Wilderness and Rescue Medicine 8th Edition

62

Wilderness and Rescue Medicine

and dogs in crosswalks, and bicyclists turning to watch the excitement. Add an ambulance, engine company, and helicopter to the response and the risks really start to pile up. In the backcountry and offshore setting, the risk associated with rescue and evacuation is often extreme. It is incumbent on the medical officer to balance the chance of successful medical treat ment against these risks to the rescuers as well as the patient. There will be situations where remain ing on scene and performing good basic medical care while risks are mitigated and a safe rescue is organized will give everyone a better chance of survival. There will also be situations where rapid removal of the patient from the scene before initiating any medical care will be required. And, of course, there are situations where access to the patient is impossible without exposing res cuers to unreasonable hazards and rescue efforts must be abandoned. Deciding which is which requires an objective, unemotional, concise val uation of probability and consequence and risk versus benefit.