Rescue Dynamics - New and Recent Articles of the Month

Last Updated Friday, November 13, 2020

Article of the Month is a public service of Rescue Dynamics. Articles of interest on outdoor and rescue topics will appear in this space with a new article roughly every month. Many articles are in Adobe's® Portable Document Format or PDF. In order to view and print these files, you will need a copy of Adobe® Acrobat® Reader. The good news is that this software is free and easily downloaded. Follow the links below to obtain it. It also allows you to read similar documents at many other sites across the net. It is fairly simple to set this program up as a helper application for many Web Browsers, so that the process becomes almost invisible in the future. The various Rescue Dynamics articles, new climbing route descriptions, free climbing guidebooks and current route conditions will eventually all be available in this format for downloading.

Many of these articles were written by Cyril Shokoples and some of his articles originally appeared in other publications. They are reprinted courtesy of Cyril Shokoples. Cyril is an internationally certified Mountain Guide (IFMGA / UIAGM). He currently resides in Edmonton and is the proprietor of Rescue Dynamics, which is involved in climbing, rescue and safety instruction, as well as mountain guiding.

Not all of the articles linked to in Article of the Month are produced by Rescue Dynamics. Where this is the case a note will explain the site to which the link points.

COMING SOON in 2008: more new articles for 2008. Check back soon.

New 2020 November 2020 - Canadian Rockies - Updated Useful Telephone Numbers (9k) latest revision November 2020. This update was made necessary by the fact that half of the old numbers had changed!
New 2008 May 2008 - Anchors in Earnest 3.0 .pdf file - A radically updated version of the original article of the same name. (Designed to accompany instruction on leadership and intermediate rock level courses.) Updated to Version 3 in May 2008
April 2008 - Wilderness Medicine Tomes .pdf file - This article contains a listing and reviews of most of the wilderness first aid and wilderness medicine texts available at this time.
March 2008 - Emergency and Radio Communications for Outdoor Guides and Leaders. Updated version 2.4. A fifty page overview of most of the radio communications services and devices available for the outdoor user. Covers PLBs, SPOT, cell phone, HF, VHF / UHF radio, CB, FRS, GMRS, satellite phone and much more.
February 2008 - Battery Life in Avalanche Transceivers - by Felix Camire. This initial look at how long new digital transceivers may last in search mode is interesting food for thought.
January 2008 - Oxygen Fueled Fires - Safety Alert - This article is about safeguarding against fires when using medical oxygen and was prompted by several recent cases, one of which was in the outdoor industry. December 2007
New 2007 December 2007 - THREE Related Articles - not produced by Rescue Dynamics. but from the US FDA and NIOSH.
November 2007 - AVALUATOR ONLINE - This is not an article but we felt the Canadian Avalanche Association Avaluator Site is so significant that we had to link it from our Articles Page - NOT produced by Rescue Dynamics
October 2007 -
September 2007 -
August 2007 - Recommendation REC M 0014 of the Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine of 1998 - The On Site Treatment of Hypothermia - Intended for First Responders by Bruno Durrer, Hermann Brugger, David Syme - An ICAR paper edited for Canadian First Responders - not produced by Rescue Dynamics.
July 2007 - Carabiner Wear Tests .PDF file - some anecdotal test results on severely worn carabiners done by Morgan Neff and Cyril Shokoples
Old 2007 June 2007 - Emergency and Radio Communications for Outdoor Guides and Leaders. Updated version 2.3. A fifty page overview of most of the radio communications services and devices available for the outdoor user. Covers PLBs, cell phone, HF, VHF / UHF radio, CB, FRS, GMRS, satellite phone and much more. revised in 2008
May 2007 - Use of the ACMG and Parks Radio Frequencies .pdf file - an article written for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. April 2007
April 2007 - SCUBA Diving Emergencies .pdf file - a complete rewrite of Lesson 40 of the PER Manual. Revised April 2007 by Cyril Shokoples
March 2007 - Wilderness Medicine Tomes .pdf file - This article contains a listing and reviews of most of the wilderness first aid and wilderness medicine texts available at this time. Revised in 2008.
February 2007 - Linking Abseils (Rappels) - From the Petzl Website
January 2007 - Positioning The Abseil Knot - From the Petzl Website
2006 December 2006 -Starting an Abseil Descent - From the Petzl website
November 2006 - UIAA World Magazine 2006 .pdf file - from UIAA Website
October 2006 - Viagra and Other Drugs at high altitude - by Buddha Basnyat MD, President of UIAA Medical Commission - from UIAA website January 2006
September 2006 - Please Help Me, I'm Falling: A Review of Mountain Rescue Texts .pdf file Version 6.2 - revised in April 2007
August 2006 - Improvised Carabiner Brakes & Munter Lowers .pdf file - An Introductory Article to Accompany Instruction. This article was not previously available as a website download. Version 2.0, October 2005.
July 2006 - Practical Guide For Two-Way Radios .pdf file - a discussion of radio systems byDave Favreau (assisted by Richard Jackson) both at Prairie & Northern Region of Industry Canada. Posted on this website by written permission of the author. Written in 2004.
June 2006 - Understanding Mechanical Advantage in the Single Sheave Pulley Systems Used in Rescue Operations - a technical discussion of systems by J. Grant White (under the pseduonym Ralphie G. Schwartz), Associate Professor at the Dept. of Outdoor Education at Northland College, Ashland, WI
May 2006 - Search & Rescue For Outdoor Leaders - A worthwhile 2004 article written by Charley Shimanski. This article is from the Mountain Rescue Association, and is NOT produced by Rescue Dynamics.
April 2006 - NZMSC Snow Anchors Report - Contains some interesting results on testing of snow anchors. Although the tests and final analysis have been criticized, it is still very interesting. This article is from the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, and is NOT produced by Rescue Dynamics.
March 2006 - Cyril's Guide to Canadian Climbing Guidebooks .pdf file - This article contains a listing and one line reviews of over 110 climbing, ski touring, hiking and biking guidebooks. This version predominantly covers Western Canada but future editions will add Eastern canada as well.. Version 4.0.1, October 2005.
February 2006 - Wilderness Medicine Tomes .pdf file - This article contains a listing and reviews of most of the wilderness first aid and wilderness medicine texts available at this time. Revised in 2008.
January 2006 - The Cool Ones: A Review of Texts on the Topics of Ice Climbing and Glacier Travel .pdf file - This article contains a listing and reviews of some of the best texts available at this time plus some historical classics. Version 6.0, October 2005.
MORE More Articles

Important recent feature - November 2020 - Canadian Rockies - Updated Useful Telephone Numbers (9k) latest revision November 2020. This update was made necessary by the fact that half of the old numbers had changed!

You can now get the Rescue Dynamics Course Schedule and Application Forms.

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WARNING! Mountaineering, Skiing and Rescue are, by their very nature, potentially hazardous activities. The materials presented here are intended as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, sound judgement and experience. The accuracy of the information presented here cannot be guaranteed and may change with time. The onus is on the individual to verify the applicability of the information to a given environment before using it as the basis of any kind of decision. In addition, accurate knowledge of the use of various safety devices and systems is requisite to understanding the information presented and in determining it's applicability to your situations. Always use a backup to your systems where a failure could result in death or injury. Nature offers few second chances for poor or inappropriate application of information and techniques. The Law of Gravity has no Court of Appeal. This must not be your only source of information on any given subject. Seek additional training from reputable schools and guides. Common sense and a strong will to survive must pervade your thoughts and actions. By using the information contained here, you are releasing the authors and Rescue Dynamics from any liability for any injury, including death, that may occur. You have been warned.

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phone (780) 461 - 5040 voice / fax

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