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鈥檚 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.
鈥淔ew people had mobile phones in those days,鈥� says Ben. 鈥淚 knew it was a distress signal as I鈥檇 used the same call after a climbing accident left me with broken ribs, arms and a head injury a few months before.鈥�
Following the call, Ben came across a paramedic already at the scene. 鈥淎 climber and his friend had fallen, just like I had,鈥� says Ben.
A few moments later, the Edale Mountain Rescue Team arrived. 鈥淪eeing what they did, and after what had happened to me, I wanted to help others by volunteering for them.鈥� Twenty-five years on, he鈥檚 still involved.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be a nurse to volunteer, but my skills have certainly helped in challenging environments,鈥� says Ben. 鈥淏eing up a mountain and cold, sometimes in the dark with quite distressed people means you must remain calm and communicate well.鈥�
The team is on-call 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Call-outs are usually from climbers, horse-riders and people who鈥檝e got lost.
鈥淢any of those rescued have broken bones and are in shock,鈥� adds Ben. 鈥淗ypothermia can kill, so keeping people warm is key. You have to be confident you鈥檙e able to look after yourself as well as others.鈥�
Unfortunately, Ben鈥檚 had to recover people who have taken their own lives, or died from a fall. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all trained to deal with these types of situations and there is ongoing training too,鈥� says Ben.
鈥淏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鈥檇 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.
鈥淗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鈥檚 not good to bottle things up.鈥�
As well as helping those in distress up mountains, Ben鈥檚 travelled as far as Antarctica to look after mountaineers and has worked in medical teams in the South Pole. He鈥檚 even been a film body-double through his adventures.
It's amazing the volunteering roles out there for nursing staff
鈥�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.鈥�
Outside his day job, Ben is one of only two UK nurses that run medical courses with World Extreme Medicine in Norway鈥檚 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
