Eastern Region
of the
National Cave Rescue Commission

Information on the Eastern Region

The Eastern Region of the National Cave Rescue Commission covers the states of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.  As a percentage of cavers it is the largest of all the NCRC regions with approximately 1/3 of all active cavers and over 10,000 known caves.

Information on the NCRC

A degree of national coordination existed for many years through the National Speleological Society, but it was not until 1977, that the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) was organized. It is a volunteer group developed to coordinate cave rescue resources throughout the United States. The NCRC itself is a communications network developed to help locate the actual rescue workers and equipment. Many, if not all, NCRC people do perform rescues, but not as NCRC members; rather, they serve as members of their local rescue squards, civil defense units, or cave rescue groups.

Headed by a National Coordinator, the NCRC is divided into 9 regional networks each with its own Regional Coordinator. In addition to the National and Regional Coordinators, the NCRC Staff includes three specialists: a Cave Diving Officer, a Medical Officer, and a Training Officer, who provide advice and keep track of diving and medical rescue equipment and personnel. The NCRC depends on many volunteers whose special knowledge, talents, or contacts make the network more effective.

Beside its main functions as a communications and resource coordination network, the NCRC has other missions. Included in the NCRC's duties are training personnel and the maintenance of a good working relationship with other rescue-oriented organizations, government agencies or sources of specialized equipment and services.

Another NCRC mission is to maintain current files of possibly useful equipment or services which can be obtained through the above sources. The NCRC is charged with developing and maintaining a limted supply of certain equipment such as modified Neil-Robertson litters and rescue pulleys in key locations throughout the country. Additionally, the NCRC encourages research on new cave rescue equipment and techniques, and evaluates existing equipment and techniques.

Each year the NCRC attempts to increase the number and proficiency of cave rescuers across the U.S. by sponsoring training sessions, seminars, and workshops in each region and by encouraging other cave rescue organizations to conduct similar educational programs. They encourage international cooperation by developing contacts with cave rescuers and responsible agencies in other countries, by preplanning with these groups when U.S. involvement in rescues is anticipated, and by inviting participation of caver rescuers from other countries to NCRC seminars.

Information on the Cave Rescue Section

The Cave Rescue Section (CRS) is a section of the National Speleological Society (NSS). The purpose of the Cave Rescue Section is to provide a means of disseminating and exchanging cave rescue information, to encourage the development of cave rescue skills, techniques and equipment, to promote and encourage safe caving practices, and to serve as a liaison between the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) and the members of the NSS. The section sponsors a session at the annual NSS Convention where there members present papers and other relevant material to cave rescue. The CRS also holds an annual meeting which follows the NCRC Board meeting at the NSS Convention. Another function that the CRS provides is a section newsletter entitled the Muddy Litter Letter.

The annual dues for the CRS are $6.00 per year for U.S. residents and $12.00 per year for non U.S. residents. With membership dues you will receive the Muddy Litter Letter which is mailed approximately six times per year.

To join the Cave Rescue Section please send your dues payable in US currency to:

        Cave Rescue Section
        c/o Gary Moss
        7713 Shreve RD
        Falls Church, VA 22043-3315
		

To submit articles to the Muddy Litter Letter for publication you mail the submission to the above address or email the editor Barbara Moss.

What To Do In An Emergency

So your on a caving trip and you or a member of your team becomes injured. In the minutes after this happens you must doseveral things to insure the safety of the injured and the team.The following is a checklist that everyone that caves should keepin mind just in case an injury happens.