediate.

I have a question, 12 climbers are out bouldering together.
One falls down and breaks an ankle.
Do you know who is going to take care of you?
I would hope if it happened to me, all the other people in the group would get together and help out.

Okay so lets up the stakes a bit, you manage to break your leg, which is going to mean a painful decent, and at least a weekend if not more in a local hospital. Do you or the people around you know who to contact? Do you have your insurance with you? I and seriously hope you have at least Korean Government insurance.

Finally lets tip the stakes over the top, and you are lying in a pool of your own blood unconscious and about ready to give up the ghost.

Would it be nice to pass away peacefully knowing someone in your group will contact your parents and loved ones, even your boss?

Some of the above is in Jest. However many of us, it seems live alone, and come together for a weekend or two. Do you know any bodies (yeah! It’s a joke) mum and dad? Do you know more contact details than their country of origin?

So I have some questions.
What can I do to help you, if you are in trouble?
Who should I contact to make you feel more comfortable?
How can I find information which is going to help you if you are in hospital?

I do not like posting personal details over the internet.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

[shanja]

Maybe we could get bi-lingual (English-Korean) "dog-tags" or such made up with emergency info (name, insurance #, emergency contact person & cell#, blood type, allergies etc). People who are allergic to penicillin/ bees/ etc should already have an international medi-alert bracelet, but we could design a simple one and wear it when out and about (as a necklace/ bracelet).

With regard to parents/ next of kin etc, I guess you could just e-mail that to a select few friends you trust with it, other people register at the embassy too (though I haven't myself - I'm a tax dodging convict stock Aussie). All of this takes time though to filter back and get out. I dunno, worth thinking about though...so is a will to make sure your loved ones get the cams and draws rather than the govt or your hakwon owner.

[choss monkey]

if i ever injure myself... head trauma, broken legs, internal bleeding, or even just a really nasty bloody flapper... you have my permission to end the misery by smashing my head with a rock and hide my body.

my only other request is to take one of my fingers and hang it in a bolt hanger on a sport route.

[skinsk]

This is an excellent post with some good suggestions. I've been involved on both sides of serious evacuations and now count a first aid kit in my pack (finally used it at the last meet and greet I went to when someone needed band-aids). . .Get to know your partners; carry ID and medical insurance card in your pack. Write your alergies and reactions on your medical card-- better yet, in Korean! Have mom and dad (or even "emergency contact") in your cell phone contact list. Know where the car keys are if someone is driving. Fortunately, most Koreans would help with getting to the hospital, and I have never had a problem with this despite breaking my foot twice (in Korea) and once in Thailand.

I m sure people will add more! Anyway, this is good advice wherever you are, and especially when travelling!