WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A CAVING INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT
Two calls are necessary to start a caving rescue:
- Contact the Emergency Services number 112 and explain :
- That a caving accident happened.
- That the technical advisor of the local cave rescue organisation (« Conseiller Technique Départemental en Spéléologie ») has to be warned.
- Contact the SSF (SPELEO SECOURS FRANCAIS): call in order of priority, until a contact is made:
- To Departmental caving technical advisor : Phone numbers are available on the following website: https://ssfalert.fr/
- To national operations center of the Spéléo secours français :
Toll-Free Number: +33(0)800 121 123
In case of suspicion of an accident or incident, do not hesitate to contact the Departmental Technical Advisors for an advice on the situation.
In case of personal injury
It is essential that the alert be forwarded by a direct witness. He will be able to answer the questions about place, time and circumstances of the accident. The emergency call should also contain a minimal health report of the casualty with the answers to the following questions:
- Is the casualty conscious?
- Is the casualty breathing?
- Does the casualty have any obvious injuries?
- Does the casualty experience any disabling pain?
- Is the casualty under a protective thermal cover or “hot spot”?
Take the time you need to collect and to write these informations before calling emergency assistance.