For those that don't know , I am a Ski patroller in my spare time, and I thought i would share what I have learned about accident response and how I think it can apply to the dunes. Forgive me if this is an already established protocol. Even though I have been off-roading for years, I've never been a part of a "community" before so I don't know how much awareness or already established framework exists. I'd love to hear what others have to offer or do too.
This is copied and pasted from a post I made in our local buggy forum.


A few things I thought about that are the basis for a plan of action as a Ski-patroller or first responder that could be of good use to the Duners are the following. (these may be obvious to some or already established dune protocols, so apologies if I am re-stating things)

When you come across an accident, first and foremost, don't rush in, look around, can you help and not be in danger? You can't help anyone if you get hurt too. A good example is a crash on the downhill side of a big dune. Don't do anything until you get someone to the top to stop others from crashing into your accident scene. Maybe park your car at the top and run down. EMS will need a good landmark to find you, the car can point the way. Get people in front of any blind corners or any other obstacle that could lead to a second crash. Believe me, I've seen this happen it's not pretty.
Know where you are and give a good description of where you are to EMS, one of the big challenges of my patrolling is getting good info on where the wreck is.
Always glove up, Don't touch anyone without gloves even if you don't see blood. You never know what you will find or what someone has in their body fluids. When EMS arrives the gloves will make you instantly recognizable as part of the solution not the problem. They will also know you may have important information about what happened.
Don't do anything your not trained to do, good Samaritan laws will protect you from any liability, even if you make a mistake, as long as you don't exceed your training.

Get a S.A.M.P.L.E. history, critical information that can help EMS treat the patient properly. The patient may lose consciousness or you may need to get information from by-standers that may leave. In any case you can provide what might be critical life-saving information to EMS.

Signs and Symptoms : what does the patient feel or experience or what do you or bystanders observe
Allergies: friends or companions can help if the patient can't tell you, medical alert bracelets too.
Medications: what are they taking , you don't have to know what it is just tell EMS.
Pertinent Past History: Is this a reoccurring event?, have they done this before?
Last Oral Intake: when and what did they last eat or drink?
Events: what actually happened?, how fast were they going? how far did they fall? where did they hit, etc... This information can have a big effect on the treatment and rescue plan.

If you can do these things it gives EMS a huge head start on treating a injury or illness. They will ask all the same questions again, it doesn't mean they weren't listening , they were, sometimes they gather more details the second time and they are already using what you told them and they appreciate it. They just won't stop to tell you so, they are busy saving the person.

Maybe others have some ideas about dune specific practices that are helpful?

AWSOME INFO!!!!! Needs to be a sticky!!!! Thanks for posting. I learned alot

And by getting information a 2nd or 3rd time, they'll see trends (dropping blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased respirations, etc) that will help diagnose problems.

One other thing - DONT MOVE THE PATIENT UNLESS THEY ARE IN FURTHER DANGER (ie. Fire, or leaking fuel)

Great thread, Thanks !

Good info.

First and foremost, if you suspect a neck injury, don't move the patient. Hold the head "in-line" with your finger tips over the temple region of the head and your thumbs at the base of the skull, behind the ears. This will keep the head from moving side to side or back and forth.

Here is a quick and easy way that will help determine and or locate a persons injuries.
*Tell the person your name and then ask them theirs. This will help ease the injured person.
*Ask the person if they are in injured or in pain. If so, ask where the pain/injury is.
*Concentrate on that area and begin palpating and looking for signs of trauma (ie, deformities, laceractions, contusions, crepitus, swelling) and work outward to all other body parts.

*If it is bleeding, control it.
*If it is broken, stabilize it.
*If it is burning, cool it.


####palpating is kind of like a grooping action with you finger tips#####

great info Mods please pin it

I know this sounds redundant, but ask if it is OK for you to help, some don't want help, and the Good Samaritan law won't protect you in the event that you do.

Excellent info!!

I know this sounds redundant, but ask if it is OK for you to help, some don't want help, and the Good Samaritan law won't protect you in the event that you do.

This is true. If they deny help the Good Samaritan laws don't/won't help you. If the injury is bad enough, unfortunately you need to wait until they are unconscious, then the 'Implied Consent' rule kicks in and you are protected again.

I 'was' a ski patroller in my younger days and just went through a CPR recert today as a matter of fact. For those who have not taken a CPR training course in the last, I'm guessing five years or so, (feel free to correct me on this) take another one. The proceedures have changed from the 5-3 ratios I was taught when I was patrolling. If you have not taken CPR, do it. Its cheap and takes just a few hours to complete. Many trainers will give you package pricing if you get a group together. Even if you think/know you would never use CPR on a stranger due to legal, or other reasons, you might need to on a friend or family member.

Also, if you take a CPR class and come up on an accident and don't offer asistance, you can be in trouble too. It is rare anyone gets convicted for causing other injuries trying to help a person in good faith as long as you don't over step your training. When doing CPR right you may crack a few ribs but the judge will most likely throw any lawsuit out. But if I, with only CPR training, attempt a tracheostomy because I seen it done on TV, and cause further harm/injury, I may be liable. Hopefully someone with more legal expertise will expand on this.

Most of what you see on medical TV dramas are wrong!!!

My 2 cents for discussion:

Not many of us carry rubber gloves around so any plastic bag will be better than nothing, though harder to work in. Walmart/Target type bags work the best. Look for any holes first!! Bags can also be used to shield your mouth from theirs if CPR is required. (obviously poke a finger size hole in it). It won't have the one way valve the masks do but it's better than nothing.

Being out in the sand, if you have anything to shield the victim from the sun and not get in the way of rescuers will add some comfort. Even if its just two people holding a jacket above them.

Don't give them anything to drink until EMTs arrive. Unless you know for sure dehydration is the cause. This would go against normal thinking. You are in the middle of the freaking sand dunes for pete's sake. Others with more Med training should comment on this.


Great Post!! make it a sticky!!

Asking them your name a few minutes after you tell them is a great way to help asses a possible head injury. Alert and lucid subjects will always know, head traumas will frequently forget after being told several times.

Several issues have been brought up and there could be whole threads on each of them. I won't try to address each of them but they all warrant some research if your not familiar with them.

Gloves should be a part of any first-aid kit, and cravats, lots of cravats...

Good stuff!

Gloves and a neck tie?

among other uses.

Excelent info. Thank you.

If there are other people there, assign them to perform other tasks, like call for help, flag down other vehicles, guide EMTs in, etc. Find out these other people's names and call them by their names, this way you have a higher probability that they will do what they are asked to do, rather than just wander off or drive away.