The current thread on tourniquets prompts this thread. What do you do when your specialized item is unenviable, already committed, or unavailable for whatever reason. Life has a habit of throwing really nasty curve balls.


the ability to improvise, adapt, and/or innovate can be critical to many of life's situations, including many that verge on survival circumstances.

On one SAR mission, we had a fall victim in a cave who we placed on a rigid backboard because of the high likelihood of spinal fracture. In transporting the victim toward the entrance, we encountered a short constriction in the passage which was too narrow to allow passage of the backboard. What to do? Hint: we did not enlarge the passage., although that might be an option is some cases.

Another instance. We responded to a situation of a vehicle at the bottom of a 100 foot vertical mine shaft with two surviving victims. I and a good SAR buddy were the first to reach the two, treating their astonishingly minor, and were ready to be pulled up.

A rope was dropped to us, triggering the nastiest rock fall I ever experienced (Mine shafts are notorious for that). We were uninjured only because their vehicle provided shelter. We radioed that somehow the rigging system needed to be altered so that rockfall was not a problem.

On the spot, our companions, using nothing but available climbing rope, carabiners, and one climbing pulley, devised a system that hug our ascent rope in the middle of the shaft, enabling us to be hauled up, two by two, without incident. I believe this system is still used today, although mine shaft rescues are thankfully rare.

Some situations just can't be anticipated, and you need to scrounge. Duct tape is your friend.

Other good stories??