Recently after a few years break I have started swimming regularly again (every day) and this got me thinking about the time when I was a member of a lifesaving club and used to be a lifeguard to earn some extra pennies. My thoughts then wandered back to bushcraft as they often do and I had a little think about all the talk of first aid on BCUK, the ideas sort of mixed and question arose.
I wonder how many bushcrafters know what to do if someones in trouble in the water?
Personally Ive been involved in several rescues a number in a pool situation (one a spinal injury!) some of these incidents arent really relevant to bushcraft and a others on rivers, lakes, in canals and on the sea that will stay with me forever as a reminder that being careful around water when outdoors is just not enough you need to know what to do if things go wrong.
When were in the great outdoors we may need to cross running water as we travel, we will need to gather water from rivers lakes and streams to drink and cook, some of us like to fish from shore or boat, others like to forage besides all types of water and it appears a large number of us either own or enjoy paddling canoes and kayaks.
So whos got a current lifesaving qualification? Whos done any training and thinks they know what to do? Whos actually had to rescue a swimmer tow them to a boat or shore and perform CPR and/or EAR in or out of the water? Is this relevant knowledge in a bushcraft situation are have a just been thinking too much again?
James
I wonder how many bushcrafters know what to do if someones in trouble in the water?
Personally Ive been involved in several rescues a number in a pool situation (one a spinal injury!) some of these incidents arent really relevant to bushcraft and a others on rivers, lakes, in canals and on the sea that will stay with me forever as a reminder that being careful around water when outdoors is just not enough you need to know what to do if things go wrong.
When were in the great outdoors we may need to cross running water as we travel, we will need to gather water from rivers lakes and streams to drink and cook, some of us like to fish from shore or boat, others like to forage besides all types of water and it appears a large number of us either own or enjoy paddling canoes and kayaks.
So whos got a current lifesaving qualification? Whos done any training and thinks they know what to do? Whos actually had to rescue a swimmer tow them to a boat or shore and perform CPR and/or EAR in or out of the water? Is this relevant knowledge in a bushcraft situation are have a just been thinking too much again?
James