Plan B prepared

Before you begin

• This activity is great if you’re preparing for a hike away somewhere. If you’ve got one coming up, everyone should bring along everything they need to plan the route for the trip, such as maps and notes they’ve made. If there’s no upcoming trips like this, try to get hold of these materials from a previous trip, or what you’ll need for one in the future.

Leaders and helpers should familiarise themselves with the InTouch process for this kind of trip. They’ll need to keep details of the system in place handy throughout the session.

• Try to get print or digital maps for small groups to look at amongst themselves. This way, it’s easier for everyone to see a map.
• If you don’t have internet access at your meeting place, print off some free-to-use images taken from the routes you’ll be walking on your hike away or from similar, nearby routes. Try to find ones with no people in them. Pictures with landmarks or memorable features will make things easier.
• Set out tables and chairs with paper and writing materials.

Run the activity

1. Split into small groups and sit at tables. Explain that you’ll be working on preparing for when things don’t go to plan on a hike. Everyone will be looking at summoning help, how help will reach them and how to record and report an incident.

Different groups may choose to look at different trips if they prefer.

2. Everyone should lay out their relevant plans, notes or maps for the chosen trip.

If anyone’s brought along a filled-in route card, they may already have an escape route planned. This session could be an opportunity to assess how suitable the escape route really is.

3. Hand out coloured card to each group. Someone from each group should write down the important points from this session on the card. This can then be brought along on the hike away, and stored with the map and compass.
4. Start by looking at summoning help. See what methods the group might choose to use to summon help in an emergency. Each group should work with a leader or helper to agree upon the most suitable InTouch method for their trip. This is basically a plan for communicating with everyone on the hike. Leaders and helpers may provide suggestions for systems when groups get stuck, though groups should speak up if they think the current system in place could be improved upon.

Remind them that relying on one form of technology, like a mobile phone, can be dangerous, as it could lose signal, the battery could fail or it could get damaged, leaving you stranded. A backup device is essential.

5. Groups should now look at each leg of their route such as it is and mark down the locations of each accessible payphone or leader-occupied checkpoint, using a map. Make a judgement call on whether they’re close enough to realistically be of use in an emergency situation.

Bear in mind that many payphones have gone out of use, and have in some cases been repurposed as housings for defibrillators. Check online to see which are still active.

6. Now, groups should assess the location in which they’ll be walking and find out who it’s monitored by. If it’s mountainous or hilly, it might be served by a mountain rescue team.

The advice of the British Mountaineering Council in these kind of emergency scenarios is to dial 999 and ask for the police and then the mountain rescue service.

7. Now, look at how help might reach you. Everyone should start by looking at each leg of their route. Mark on the maps the nearest or most convenient roads or tracks that could be accessed by emergency vehicles. When everyone’s happy with this, add the details of these to the route plans.

Most emergency or rescue services personnel will know the most suitable routes, but it never hurts to be able to direct them down the track that’ll help them reach you quicker.

8. Mark a space on the coloured card for the following need-to-know facts, to be filled out while waiting for help in the event of an emergency:

• • The location, including grid reference, map sheet number, name of area and description of terrain.
  • Number and ages of people in the party, and any conditions to note.
  • The name, age and injuries, if any, of the affected person.

In some circumstances, groups may be advised not to stay put, and they’ll need to think about what the easiest route out of the location might be and whether it’s safe to move casualties. It’s important to always be aware of the quickest, easiest routes down from high places.

9. Groups should think about how they’ll make themselves noticed by their rescuers. List some important equipment that could help attract attention, like torches, whistles, hi-vis jackets and emergency shelters.
10. Using relevant route images from AllTrails or ones prepared earlier, groups should take turns describing the landscape in each picture, as though they’re describing the scene to an emergency responder on a 999 call.

Take a look at the Fire finders activity for more on delivering this part of the session.