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Safety Talk – Fall on Indoor Ice
Lessons from Mountaineer Incidents
Seattle Climbing and Seattle Safety committees are experimenting with raising awareness of safety issues that can arise on climbs, scrambles, backcountry skiing, and other Mountaineer activities. Identifying information has been removed or disguised.
-- Dave Shema, Seattle Branch Safety Officer
The inside ice wall at the Seattle Program Center offers little in the way of ice fall danger or brittle ice. However, ice tools still have those sharp parts …
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April 15, 2011 – Seattle Program Center Ice Wall
Injuries: Punctured Arm
Cause of Accident: Leader fall on practice ice wall, punctured arm with crampon
Two guys, AJ and BJ, both members of the Mountaineers, came to use the ice wall last night at the Program Center during open climb night. AJ was going to show his friend how to use the wall and tools.
They geared up and since BJ was new to the sport, I (a climb night host) decided to stand next to him to make sure he was good on the belay and give him tips on how to use his crampons and tools in the wall as AJ was climbing.
AJ mounted the right side slanting wall and climbed without issue to the vertical portion of the wall and began climbing the vertical wall. He made about 3 moves and then fell off the wall. BJ caught him without issue but AJ started to bleed profusely.
First aid materials were found and compression applied. Since the puncture was so deep they decided to drive to the hospital for stitches. Appeared the ice tool punctured the inside left forearm and hit a large vein.
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Safety Stats
By the end of November 2012, 67 Seattle Branch Incidents have been reported. Mountaineer-wide, there have been 104 reported incidents.
For Seattle:
· 6 Major (911 call, Outside Rescue, and/or Hospitalization)
· 9 Significant (Dr. Visit required)
· 52 Minor (No known medical care)
In of 2011, there were 91 reported incidents.
· 6 Major incidents
· 12 Significant Incidents
· 73 Minor Incidents