The absolute first rule of rescues in extreme conditions are make sure you don't do anything to harm yourself. An analagous (although less extreme) situation might be if my buddy and I came across an unconcious diver on the sea bed. I have some options:
1) I could leave him, 2) I could do a normal speed, controlled ascent taking him with me, or 3) I could shoot up to the surface and start rescue breaths (you can't do them under water).
Now 1 does not seem like a good idea, he probably has family that will want to know where he is and I can't identify him underwater. With the currents etc, even if I mark the position the body is likely to have moved.
3 is also not really an option, it would get him to being resuscitated faster, but the danger to me and my buddy, for the sake of someone who is probably already dead anyway. It violates the rules for rescuers of not taking unnecessary risks.
2 is probably the best of a bad set of options, at least you can do stuff on the surface. Realistically though, the casualty is not going to survive in any recognisable form, for a start because chances are it will take you more than 3 minutes to get to them to the surface, by which time they are likely to have oxygen deprivation problems. It is likely to take even longer to get them onto a hard surface, depending on where the surface cover is, and you cannot give compressions in water. Essentially the only reason you would be bringing the unconcious casualty up at all was that you would mekt the rescuer feel better.
Essentially, the point I am trying to make is that normal rules do not apply when you have limited resources of something essential (like air). Sitting on the side of the mountain with him is just a waste of limited resources and is not going to do the casualty any good. I will take elvum's word for it that taking him down presents an unacceptable increase in the existing risk. That being the case, there is no point discontinuing your climb. Again, I don't know enough to make an informed decision, but that is my twopenneth.
no subject
1) I could leave him,
2) I could do a normal speed, controlled ascent taking him with me, or
3) I could shoot up to the surface and start rescue breaths (you can't do them under water).
Now 1 does not seem like a good idea, he probably has family that will want to know where he is and I can't identify him underwater. With the currents etc, even if I mark the position the body is likely to have moved.
3 is also not really an option, it would get him to being resuscitated faster, but the danger to me and my buddy, for the sake of someone who is probably already dead anyway. It violates the rules for rescuers of not taking unnecessary risks.
2 is probably the best of a bad set of options, at least you can do stuff on the surface. Realistically though, the casualty is not going to survive in any recognisable form, for a start because chances are it will take you more than 3 minutes to get to them to the surface, by which time they are likely to have oxygen deprivation problems. It is likely to take even longer to get them onto a hard surface, depending on where the surface cover is, and you cannot give compressions in water. Essentially the only reason you would be bringing the unconcious casualty up at all was that you would mekt the rescuer feel better.
Essentially, the point I am trying to make is that normal rules do not apply when you have limited resources of something essential (like air). Sitting on the side of the mountain with him is just a waste of limited resources and is not going to do the casualty any good. I will take elvum's word for it that taking him down presents an unacceptable increase in the existing risk. That being the case, there is no point discontinuing your climb. Again, I don't know enough to make an informed decision, but that is my twopenneth.