Combining a love for climbing with his skills as an emergency nurse has given Ben Cooper the chance to work in some of the world蜜桃直播檚 most remote places
Three months into his nursing course aged 19, Ben was climbing in the Peak District when he heard someone blowing a whistle.
蜜桃直播淔ew people had mobile phones in those days,蜜桃直播� says Ben. 蜜桃直播淚 knew it was a distress signal as I蜜桃直播檇 used the same call after a climbing accident left me with broken ribs, arms and a head injury a few months before.蜜桃直播�
Following the call, Ben came across a paramedic already at the scene. 蜜桃直播淎 climber and his friend had fallen, just like I had,蜜桃直播� says Ben.
A few moments later, the Edale Mountain Rescue Team arrived. 蜜桃直播淪eeing what they did, and after what had happened to me, I wanted to help others by volunteering for them.蜜桃直播� Twenty-five years on, he蜜桃直播檚 still involved.
蜜桃直播淵ou don蜜桃直播檛 have to be a nurse to volunteer, but my skills have certainly helped in challenging environments,蜜桃直播� says Ben. 蜜桃直播淏eing up a mountain and cold, sometimes in the dark with quite distressed people means you must remain calm and communicate well.蜜桃直播�
The team is on-call 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Call-outs are usually from climbers, horse-riders and people who蜜桃直播檝e got lost.
蜜桃直播淢any of those rescued have broken bones and are in shock,蜜桃直播� adds Ben. 蜜桃直播淗ypothermia can kill, so keeping people warm is key. You have to be confident you蜜桃直播檙e able to look after yourself as well as others.蜜桃直播�
Unfortunately, Ben蜜桃直播檚 had to recover people who have taken their own lives, or died from a fall. 蜜桃直播淲e蜜桃直播檙e all trained to deal with these types of situations and there is ongoing training too,蜜桃直播� says Ben.
蜜桃直播淏ut I can still remember my first significant trauma. I was called to a young lad the same age as me. He was very unwell after a fall. He蜜桃直播檇 collapsed and I was trying to maintain his airway. We were both winched into a helicopter and taken to the hospital where I worked, where he later died.
蜜桃直播淗e was one of those patients you never forget. The sister on duty knew I was upset. She took me with her to clean him and put him in a gown, so I could do something for him. It蜜桃直播檚 not good to bottle things up.蜜桃直播�
As well as helping those in distress up mountains, Ben蜜桃直播檚 travelled as far as Antarctica to look after mountaineers and has worked in medical teams in the South Pole. He蜜桃直播檚 even been a film body-double through his adventures.
It's amazing the volunteering roles out there for nursing staff
蜜桃直播�I spent time as a location nurse for TV and films in Greenland and Iceland. I changed my work to an annual hours contract, which gave me the flexibility to do other things I enjoy.蜜桃直播�
Outside his day job, Ben is one of only two UK nurses that run medical courses with World Extreme Medicine in Norway蜜桃直播檚 Arctic Circle.
Do you volunteer as a nurse?
If so, you can be safe in the knowledge the RCN’s indemnity scheme will most likely cover you in your voluntary role. It’s best to check the small print though.
Words by Susan Embley
