FINGERS IN JUMAR ASCENDER, FAILURE TO FOLLOW ...
FINGERS IN JUMAR ASCENDER, FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park, Eagle Cliff Mountain O n Ju n e 10, 1991, w hile p articipating in th e annual rescu e train in g session for R M N P seasonal perso n n el, R escu er #1 (62) was descen d in g a rope using Ju m ar ascen d ers on E agle C liff M ountain. R escuer #1 b ecam e confused w ith his h an d p la ce m en t on th e device an d p laced his left h an d on th e rope b e n e a th th e Ju m ar, th e re b y p in ch in g th e index, ring, and m iddle fingers o f th e left hand. H e was ex tricated from th e device by th e SAR instructors and low ered to th e gro u n d using solo ro p e rescu e tech n iq u es. R es c u e r #1 sustained a m o d erate avulsion w o und to th e index fin g er an d p in ch in g injuries to th e o th e r fingers. H e was tre a te d at E stes P ark M edical C e n te r an d released.
Analysis T echnical rescue instructors (and all clim bing instructors) n e e d to keep a close w atch on th e ir students. In addition, Rocky M ountain N ational P ark SAR team also splits stu d en ts up into a “b u d d y system ,” w h ereb y stu d en ts are especially responsible for one
particular person (the buddy). In this case, Rescuer #1 moved into the accident situa tion before someone noticed. There is also a responsibility on the individual student to listen carefully to techniques explained and ask any questions about material in which there is the least bit o f confusion. The students were told to keep hands on the Jumar handles, except for the retying o f safety knots. (Source: Jim D etterlin e, Ranger, RMNP)
Analysis T echnical rescue instructors (and all clim bing instructors) n e e d to keep a close w atch on th e ir students. In addition, Rocky M ountain N ational P ark SAR team also splits stu d en ts up into a “b u d d y system ,” w h ereb y stu d en ts are especially responsible for one
particular person (the buddy). In this case, Rescuer #1 moved into the accident situa tion before someone noticed. There is also a responsibility on the individual student to listen carefully to techniques explained and ask any questions about material in which there is the least bit o f confusion. The students were told to keep hands on the Jumar handles, except for the retying o f safety knots. (Source: Jim D etterlin e, Ranger, RMNP)
