Forum menu
Sooooo your mate fa...
 

[Closed] Sooooo your mate falls off in front of you and breaks his leg...

Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I really should get one of those space blankets, been meaning to for ages but keep on forgetting!

As for getting locations from GPS or phones I have experience of both.
I had to use the GPS to give co-ordinates to the French ranger at Pre-La-Joux after we saw a rider go over a small ridge and shatter his leg whilst trying to let us past. The chopper that winched him off came straight to us, no messing around. Speaking to the rider afterwards by email the chopper pilot said it made things far easier for them than the usual location of 'The top end of Rock'n'roll" etc they usually get.
I've had to phone for help for a walker I came across in the Beacons and the GPS wasn't picking up a signal. I knew what ridge I was next to but not which side, the operator could tell by looking at which mast I was connected to. Help arrived in 30 minutes!

I don't carry my smartphone with me on the bike, got an ancient Nokia instead as the battery lasts forever (it's 10 years old and still holds charge for weeks!) and it picks up phone signals much better than my Xperia does. Between it and the GPS I should be covered.

The other advantage of a GPS trace is that you can spot things after an accident you might not otherwise have known. Had a big OTB at Afan five years ago and I thought I had just crashed, gathered my stuff up and walked back to the visitor centre then to A&E. Whilst sat at home recuperating I looked at the trace and spotted I had crashed then not moved for a good 45 minutes whereas I remembered crashing then immediately walking out of the way a good 100m. Went back to the docs and said I may have been knocked out for a long time (previously said I hadn't) and they got me in for a scan. Good job I checked that trace as they spotted a few problems!!


 
Posted : 13/04/2015 12:45 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Download 'OS Locate' for free from playstore or appstore. It is an absolute no brainer for anyone who goes off into the hills for fun.

It is the Ordnance Surveys own app and it handily gives you a 6 fig grid reference of your current location. Just what you need when the poo has hit the fan, need to tell the emergency services and you dont know where you are. It also has a compass which is a bit of a gimmick but maybe useful.


 
Posted : 13/04/2015 1:01 pm
Posts: 10979
Free Member
 

This isn't having a dig, but what would the first aid course have given you?

[url= http://www.cedricgracia.com/brigade/news/bloody-cg-bleeding-crash-at-la-reunion-island-988 ]Basic first aid skills saving a (rather good) riders life (blood content).[/url]

Cool, calm, collected & compression.


 
Posted : 13/04/2015 1:10 pm
Posts: 41869
Free Member
 

Also worth noting where the phone reception is (route guidebooks might mention it, car park signs etc, or at least make a note of when you last had it on the trail). All very good having an app on your phone that relays your position to the emergency services if you've had to walk back 3 miles to find reception.


 
Posted : 13/04/2015 1:12 pm
Page 2 / 2