Cave rescue conference

13th international
Cave rescue conference
Second Announcement
Le CAMP, Vaumarcus, Suisse
15-19 April 2015
Pre-conference : 13-14 April
Partenaires &
Sponsors
REGA
Secours alpin suisse
Alpine Rettung Schweiz
Swiss speleological society
Union internationale de spéléologie
Fédération Spéléologique Européenne
European Speleological Federation
Grotte de Vallorbe
Fondation Olivier
Moeschler
Société Suisse de médecine de
montagne
Schweizerische Gesellschaft für
Gebirgsmedezin
13th international Cave rescue conference
Le CAMP, Vaumarcus, 13-19 April 2015
Second Announcement
Welcome
In the spring of 2015, RISS will convene cavers involved in cave rescue. This
event, dedicated to rescue in an underground environment, is held every four
years. Last time we were in Dryanovo, Bulgaria. The location of this event rotates
through Western Europe and allows us to discuss new developments in cave
rescue.
It is a time to share with all the latest advances, be they technical, medical,
diving, management, passage widening, etc.
It is a time to learn from recent actual rescues. All cavers are invited, because
it is from the practice and innovations in caving that we draw the expertise in
rescues. Furthermore we firmly believe that rescue effectiveness correlates with
the involvement of cavers in underground rescue.
Please register soon in order to facilitate the task of the organizers, whom we
thank in advance.
Christian Dodelin, President of the Cave Rescue Commission of the
International Union of Speleology.
General Topics
Deep-Cave Rescue
Recent international rescue operations have demonstrated a need for rescuers
from many countries, using equivalent techniques.
One session will be devoted to large-scale interventions. Topics that will be
addressed include incident feedback, callout issues, the management of callout
lists, and transportation.
Chairperson: Christian Dodelin, President of the Cave Rescue Commission of
the UIS.
Rescue Gear and Techniques
New rescue gear often becomes available, which simplifies and improves
operations in the field, sometimes at the cost of further training. Bring your gear,
your stretchers, your phones, your cave radios (through-the-ground transmission),
your programs for operation management, etc.
We will have plenty of time to test these different techniques. Don’t forget to
notify us.
One session will be devoted to testing stretchers among the different teams who
brought them.
Chairperson: Patrick Deriaz, President of Swiss Cave Rescue
Cave-Diving Rescue
The session on diving rescue will address rescue beyond siphons. This type
of intervention requires diving through totally submerged passages that are
impossible to pump out, before accessing the victim.
Sometimes the difficulty in crossing a siphon is due to confined space, silting,
cold water, or super tight squeezes that must be negotiated underwater, before
continuing in air-filled passage to search for and rescue the victim.
Only certain rescuers can intervene: those divers who perfectly master the
techniques of multi-siphon diving and caving beyond siphons, special techniques
that require years of experience and that cannot be acquired through traditional
cave-diving courses.
An important point is the information provided by “classic caving” rescuers, who
may one day be called upon to cooperate with such divers, on the complexity
and constraints of such combined operations.
Chairperson: Maxime Gianpietro, President of the Diving Commission of the
International Union of Speleology.
Medical Care in Rescues
This session is open to physicians, paramedics, first-aid specialists and anyone
interested in the medical field. There will be presentations and discussions on
medical gear (suitable for underground rescue); medical training of rescuers will
be addressed.
Friday will be devoted to medical activities underground, Saturday to
discussions and workshops, and on Sunday, a summary report will be presented
in the plenary session.
Chairperson: Dr. Ueli Nägeli, head of the Medical Section of Swiss Cave Rescue
Prevention and Training
Each time an accident occurs underground, we wonder what factors contributed
to it.
Recognizing your limits, getting them accepted by your caving partners,
knowing when to say no, are all concepts that cavers constantly practice. But
accidents still occur. This session will ponder how to deliver a message of
caution without giving up the joys of discovery and exploration.
Training rescuers is an ongoing concern for all cave-rescue organizations.
Textbooks are published, and national or international courses are being held and
will continue to be.
Chairperson: TBD
Other topics
Any topic related to cave rescue can be presented. Please contact the organizers
for any suggestions.
Useful Information
A part of the conference will be held underground in caves and pits in the area.
Cave temperature will be around 8° C. The outside temperature is spring-like
(1 to 15° C). Snow is always possible, and flooding can affect the schedule of
activities.
Gear
Vertical gear is required for Pre-Convention activities. Appropriate gear for wet
caves may also be useful.
Accommodations
Camping in tents or trailers is prohibited on conference grounds. We have enough
space to comfortably accommodate 350 people!
A sleeping bag is essential, unless you opt for the Nordic duvet.
There are WiFi hotspots in each building of the Camp.
Meals
Meals and accommodations are included in the registration fee. Wine and other
beverages must be bought locally. Due to the law of corkage, bringing your own
beverages is strictly forbidden during meals.
Registration Fee
Everything is included in the registration fee: meals, documents,
accommodations, access to workshops, cave trips, picnic. Travel will be by bus or
private cars.
Presentations
We will have three conference rooms, each equipped with a projector and a sound
system.
Presentation materials are to be written in English preferably, in PowerPoint
or PDF format. They will be uploaded to the website as soon as possible.
Speakers can choose to talk in any of the official UIS languages. When feasible,
participants will help with translations.
Trade Booths
Companies interested in setting up a booth can contact the organizers for rental
info.
Rates
RISS2015 organizers solicited a number of sponsors to reduce registration
costs. Some major sponsors have not yet responded, and we had to set rates
accordingly. These rates could be revised downwards if sponsorship is
successful.
Financial assistance with the registration fee is possible by sending a written
request explaining the need before 15 February 2015. Please contact us by email.
Registration and Payment until February 28
Per day
Monday
CHF 40.00
Tuesday
Wednesday 7-day Pass:
280 CHF
Thursday
Friday
CHF 40.00
CHF 80.00
CHF 40.00
CHF 40.00
Saturday
Workshops
+ Lectures: Lectures
190 CHF only: 160
CHF
Sunday
CHF 40.00
CHF 30.00
Registration and Payment starting March 1
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday 7-day Pass:
Thursday
380 CHF
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Workshops
Lectures
+ Lectures:
only: 190
280 CHF
CHF
Per day
CHF 50.00
CHF 60.00
CHF 100.00
CHF 50.00
CHF 50.00
CHF 50.00
CHF 40.00
Supplement for Nordic duvet: 10 CHF per night (depending on availability)