All,
I was asked by the Permian Basin Special Response Teams Inventory
to add a person/Agency & contact information for the local West Texas
area....
At this time my response will be "I don't know".
That is easier than what all I am hearing here on this discussion...I
would hate to give them outdated or incorrect information...
I didn't intend to create a problem...
Thanks,
Bill
On 8/3/2014 3:49 PM, via Texascavers wrote:
Geez, that's not exactly what I expected or wanted to hear from the S&R
Committee of the TSA. Cave rescues are emergencies you prepare for ahead of time,
make contacts with the various emergency response groups in the principal caving
areas of the state, and have current call-down lists for the appropriate folks that
are readily available to cavers and spelunkers( I don't think the latter should
suffer just because they're not near the hearts and minds of the caving center of
the universe).
Sounds like Austin and maybe San Antonio have their bases covered, but what
about other areas of the state? It's Saturday night at Deep and Punkin and
someone has a broken leg and bleeding internally. The Del Rio fire department
is your only recourse? Hope the Austin NCRC guy is home and sober ? Or any of
your buddies that your adrenalin and fear addled mind can think up at the
moment ?
No, I think the TSA can do better than that. There's been some discussion of
late as to how the TSA serves or can better serve the cavers of Texas. I think
this is a great opportunity for the TSA to step up and make a significant
contribution to the caving community. Who knows, it might be your butt that
needs to be rescued.
Jerry Atkinson.
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 3, 2014, at 3:13 PM, David Ochel via Texascavers
<texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
Hi again,
Here's the deal:
These numbers are those of cavers who have volunteered to be a contact
person in their region if there is a need for *caver assistance*. (I
have not checked in with these people in a while about this -- if Jill
keeps publishing them I probably should. ;-))
For a lack of better definition, let's define caver assistance as
helping out a caver in need if there is no potential for a situation to
develop into a true emergency that might endanger somebody's life and
limb. If there is such a potential, then I wouldn't want to be the
person who gets asked "why didn't you call 911?" after my friend dies in
a caving accident.
If there is need for a *rescue*, call 911 first and then call your caver
friends so that they can come out and offer their assistance to the
responding authorities.
As far as those numbers go, I am told that there used to be stickers
with the numbers printed on them distributed by the TSA for people to
stick into their helmets. I have a task from the TSA to look into
re-establishing those stickers, and I have been dragging my feet on this
for a while, for a number of reasons:
1. I, personally, would think that if you are a caver that's part of our
"organized" caving community, you would know who you can trust and call
for help if you need to. If you are a "spelunker" and don't know what
you are doing in the first place, then you should call 911 and not have
the expectation that random cavers you've never met will come to your
rescue if somebody is about to die from hypothermia.
I have only been involved in Texas caving for 8 or so years, but I think
there used to be a stigma against any dealings with "officials" here
that -- in my experience -- doesn't seem to be justified these days? At
least in Austin, we have a good relationship with the fire department
that has involved joint cave rescue trainings between firefighters and
cavers, etc. in the recent past.
2. Phone numbers are ephemeral. They change, more or less frequently.
People go on vacation, have their phones turned off, or occasionally
aren't interested in caving anymore. I have not yet found a free
solution for forwarding one persistent central phone number to a list of
configurable numbers, for example by choosing from a phone menu. (If
anybody knows one, let me know.)
3. Everybody has a cell phone these days. Why would I not program these
numbers into my cell phone instead of carrying a sticker in my helmet
that might be outdated half a year from now?
So, that said, I'd welcome any and all opinions on this topic. Maybe
somebody can think of a better solution that I haven't been able to come
up with yet? Or convince me that those stickers are still a great idea?
(And yes, the TSA website is current. If you have questions, concerns,
ideas, etc. regarding "safety and techniques", which I suppose includes
the topic of cave rescues, please feel free to call or email me! :-))
Cheers,
David
On 8/3/14, 11:40 AM, Mimi Jasek via Texascavers wrote:
In last issue of TC I have, this is what was posted by county.
Bexar 210-326-1576
Collin 214-202-6611
Hays 512-393-9054
Sutton 325-387-3424
Travis 512-663-2287
I would imagine calling the closest one could get you info on cavers close to
whatever rescue area you need. Hope this helps.
Also, don't know if this is current, but TSA website shows David Ochel as
safety and techniques chairman at saf...@cavetexas.org.
Mimi Jasek
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 3, 2014, at 9:09 AM, Bill Bentley via Texascavers
<texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:
Greetings Cavers...
Is there a call out number for Texas Cave rescue?
Besides 911, is there a main number and person or entity to call in the event
of a cave rescue in the state?
To be a little more specific, is there one for the Southwestern part of Texas?
Thanks,
Bill
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