Oxford University Cave Club

Medical report

Pippa Crosby and Lynn Mulelly

In order to improve our first aid kits for future expeditions, we asked all expedition members to tell us the types of problems they encountered and whether those problems could have been avoided. 10 out of the 16 people responded. The results show the variety of situations that we must be prepared to deal with:

• Several cases of trashed hands due to excessive caving without gloves. Underground they were treated by attempting to cover grazes and skinless fingertips with tape, which rarely stayed on. On the surface the wounds were treated with iodine and allowed to heal in their own time. A supply of spare gloves should be taken to underground camp and gloves should be worn when handling carbide and fettle.
• One urinary tract infection that led to a high fever for seven days. Treated with Penicillin, potassium citrate and Rehydrats. More Antibiotics and medical book would have been useful.
• One case of tonsillitis, treated with Amoxycillin.
• Two cases of very bad harness sores. A variety of methods were tried to alleviate the pain. Talcum powder was only very slightly effective. The best method seemed to be Melolin patches held on by either tape or triangular bandages.
• Two cases of mild confusion and disorientation, probably caused by messing around with the 24-hour clock. Difficult to avoid as long trips are necessary for active exploration.
• Two incidents of large pieces of rock detaching themselves from the wall. Luckily, no serious injuries were incurred. Cavers need to be aware that large bits of cave, as well as small handholds, can give way unexpectedly.
• Two cases of old injuries playing up. Both were treated with Ibuprofen.

All members of the expedition carry comprehensive personal first aid kits. The size of the underground first aid kits were reduced to small Tupperware containers and actually made it down to the underground camps this year. Small kits are essential as there is often little spare room and we have found in the past that larger kits are just left on the surface.

It has been suggested that next year we should re-organise the surface camp first aid kit. It should be split into two containers. One medium sized everyday patching kit containing things like iodine, bandages, Vaseline and Ibuprofen; and another box used to store emergency stuff that you need to find in a hurry, like eye-wash and burns treatment.