Canberra Bushwalking Club P.O. Box 160, Canberra City A.C.T 2601 IT Registered for posting as a periodical - Category B NEWSLETTER - CBC PRICE lOc Vol. 7* No. 5 MONTIfY I1EETfl(G: Wednesday, 19 May, at 8.00 p.m., Meetings Room, University Rouse, Liversidge Street, Acton. featuring A Gallimaufry of Odd Spots. About twenty Club members will describe briefly, and illustrate with a single colour slide, the oddest spot they have ever visited, anywhere in the world. The Club's Visiting Psychiatrist will sum up. and in June The Australian Andes Expedition. Dot Butler, one of the members of the 1969 Australian mountaineering expedition to Villacamba, Poru9 will give an illustrated talk, about the expedition. This will be a combined meeting with the A.N.U. Mountaineering Club, the Canberra Alpine Club, and the Y.M.C.A. Ski Club, and will be hold in the Copeland Lecture Theatre. There will be no Club reports or general business at this meeting. ED PH MORE P G U A R D DOWN xposure is not a strict medical term, but in general usage it describes Zierious effects which may result from exposure to a chilling environment. More precisely, it is a form of accidental hypothermia, which is the condition seen when the whole body becomes abnormally cold. For efficient functioning, the vital org8ns of the body must be maintained at a relatively constant temperature (circa 37 C or 98.40F). A marked drop in this temperature loads to mental deterioration and loss of muscular co-ordination, and eventually to unconscious- ness, circulatory and respiratory failure, and death. This dangerous situation is-insidious in onset and therefore it Is paramount to understand the cause and to recegnise the early signs and symptoms of exposure. j The primary causes are these which load to loss of body heat. Cold climatic conditions are basic, especially the triad of high wind, cold and wetness, which leads temaximum chill at body surfaces, Therefore, setting out in extreme •cenditiens, being overtaken by ba& weather and unexpected benightment are all fraught with danger. In these circumstencbs, insufficient, wet, or poor quality clothing, will facilitate the less of heat. In addition, hunger and dehydration, peer psychological stamina, lack of fitness, and exhaustion are important contributing factors to final cellapso. Clearly, however, there is great variation in individual susceptibility, It is said that people with more fatty insulation (e.g. wemon) survive longer. Also, there is evidence to suggest that cooling of the active muscles leads to bce]. wealmess. The signs of hypothermia in ethers are variable and it is not easy to decide if you have an early case in your party. Hewevor, the following is a probable sequence: Abnormal behaviour (at first aggressive and irrational actions, finally apathy and indifference) Slowing of movements. Slurring of speech. Stumbling. Wealmess. Repbatod falling. Collapse. *11fl11 commenced publication in 1965 A.D., net 1969 A.D., historians tell us. 2. Although shivering is not prominent in serious casea, it may be seen in early or mild episodes, for it is Imovzn experimentally that shivering stops when the 340 0 central body temperature is below to 35 C, and is replaced by generalised muscular rigidity. After collapse, the situation is grave, for death usually ensues in one to two hours. Symptoms are also variable and depend on the individual, but may include: less of sensation, muscle cramps, lethargy, poor vision, anxiety and feelings of unreality. Prevention is better than cure. Always watch. the weather for signs of change. Good windroof clothing is essential to trap body heat and reserve garments should be carried. Avoid exhaustion - parties should be carefully balanced with regard to experience and fitness, should attempt reasonable objectives and carry moderate loads. Breakfast, often missed, is of great value, as is the carrying of adequate supplies of food and water. When evidence of oxpoure is established, good shelter should besought and treatment proceeded with. Further exertion, such as forcing the victim to go on, may be dangerous and should be avoided. The essen'al aims of treatment are to prevent further cooling and encourage rewarming. In a mild or early case, a change to warm, dry clothing and the provision of food and hdt drinks is valuable. In addition, mild muscular activity should be encouragod. If the case is severe, with immobility and semi-consciousness, the patient should be well insulated in a dry sleeping-bag,, preferably with fit companions alongside to provide warmth. Warm, sweet drinkC should be 'taken liberally. Also, the head-down position may be helpful in preventing convulsions, which occur occasionally. DO NOT administer ft alcohol at any stage, since this promotes loss of body heat and may lead to a drop in blood pressure. Over-enthusiastic heating may also result in a lowered blood pressure. Rapid rewarming in a hot bath is the most effective method of treatment, but should only be carried out under medical guidance. Only when the patient's condition has been reasonably stablis'ed, should he be moved any distance. , If being carried ona litter, especially great care must he To to prevent further ceoling Shock and trauma, combined with exposure, may present a formidable problem. In these cases, it is important to first stabiliso the patient's general state by arresting haemorrhage, establishing a clear airny and treating the exposure and shock as outlined above. Only then should the treatment of specific injuries e.g. fractures; be initiated. - Apologies, thanks, and general acimowledgement, to Drs. Stewart and Strang, M.Bs., Ch.Bs., of Canterbury Mountain Committee and Christchurch Hospital. C L U B NOTES The following new members are welcomed: Ingrid Magryn, Ann O'Leary, Patricia McCarter, Michael & Helen Morriss, Anne rA Sivertsen,'Elizabeth Parkas, David Whiteley and Pan Hawkings. The following applicant members are also welcomed: Jessie Davie, Lindsay Bottomer, Arminel Marrow, Elizabeth Howie, Jadwiga Gajewski, Robert Jackson and Michael Merrony. C L U B D I A R Y Congratulations to Enid and Ginger on the birth of Francis James. Welcome to Brian Morriss and Junior Webster who beth made their first appearance on a Club trip recently. Prue is tmfortunately indisposed this month. She proposes to dispose next menth. 3. MEMBERSHIP L I S T If your name, Mdresscr telephone number in the attached list of Club members and proápective club thembrs is incorrect, missing or illegible, please inform the Membership Sec±btary, .. Throthy Bro\trn "IT" INTEtLIGENCE "The N.P.A., under the guidance of Helmsman Henry Pairlie-Cunninghane, will conduct an exploratory walk in the country around the watershed between the Tuioss and. Brogo River systems. The exact routo has not yet been decided, but it will take in Tools Creek, Kydra Trig, the Brogo River, Wadbilliga River and Trig, and Back River. It's a bewdy, Henry!" L E T T E R TO T H E EDITOR Dear Sir, I recently hoard a little story saying that there is too much gizzardr in it. So before they put you out on agistment like an old talking horse, Mr. Ed., make some prudent improvements. And would those readers of breeding and good manners who find it confusing, ploase note that it is intended to be spurious and scurrilous and certainly not serious. Clearly tr point is not clear, but windows in a clerestory are often pointed. So Prue is watching you NO matter what you do? Well don't give a prune for Nor withering perusal. Even when she has no proof She'll voice her disapproval. Her morals may be prude But her puns are never crude. Such .open impudence By a:pungext pundit Can uproot the imprudent Right from Punchbowl to Punjab. Hard cheese is Chedder made, But Prue's a Prussian maid. Acid burns of Peru Are no home for the sprerr Who would surely catch the sprue And spew all this verbal stew. Prue needs a good french polish To bringup a fine finnish. Se erupt in a rupture find get out of the rut, Ypurs, Delta bi-tTpsilen. See Club Diary - Ed. CLUB PROGRAMME MAY-JUNE DATE EVENT GRADE LEADER MAP 19 MAY GENERAL MEETING/SOCIAL EVENT (wED) 21/22/23 MAY . MT. CANOBOLAS - BORENORE ARCH EASY MARGOT COX BATHURST (nI-SuN) VERAIWAH CAVE 1:100,000 .22/23 MAY FIERY RANGE . MEDIUM JOPN HOGAN CTJRRAITGO (SATSUN) . 1:50,000 23 MAY .: MT. TENNANT EASY/ ROSEMARY SMART COTTER (srmi) mpium, 1:50,000 4. DATE EVENT GRADE LEADER MAP 27 MAY WAXING EVENING (TEaRS) 110 BATCHELOR STREET, TORRENS, 6.00pm BARRY MAYPIELD 291/30 MAY THE VINES AREA (BASE CAMP EASY/ ADRIAN HOBBS CMR BtTDAWANGS (SAT-SUN) WITH DAY TRIPS) MEDIUM 29 MAY PADDY PALLIN ORIENTEERING ORGANISER: STEPHEN GISZ (SAT) CONTEST (CANBERRA B/N ENTRANTS) 30 MAY MAJOR' S CREEK WAITERPALL V. EASY JOEN RUTHERFORD ARALUEN (SUN) 1:50,000 1 JUNE COMMITTEE MEETING - Circular closing date (TUBS) 5/6 JUNE MT. FRANKLIN CHALET V. EASY ROSEMARY SMART WTTER, SOC L EXTRAVAGANZA B 1MB ER I 1:50,000 6 JUNE MT. BOOTH MEDIUM TOM HALSEY MICHELACO, (STJN) BIMBERI 1: 50, 000 9 JUNE CIRCULAR COLLATION EVENING (WED) (EDITOR'S RESIDENCE) 12/13/14 JU1E NADGEE NATURE RESERVE MEDIUM BARBARA BAXTER (ST-MoN) (QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY) 16 JUNE TALK ON AUSTRALIAN ANDES EXPEDITION, 8.00 PM, COPELAND LECTURE (WED) THEATRE (NORTH END OP COPELAND BUILDING, EXTREME SOUTH END OF KINGSLEY STREET, TUPNER). THERE WILL BE NO GENERAL MEETING IN JUNE. 19/20 JUNE (SAT-SUN) 20 JUNE TO BE ADVISED LATER BOB GALLOWAY (SUN) 26/27 JUNE DEUA RIVER - J0OLL. CREEK - MEDIUM PRANK RIGBY BENDET}4ERA (SAT-slEd) BOOMA CREEK - DEWA RIVER 1: 50, 000 27 JUNE COOMA ROAD - THARV1A ROAD MEDIUW KB/I YOUNG CANBERRA, (SUN) TRIANGLE EASY MICHAEL AGO, 1:50,000 N.B.