By: Blonde Two

Blonde One and I have been working in the outdoors together now for very nearly 10 years. We have faced some hairy situations, some emotional times and many, many heart-warming moments. Sometimes we have been so busy that we haven’t had time away from each other to stop and think about our working relationship, but it is a good one. I don’t always know what she is going to do or say next, but I do know that whatever it is, it is likely to be very close to what I would have said and that I am almost certainly going to be able to slot in and say the ‘next thing’.

We had a little first aid issue during a walk we were leading on Sunday. Nothing scary but it needed dealing with and I happened to be the nearest Blonde at the time. We had to separate for a while, B1 with the group, me with the casualty (for want of a better word), and this was the interesting point; it didn’t occur to me to once wonder whether or not B1 would be alright leading the group on her own (I knew she would) and it didn’t occur to her to wonder if I would be alright looking after the casualty (she knew I would).

Decision-making in emergency situations (or ones that have the potential to become an emergency) has to be done quickly, both for the good of the group you are leading and for the person needing care. Being able to have absolute trust in the people you are working with makes this almost seamless.

B1 was there if I needed her and I was there if she needed me. That is really all either of us needed to know!