Great Walks looks at what happens when a PLB is activated.
An accident happens in a remote area and you decide you need help. First step is to stabilise or reduce the risk of further injury. Next – do you really need help? Don’t ask for help if it’s something that’s not life threatening or does not need medical treatment. If it’s just something that will delay you a day or two then maybe you don’t need help. If in doubt though, police would prefer you to call them sooner rather than later. They would prefer to evacuate you before you become a critical patient.
If possible, move to a nearby open area where a helicopter might land and you have a clear view of the sky. Next, if you have a PLB, trigger it and place it upright to signal a satellite, they do not work under trees and don’t work well in narrow gorges. Be aware it can take up to 5hr before a satellite passes over. The PLB data is then transmitted onto the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in Canberra.
As all Australian PLBs are registered, RCC contact the owners emergency contacts to see if it’s a genuine trigger. Often they will also wait for a second pass of the satellite to confirm that the PLB is still activated. If it is, they then initiate a search by passing it onto the police search and rescue in the relevant state. Weather permitting, most remote rescues will be by helicopter.
Another way is to use a mobile phone or more reliably a satellite phone to ring 000. Be patient with the operator as most calls are from people in urban areas. Answer their questions if you can, but keep repeating that you are in a remote location. Eventually they will pass you onto search and rescue. They will need details of your location, preferably a grid reference, what the problem is and how many patients.
Advantages of a phone call is that a rescue is started much earlier, and the rescue service knows exactly where to go and what resources to send. As an example, we had one person break her arm in mid-afternoon. After a satellite phone call, she was lifted out late in the day instead of next day.
Once the cavalry has been called all is not over. When you hear the helicopter approaching, spread out and wave or move around to make yourself visible as it is not easy to see people on the ground. If the helicopter starts circling they will have seen you. Move 50m or more away from the landing site, take shelter and turn your back to the helicopter.
The wash from the blades is savage and anything loose including your gear will be picked up and flung. Once the helicopter lands, do not approach it, wait for the medic to come to you. From there follow their instructions.
If the rescue has to be by winch, the same applies, keep away from the winch site. Be aware that helicopter wash can break branches and trees so do not shelter under large limbs.
Costs for rescue? In Australia the emergency helicopter service is generally free. However, by asking to be rescued, the situation must be potentially life threatening or in need of medical attention. An ambulance will usually be waiting to transport you to a hospital to be assessed. Ambulance transportation is not free and can be $1000 or more. Having ambulance insurance cover, by being an ambulance subscriber, a pensioner or other insurance is highly recommended.
Words_John Chapman