Staying safe on the moors

Staying safe on the moors

Dr Jo Coldron gives some useful advice about avoiding dangerous situations on Dartmoor and dealing with minor injuries.

We are so lucky to be able to be out on the moors within minutes, but anyone who has spent any time exploring the tors knows that Dartmoor can quickly turn from a beautiful, benevolent, inspiring landscape to a challenging environment in moments with a change in the weather or an injury to a member of the group. If you are unprepared for this situation it can sometimes become serious. No group of people know this better than the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (DSRT) which has been working to keep people safe on the moors for over 50 years. What would help DSRT immensely is if everyone ventured onto the moors expecting to have a wonderful day, but also prepared for more challenging events. At the very least you should wear appropriate clothing, and take waterproofs and warm layers. Most people have mobile phones these days so make sure it’s somewhere waterproof and fully charged. You should have a map, and if going on a bigger walk or somewhere you don’t normally go, make sure someone knows your route. There is a lot of useful information on the ‘Stay Safe’ page on the DSRT website, as well as links to the following:

The Met Office detailed weather report for Dartmoor

How to register your phone for emergency 999 text service

Up-to-date firing range information

A route card to fill in and leave with a family member or friend detailing where you plan to walk

You could take a whole rucksack of first aid kit but for those who have never taken medical kit with them I would suggest the following items:

Plasters (assorted sizes): for obvious uses, and despite this article, a blister remains the most likely ‘medical emergency’ on Dartmoor

A triangular bandage: this is the most versatile type of bandage and can be used to bandage and apply pressure to bleeding wounds, make slings for broken arms and wrists or make splints for injured legs

Self-adhesive bandage tape: this can be used alone to support a sprained ankle or together with a folded triangular bandage as a pad to bandage a bleeding wound

Disposable gloves: it may well not be your bleeding you are stemming, and all parties will be happier and safer if you wear disposable gloves

Sterile cleansing wipes: these are useful for smaller abrasions, but for deeper, larger, contaminated wounds you are likely to get them much cleaner by sluicing with clean tap water from your drinking bottle - try not to use all of it though as someone who has lost a lot of blood can feel pretty thirsty

Tweezers: always more useful than you can possibly imagine

Scissors: useful for cutting bandages and tape of course, but more importantly for cutting clothing to get to an area of injury without having to take clothes off – not something a casualty wants to be doing in any circumstance, and certainly not on a cold hillside

If you feel you would appreciate a bit of training to improve your skills and confidence at first aid and emergency medical care, Tavistock Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team is running first aid courses on 30 May, 25 July and 29 August - details are available at www.dsrt-tavistock.org.uk/courses.html