Broken Collarbone on Oaks

Grant Shatford I headed up to Woodford on Sunday to film me for the new Oaks TrailFlix video.

About 7km in (just after St Helena junction), we came across two guys walking their bikes. I asked what the issue was, and expecting a broken chain etc, one bluntly replied “broken collarbone.“

One had come off two kms before and they were planning to walk to Woodford to the station and somehow get to a hospital, and when I informed them how far it'd be, some rather colourful language took form. At Grant and my persistence, we persuaded his mate to call 000 while we told him to sit down and sip water and stay calm. Luckily he got through and emergency announced help was en route so eventually Grant and I headed off. Soon later, a helicoper was heard. It started heading in our direction, directly above us. It thought we were the casualty! So we pointed away and the copter left. We rode back to the scene where the helicopter was now hovering above (like riding under a tornado!) where a 4WD ambo had arrived (still not sure why they had BOTH vehicles). Turned out the bone probably wasn't broken, just bruised, but he looked pretty pale when we first came upon him...

Anyway posted to share some thoughts about bush first aid. Ironically, two days ago, I‘d been discussing that I wanted to do a bush first aid course...

- The guys appeared to not know where they were - I had to inform them the name of the track when he called 000. If possible one should know the name of the track if it exists as I found.

- Walking 10km in a condition such as his just after the stack was not a wise idea. We found after he sat down for awhile in the shade he felt better... we found that that approach gives an opportunity to think (if not call 000)

- Initially when we called 000 they said not to drink, However the paramedics I spoke to confirmed that one should KEEP SIPPING water after an incident - not drinking is in relation to surgery, and this can wait. Hydration generally cannot, generally it's safer to drink a bit.

It's obviously not practical to learn all first aid fir every possible situation on a track, if one is to go out where we all love, I think the most important things we can remember are about staying calm and thinking logically and having some idea of what needs to be done. I reckon identifying suspected spinal, heavy bleeding and snake bites are the most important things though.

Grant‘s version + vidoes here:http://www.trailflix.com.au/feed/fun-stuff/permalink/34

Anyway, keep safe out there, hope this is useful and feel free to add your own input :)http://www.trailflix.com.au/feed/fun-stuff/cat/68http://www.trailflix.com.au/feed/fun-stuff/cat/68