Rescued Podcast // Ep 18 - Bram's pelvis opens like a book in a Taiwan canyon

Table of Contents

Episode Intro
Listen Here
Key episode takeaways
Images from before and during the rescue
How to support the Rescued Podcast
Transcripts
Thanks to

Episode Intro

The things we love to do in nature can lead us to explore and discover places not just close to home, but all around the world.

These activities, like bushwalking, climbing or canyoning, give us opportunities to step outside the typical tourist or visitor experience, not only opening our eyes to cultures different to our own, but on a deeper level, the chance to connect with the local outdoor community through our shared love of wild places.

In this special double episode of Rescued, we hear from 3 friends, all highly skilled and experienced canyoners, as they find themselves in the embrace of Taiwan’s small and dedicated canyoning and rescue community, after a life-threatening fall during a multiday expedition.

If you ever needed a reminder of the value of regular, high-quality wilderness first aid training and the importance of being able to rely on the people you adventure with – this is it.

Listen Here

Key episode takeaways

The importance of having the right skills, training and experience for the environments we adventure in
The ability to make fair and accurate self-assessments of your skills and experience
Planning is key to better outcomes
Research multiple contingency plans: if your exit from a canyon doesn’t work, are there alternatives you can see on satellite imagery? Plan refuge and camp spots
Being able to rely completely on your adventure buddies if something goes wrong. Q: Can you say this about strangers you connect with on MeetUps or similar?)
Value of research, local knowledge and connections
Huge thanks to the incredible and supportive local canyoning community of Taiwan
Being smart about choosing your emergency contacts and setting up a What’sApp group – briefing them all properly with plans, contingencies and giving them permission to act as your advocates if something happens
The essential recert and muscle memory of quality wilderness first aid training
Benefits of choosing to study Wilderness or Remote Area First Aid (WFA/RAFA) over simple Senior First Aid
Brainstorm and practice roping and rescue problems at home and in easier environments before being confident to execute them in challenging ones under pressure
Good open, inclusive and frank communication in and around a patient
How humour can help with stressful situations
Everyone knowing their job and getting it done
How party size can change outcomes in an incident
Importance of essential survival skills eg: fire making, knowing priorities for survival
Stove, lighters and Nalgene bottles as essential canyon equipment
Making sure your first aid kit is up-to-date (when was the last time you made sure you had enough panadol and ibuprofen?)
Bright clothes, bothy bag, emergency blankets to draw attention
Knowing how to prepare for helicopters and downwash
Aussie registered PLBs activated overseas are received by AMSA in Canberra