Carol's First Ambulance Ride

So we've joined the local climbing club "Escaladonf" and have been out climbing as a family two nights a week. The club is a fantastic place to meet some great people and climb with other families. Another wonderful aspect of life in France that creates community.

 Carol bustin' moves on a corner route.

 Dad starting out on the final climb of the March competition.

Kali "topping out".

So at the last competition, Carol was belaying me when I was bucked off an overhanging climb. Because I had pulled out some rope in preparation to clip into the next bolt, there was alot of slack, so when I fell, there was a long fall (7m) before the rope began to arrest the plunge. Carol was standing underneath me and I managed to knock her over on the way by. Because she heard a snap and was numb on one side, we suspected a spinal injury and called the "Pompiers". They are the local firemen, paramedics, etc and do it all. They were very professional but super-relaxed and very efficient and had Carol stabilized with the latest technology in no time. She was whisked off to the nearby hospital and thoroughly scanned for any damage. After reviewing the results, the Doctor said I wasn't heavy enough to do any damage and that she was fine. A little stiff though.

We were extremely fortunate to have a good friend and nurse, Elodie, there to interpret and keep everything   under control. She made the worrisome situation much more easy to deal with.

The Pompiers

I'm O.K.!