# Emergency Procedures
## Cave Survey Emergency Response Protocols

### Version 1.0 | December 2025

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## 1. Introduction

This document outlines emergency procedures for cave survey operations. All team members must be familiar with these protocols before entering any cave system.

**Golden Rule**: Safety of personnel ALWAYS comes before equipment or data.

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## 2. Emergency Communication

### Communication Devices
- **Primary**: Two-way VHF radio (channel preset before entry)
- **Secondary**: Satellite phone (for deep caves)
- **Emergency**: Personal locator beacon (PLB)
- **Backup**: Whistle (3 blasts = emergency)

### Communication Schedule
- Check-in every 60 minutes (Tier 1)
- Check-in every 30 minutes (Tier 2)
- Check-in every 15 minutes (Tier 3)

### Emergency Signals
| Signal | Meaning | Response |
|--------|---------|----------|
| 3 whistle blasts | Emergency | All stop, assess |
| 5 whistle blasts | Immediate evacuation | Exit immediately |
| Radio: "Mayday" | Life-threatening | Initiate rescue |
| Radio: "Pan-pan" | Urgent situation | Prepare to assist |

### If Communication Fails
1. Return to last communication point
2. Wait 15 minutes, try again
3. Begin evacuation if no contact
4. Leave marked trail

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## 3. Medical Emergency

### Assessment (DRABC)
- **Danger**: Ensure scene is safe
- **Response**: Check consciousness
- **Airway**: Open and clear
- **Breathing**: Check for 10 seconds
- **Circulation**: Check pulse

### Emergency Levels

#### Level 1: Minor Injury
- Small cuts, bruises, mild fatigue
- Treat on site
- Continue with caution
- Document incident

#### Level 2: Significant Injury
- Fractures, deep cuts, severe fatigue
- Stabilize patient
- Begin evacuation
- Request assistance

#### Level 3: Critical Injury
- Unconscious, not breathing, severe bleeding
- Immediate CPR if needed
- Emergency evacuation
- Activate cave rescue

### First Aid Kit Contents
- **Basic**: Bandages, antiseptic, pain relief
- **Advanced**: Splints, trauma dressings, SAM splint
- **Special**: Hypothermia kit, oxygen (if trained)

### Evacuation Priorities
1. **Immediate**: Life-threatening conditions
2. **Urgent**: Serious but stable
3. **Routine**: Minor injuries

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## 4. Flood Emergency

### Pre-Flood Indicators
- Rapidly rising water level (>0.5 m/hour)
- Increased turbidity (muddy water)
- Floating debris
- Unusual sounds (rumbling)
- Change in water color
- Rising air pressure

### Immediate Actions
1. **ALERT** entire team immediately
2. **MOVE** to highest ground in passage
3. **DON** life jackets if available
4. **MARK** water level with marker
5. **COMMUNICATE** with surface

### Evacuation Triggers
| Condition | Action |
|-----------|--------|
| Water rise >0.5 m/hour | Prepare to evacuate |
| Water rise >1.0 m/hour | Immediate evacuation |
| Debris visible in water | Immediate evacuation |
| Water reaches waist height | Abandon gear, evacuate |

### If Trapped by Flood
1. Find highest point
2. Create emergency shelter
3. Conserve energy and heat
4. Signal regularly
5. Wait for water to recede

### Post-Flood
- Wait for water to stabilize
- Check for passage changes
- Test floor stability
- Watch for loose rocks
- Re-establish communication

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## 5. CO₂ Emergency

### CO₂ Levels and Effects
| CO₂ (ppm) | Effects | Action |
|-----------|---------|--------|
| <1000 | Normal | None |
| 1000-2000 | Stuffy air | Monitor |
| 2000-5000 | Headache, drowsiness | Don respirator |
| 5000-8000 | Difficulty breathing | Immediate evacuation |
| >8000 | Unconsciousness | Emergency rescue |

### Symptoms of CO₂ Exposure
- Rapid breathing
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Rapid heart rate
- Loss of consciousness

### Immediate Actions
1. **DON** respirator if available
2. **MOVE** to area with lower CO₂
3. **ASSIST** affected team members
4. **EVACUATE** immediately
5. **MONITOR** for symptoms

### Rescue Breathing
If someone collapses from CO₂:
1. Move them to fresh air immediately
2. Check breathing and pulse
3. Begin rescue breathing if not breathing
4. Continue until help arrives
5. Monitor for rebreathing CO₂

### Prevention
- Monitor CO₂ continuously
- Note changes with depth
- Avoid stagnant air zones
- Limit time in high CO₂ areas
- Use respirators in suspect areas

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## 6. Structural Emergency (Rockfall/Collapse)

### Warning Signs
- Cracking sounds
- Fresh rockfall debris
- Visible ceiling cracks
- Dust falling from ceiling
- Water seeping from new locations
- Rock stress sounds (popping)

### Immediate Actions
1. **STOP** immediately
2. **LISTEN** for active rockfall
3. **MOVE** to stable area (under arch if possible)
4. **ASSESS** situation
5. **MARK** danger zone
6. **RETREAT** if unsafe

### If Trapped by Rockfall
1. Protect airway from dust
2. Conserve energy
3. Signal regularly (tap rocks)
4. Don't move unstable rocks
5. Wait for rescue

### Rescue Considerations
- Do not enter unstable area
- Stabilize before attempting rescue
- Use proper rigging
- Have medical support ready
- Consider secondary collapse

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## 7. Lost Person

### Prevention
- Always stay with team
- Mark route at junctions
- Use rope in complex passages
- Maintain voice contact
- Check team count regularly

### If Separated
1. **STOP** moving
2. **LISTEN** for team
3. **SHOUT** at regular intervals
4. **STAY** in one place
5. **CONSERVE** light and energy
6. **SIGNAL** with whistle (3 blasts)

### Search Protocol
1. **Huddle**: Team stops, counts heads
2. **Listen**: 2 minutes of silence
3. **Call**: Shout lost person's name
4. **Wait**: 5 minutes for response
5. **Search**: Systematic search pattern

### Search Patterns
- **Line search**: Team spreads out, sweeps area
- **Spiral**: Expand from last known point
- **Branching**: Follow all passage branches

### If Not Found in 30 Minutes
1. Contact surface
2. Initiate full rescue
3. Mark searched areas
4. Leave communication at entrance
5. Conserve search team resources

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## 8. Equipment Failure

### Critical Equipment Failures

#### Lighting Failure
- **Primary fails**: Switch to backup
- **Both fail**: Stay with team, use their light
- **Team lights fail**: Emergency candles, wait

#### Communication Failure
- Return to last known good point
- Use whistles for signaling
- Begin evacuation if no contact

#### Rope/Access Equipment Failure
- Stop immediately
- Assess safety
- Use backup systems
- Call for technical rescue

### Emergency Equipment Cache
Each cache contains:
- 24h food and water
- Emergency shelter
- First aid kit
- Spare lights and batteries
- Communication device
- Signal flares

### If Equipment Fails Deep in Cave
1. Assess immediate danger
2. Conserve remaining resources
3. Stay with team
4. Mark location
5. Wait for rescue if necessary

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## 9. Hypothermia

### Risk Factors
- Cold water exposure
- Wet clothing
- Insufficient insulation
- Fatigue
- Inadequate food intake

### Symptoms
- **Mild**: Shivering, cold extremities
- **Moderate**: Violent shivering, confusion
- **Severe**: Shivering stops, unconsciousness

### Treatment

#### Mild Hypothermia
1. Remove wet clothing
2. Insulate from ground
3. Give warm drinks (no caffeine/alcohol)
4. Add insulation
5. Exercise gently if possible

#### Moderate Hypothermia
1. Handle gently (heart is irritable)
2. Remove wet clothing
3. Warm gradually
4. Apply heat to trunk only
5. Evacuate carefully

#### Severe Hypothermia
1. Handle with extreme care
2. Prevent further heat loss
3. Evacuate immediately
4. No rough movement
5. Medical attention required

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## 10. Emergency Evacuation

### Evacuation Decision Matrix

| Situation | Action | Priority |
|-----------|--------|----------|
| Life-threatening injury | Immediate evacuation | 1 |
| Rising water | Immediate evacuation | 1 |
| Active rockfall | Immediate evacuation | 1 |
| CO₂ >5000 ppm | Immediate evacuation | 1 |
| Serious injury | Urgent evacuation | 2 |
| Lost person | Urgent evacuation | 2 |
| Equipment failure | Routine evacuation | 3 |
| Fatigue | Routine evacuation | 3 |

### Evacuation Route Marking
- Use flagging tape every 10m
- Mark junctions clearly
- Indicate direction to exit
- Note hazards along route
- Update markers regularly

### Patient Packaging
1. Stabilize injuries
2. Insulate patient
3. Secure to litter
4. Distribute weight evenly
5. Test rigging before moving

### Evacuation Priorities
1. **Most critical** patient first
2. **Least experienced** team members first
3. **Equipment** last (abandon if necessary)

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## 11. Cave Rescue Activation

### When to Activate
- Missing person >2 hours
- Serious injury requiring stretcher
- Multiple casualties
- Technical rescue needed
- Communication lost >4 hours

### Information to Provide
- Cave name and location
- Number of people involved
- Nature of emergency
- Last known location
- Time of incident
- Team experience level
- Available equipment
- Contact person at entrance

### While Waiting for Rescue
- Keep patient stable
- Maintain communication
- Conserve resources
- Mark entrance clearly
- Guide rescuers with markers

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## 12. Post-Incident Procedures

### Immediate Aftermath
1. Account for all personnel
2. Secure the scene
3. Provide first aid/medical care
4. Preserve evidence if needed
5. Notify appropriate authorities

### Documentation
Complete incident report within 24 hours:
- Date, time, location
- Personnel involved
- Description of incident
- Actions taken
- Outcome
- Witness statements
- Photos if available

### Debrief
- Review incident with team
- Identify lessons learned
- Update protocols if needed
- Share findings (anonymized)
- Support affected personnel

### Reporting Requirements
- Expedition leader (immediate)
- Cave management authority (within 24h)
- Land owner/manager (within 48h)
- Research permits office (as required)

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## 13. Emergency Contact Sheet

### Primary Contacts
```

EMERGENCY SERVICES: 112 (EU) / 911 (US)

CAVE RESCUE: [Local cave rescue number]
Expedition Leader: [Name] [Phone]
Base Camp: [Phone]
Medical Advisor: [Name] [Phone]

Cave Management: [Name] [Phone]
Land Owner: [Name] [Phone]

```

### Team Information
```

Expedition Name: _______________
Expected Return: _______________
Team Members:

1. _______________ [Phone]
2. _______________ [Phone]
3. _______________ [Phone]
4. _______________ [Phone]
5. _______________ [Phone]

Emergency Contact (surface):
Name: _______________ [Phone]
Location: _______________

```

### Medical Information
```

Blood types: _______________
Allergies: _______________
Medical conditions: _______________
Medications: _______________

```

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## 14. Training Requirements

### Minimum Training for All Team Members
- Basic first aid (16h course)
- Cave rescue awareness
- Emergency communication
- Rope skills (if applicable)
- Navigation skills

### Advanced Training for Leaders
- Wilderness first responder (80h)
- Cave rescue technician
- Incident command system
- Technical rope rescue

### Annual Refresher
- Review all protocols
- Practice scenarios
- Update contact information
- Check emergency equipment

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## 15. Emergency Equipment Checklist

### Personal Emergency Kit
- [ ] Headlamp + backup batteries
- [ ] Emergency blanket
- [ ] Whistle
- [ ] Lighter/matches (waterproof)
- [ ] Energy bars (2)
- [ ] Water (500ml)
- [ ] Basic first aid supplies
- [ ] Personal locator beacon (optional)

### Team Emergency Kit
- [ ] Advanced first aid kit
- [ ] Oxygen kit (if trained)
- [ ] Stretcher
- [ ] Rope and rigging gear
- [ ] Satellite phone
- [ ] Emergency shelter (4-person)
- [ ] 24h food and water for team
- [ ] Signal flares
- [ ] Spare lights (3)
- [ ] Tool kit

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**Remember**: Your safety is your responsibility. No cave is worth a life.

**Document Version**: 1.0
**Last Updated**: December 2025
**Author**: Cavora Underground Research Initiative

*For emergencies: 112 (EU) or local cave rescue*
