Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
events. Most amazing was the absence of pain, coupled with a very acute awareness of the
damage being done.”
2
He observes that potentially the most dangerous stage of an accident is immediately af-
terward, “not necessarily to the victim …. I think the natural tendency in a situation like
this is to rush to the victim, perhaps unbelayed. Action! Do something! Don't just stand
there!” But Smutek continues, “this is not the time to rush; few situations require that im-
mediate an action. There is only one thing that you should do immediately and that is to
think.”
He describes directing his immediate rescue and first aid to the extent that he was con-
scious and able to state what his injuries were and what he was capable of doing. Further
into the article he writes that the long wait for rescue “psychologically was the worst part
of the entire episode. There was nothing to do but worry.” He was very happy to have the
company ofafellow climber andthinks everyone inasimilar situation should have an“of-
ficial comforter.”
Whenrescuedidcome,someoftherescuerswere“overtheirheads,”andSmutekstates,
“nothing is more devastating to a person's morale than an obviously incompetent rescuer.”
Finally, he reports that administration of a painkiller muddled his mind and increased his
anxiety because he could not understand the procedures to which he was being subjected.
Hefeelsthatrescuersshouldusepainmedication onahighlyselective basis,particularly if
that medication may interfere with a person's need to feel in control and be aware of what
is happening.
These feelings clearly reflect Smutek's need to maintain a sense of self-efficacy. On the
other hand, some people are not used to being in control and may be more comfortable be-
ing medicated or being told that everything is being cared for.
Case Study:
Injured Person's Responses
In
The Breach,
Rob Taylor traces the various phases of his devastating accident on Kili-
manjaro, his almost miraculous rescue, his prolonged recovery, and his reactions to them.
Following a fall in which he suffered a severe compound fracture of his lower leg, he sub-
sequently descended a perilously steep snow slope on his own and survived a solitary, ex-
posed,life-threateningbivouacthatlastedseveraldays.Duringthisordealhisthoughtsand
behavior were strikingly organized. His self-control becomes more understandable with
these words: “Unrestrained emotions and unbridled feelings in the end, after the fact, are
fine, but during the crisis they are illusory defenses.”
3
Nonetheless, while on the mountain Taylor experienced grief over the loss symbolized
by the injury to his leg. He also felt anguish over the days of waiting for the unknown but
was preparing for and accepting the worst. He writes of “the need to re-live the event” dur-
ing his recovery and of becoming “daily more aware of the positive aspects of the pilgrim-
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