All team members of the Mountain Hydrology Group that go on regular mountain fieldwork have been on a three-day mountain and medical training in Chamonix, France, on the flanks of the Mont Blanc.
The first one an a half day were spent in the classroom. There we significantly enhanced our first aid skills and trauma management techniques, specifically tailored to the challenges of mountainous environments. We learned all the details about high altitude sickness and frostbite, and developed the ability to use everyday items for improvised first aid, making us more resourceful and adaptable in emergencies. Detailed pharmacology sessions boosted our confidence in administering medications safely in case of emergency.
The final days we went up on the mountain to 3600 m using the cable car to put things into practice in realistic scenarios, such as falling in a crevasse unconscious, broken legs, and arterial bleeds. They provided a safe yet very challenging environment to apply our skills, preparing us for possible real-life situations in the mountains.
