In the June Rucksack I wrote an article about back, hip and shoulder injuries, however the injury that shortens most hikes and climbs are injuries to the lower extremities. The ankles are only a third as big as the knees but bear the same weight, and add to that the stress of hiking or climbing and you begin to see why it is the most common injury among hikers and climbers.

The human ankle consists of a total of seven bones that are held together by a complex arrangement of ligaments. Two of these ligaments, the anterior and posterior (front and rear) tibio-fibular ligaments, hold the bones of the lower leg (the tibia and fibula) together. The deltoid ligament on the inside of the ankle also holds the tibia to the inside bones of the ankle. This ligament is possibly the strongest and only 10% of ankle injuries occur to this ligament. The other 90% of ankle injuries occur to the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. These three ligaments are the anterior and posterior talo-fibulars and the calcaneo-fibular. Being much smaller and weaker than the deltoid they are more prone to injury.

Ankle sprains are graded in three degrees. Grade I is a stretch to the ligament without a tear. Grade II is a partial tear with possible limited instability. Grade III is a complete rupture with instability depending on which ligaments are ruptured. Some of the symptoms of a grade II or III are: a popping or tearing feeling at the time of injury, severe tenderness and pain, loss of function, inability to bear weight, and immediate and generalized swelling throughout the ankle and foot.

A good preventive measure is to strengthen and condition your ankles prior to participating in any strenuous outdoor activity. However if you do sustain an ankle injury a helpful pneumonic to remember is RICE.

• Rest- avoid weight bearing and further injury.
• Ice- Place ice or soak in cold water for 20 minutes every hour.
• Compression- The ankle should be wrapped in an ACE elastic bandage (which you should have in your first aid kit).
• Elevation- elevate the ankle above the level of the heart.

Remember that a minute's worth of treatment in the field may prevent days of healing after you get home.

Aside from pagers, unit members will not be contacted at their work numbers unless they notify the Callout Committee in writing (please include your work number with area code). Also note days and hours you are likely to be at the work number. It will be the responsibility of members to update the committee in writing, with any changes.

After a day of snowshoeing through a clear, trackless blanket of white snow in the middle of January you and your partner decide to make camp for the night just as the snow starts to fall. As you get out your stove to make something hot to eat the snow starts falling harder. You bring your stove inside the tent and close the flap and continue to heat your meal. You and your partner start feeling dizzy and weak and you have a roaring headache and are sick to your stomach. What is it you're not high enough to have altitude sickness and you felt just fine a few minutes ago? The culprit is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels; CO has no odor, cannot be seen or tasted and can build up in enclosed space without being noticed.

Annually more than 500 deaths a year are recorded due to CO poisoning with seasonal increases during the winter months. We often cannot see or smell the nastiness we're inhaling. Using a stove in the confines of a tent is as dangerous as running your car in a closed garage.

Normally when we inhale our lungs combine oxygen with the hemoglobin in our blood to form oxyhemoglobin; the oxygen is then transported to our body cells. When you inhale CO, it combines with the hemoglobin to create carboxyhemoglobin instead. Because the bond between CO is 200 times stronger than oxygen, it also makes it difficult for your body to eliminate CO buildups from the bloodstream. Because of this buildup CO can poison you slowly over a period of several hours even in fairly low concentrations.

As the level of CO in your body increases the level of oxygen decreases and sensitive parts of your body such as your heart, lungs and brain are deprived of oxygen. The symptoms of CO poisoning are sometimes mistaken for fatigue or the onset of a cold or flu and can occur when CO saturation levels reach 10-30%; if the level reaches 50% you will become unconscious. Air containing only one-tenth of one percent is enough to choke off the body's oxygen supply. If you suspect CO poisoning you should get out of the area and into fresh air immediately.

Remember you can't see it, smell it or hear it but it can kill you. Don't become a victim of CO poisoning in the great outdoors.

Call to Order: 19:37 hrs

Board members in attendance:

Rob Lutz, Alan Givotovsky, Chris Berryman, Jim Howe, Jim Andrues, Jeff Sharp, Mike Mixon.

Others in attendance:

Roger Ternes, Fran McFarland, Larry and Connie Crum, Stan and Angela Kartes, Ken Capron, and Dave Dahl.

The October Minutes were accepted as revised.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Jim Howe

Balance sheet was read and motion was made to accept treasurer's report. Motion was seconded and passed.

OPERATIONS: Rob Lutz

Mt. Rainier - search for missing photographer. Discussion of search included using map grids, organization and search areas.

TRAINING REPORT: Jim Andrues

Wednesday night class on ELT search was attended by 23 members. The Saturday training was postponed till December 13 due to search.

Skills Evaluation will be the next Wednesday night class with ELT training on Saturday.

EQUIPMENT: Mike Mixon

Truck Leak has been repaired.

Bill Weber reported via note that the unit dynamometer was unrepairable and a replacement of the same type would run $700. A discussion followed as to why the unit needed one and a decision was made that Sharp and Mixon would look at options and prices.

A motion was made seconded and passed that the unit purchase another 9-mil 200' rope for searches. Jeff Sharp to see to the purchase.

COMMUNICATIONS: Jeff Sharp

Pierce County is changing from Cook paging to another service PCSAR will stay with Cook. Jeff sharp to inform the unit of pager number changes.

Stan Kartes reported that the truck now has a new cell phone and at the cache is an Alpha Mate, donated by Cook Paging, that can go with the truck or be used at the cache.

Jim Howe produced the list of unit members with pagers and asked the board to review those thirteen who have pagers paid for by the unit. The Board accepted the list as it stands and decided on a policy of providing pagers to the OL's and to the most active unit members, total thirteen pagers. Candy Cox to be put on the OL page

SAFETY AND EDUCATION: Chris Berryman

The Tacoma Mountaineers have once again asked the unit to provide instruction in the following classes:
• Basic Course: Rescue Lecture April 15.
• Basic Course: Rescue Field Trip, TBA.
• Intermediate Course: Self-Help Lecture, TBA.
• Intermediate Course: Field Trip May 2.
Chris Berryman and Ken Davies to instruct, unit members welcome to attend and /or assist at the Rescue and Self-Help Field Trips.

MEMBERSHIP: Chris Berryman

David Dahl was voted in at Field Support.

Members who joined before October 1st 1997 must pay dues by January 31st Membership list will be reviewed in February and those not current will be dropped in March.

NEW BUSINESS:

Larry Crum reported to the board the cost of Acquiring and maintaining a domain web site. $150 for the First year. Motion was made, seconded and passed to make it happen. Larry to be listed as technician and Ed Hrivnak as administrator.

A policy on pro-deals was adopted: Members taking advantage of pro-deals must be at least rescue support or have been in the unit as of 11/26/97.

Portland MRA conference accommodations to be made. Three rooms to be reserved. Charter members encouraged to attend.

Helo Seminar to be at Camp Arnold on October 15-18 Staffing completed.

Adjourn 21:30 Hrs.

Respectfully submitted.
Chris Berryman, Secretary

As the new year rolls around it's that time again to pay your $15.00 annual membership dues. Members who have joined the unit after October 1st, 1997 are covered for the next year. Your dues pay for both your memberships in the Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit and the National Mountain Rescue Association. It also pays for the postage for this wonderfully written little newsletter that you're reading now (I'm not modest, Editor). You have until the 31st of January 1998, after that no more Rucksack and no more 2:00 A.M. calls.

Any new members interested in a discussion on Packing for Performance, meet at 6:00pm at the Cache prior to the January 14th meeting. This is a lecture/discussion given at the BoeAlps Intermediate class on packing personal gear for Backcountry travel.

1998 is the 40^th anniversary of Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit. This is the year for us to look back at our accomplishments, and step forward with goals to carry us through the next 40 years. The primary goal for 1998 is to finish our book of standard operating procedures for rescues and training.

Another important goal is to reflect and remember the last 40 years. Two big events that will mark the anniversary will be the summer MRA conference at Mt. Hood and our own banquet in November. The summer conference is June 19-21. The unit will arrange transportation to Mt. Hood. This promises to be a great weekend of food, drink, climbing, and skiing. Don't wait until the last minute. Sign up early.

We are looking at having the banquet on Friday, November 20. This gives a little more time to socialize. There will also be an expanded program for the 40^th banquet.

Our unit is in top shape for 1998. Membership is up, and participation is strong during training and rescues. Our new survival kit is selling well, giving us a good financial picture. I look forward to 1998 being a truly memorable year for Tacoma Mountain Rescue.

- Ed 'RIV' Hrivnak, president.

TACOMA MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR 1998

©Copyright 1998 Tacoma Mountain Rescue