Emergency Response Field Guide

Emergency Response Field Guide

This guide is designed to be carried by field staff and used in the event of an emergency. It provides a structured approach to managing emergencies during outdoor activities.

First Priorities — Any Emergency

• Scene safety — ensure you and your team are not at risk before approaching
• Call for help — activate your emergency communication device if needed
• Casualty assessment — primary survey: airway, breathing, circulation
• Stabilise — provide first aid to the level of your training
• Communicate — notify your base contact and emergency services

Emergency Contacts

This section of the template should be completed with your organisation's specific contacts:

• Emergency services: 111
• Company emergency contact (name and number)
• Backup company contact
• Nearest hospital
• Nearest helicopter landing zone
• Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre: 04 577 8030 (if water-based)

Primary Survey (Immediate Assessment)

• A — Airway: Is the airway clear? If unconscious, use head-tilt chin-lift
• B — Breathing: Is the person breathing? Look, listen, feel
• C — Circulation: Is there severe bleeding? Is the heart beating?
• D — Disability: Level of consciousness (AVPU: Alert / Voice / Pain / Unresponsive)
• E — Environment: Protect from weather, move only if in immediate danger

Secondary Survey (After Stabilising)

Head-to-toe check for injuries not immediately visible:

• Head and neck
• Chest and abdomen
• Pelvis and spine
• Limbs
• Back (log-roll with assistance)

Specific Emergency Scenarios

Serious injury or illness:

Activate emergency communications → First aid → Keep patient warm and still → Wait for rescue or evacuate if directed by emergency services

Missing person:

Last known location → Search with available staff → Notify base and emergency services if not located within [your defined timeframe] → Preserve search area

Fatality:

Do not move the body except to perform resuscitation → Secure the scene → Notify emergency services → Notify company emergency contact → Do not speak to media

Evacuation:

Assess evacuation options (self-rescue / assisted / helicopter) → Communicate with base → Mark location (GPS coordinates, landmark description) → Prepare patient for evacuation

Vehicle incident:

Scene safety → Casualties → Emergency services → Block traffic if necessary → Do not move injured persons unless in immediate danger

Communication Protocol

When calling for help, provide:

• Who you are and your organisation
• What happened
• Where you are (GPS coordinates, landmark, nearest road)
• Number of casualties and severity
• What assistance you need
• Your communication device and how to reach you