Cave Rescue Exercise

Overall time allotted: 20 minutes

Instruction: Each group should have one observer who will take notes on the nitty gritty issues of the
group discussion. The observer is not allowed to participate in the group activity (just observe them).
Once the activity is over, the observer will highlight the important aspects of the group activity
process. The observer is expected to be as genuine and honest as possible while describing the issues.
Introduction: You are a member of an international research management committee that is funding
projections into human behaviour in confined spaces. You have been called to an emergency meeting
as one of the experiments has gone badly wrong. Six volunteers have been taken into a cave system in
Andaman, connected only by a radio link to the research hut by the cave entrance. It was intended that
the volunteers would spend four days underground, but they have been trapped by falling rocks and
rising water.
The only rescue team available tells you that rescue will be extremely difficult and only one person
can be brought out each hour with the equipment at their disposal. It is likely that the rapidly rising
water will drown some of the volunteers before a full rescue can be completed. The volunteers are
aware of the dangers of their plight. They have contacted the research hut using the radio link and said
that they are unwilling to take a decision as to the sequence by which they will be rescued. By the
terms of the research project, the responsibility for making this decision now rests with your
committee.
Life-saving equipment will arrive in 50 minutes at the cave entrance and you will need to advise the
team of the order for rescue by completing the Ranking Sheet. The only information you have
available is drawn from the project files and is reproduced on the volunteer personal details sheet.
You may use any criteria you think fit to help you make a decision – but bear in mind that you may
have to justify your selection to the families of the volunteers and the press.

Volunteers - Personal Information

Heena
Heena is 34 years old and a single mother. She has four children aged between seven months
and eight years. In her spare time, she does voluntary work with an NGO and counsels young
people who are addicted to drugs. Her supervisor thinks she lacks objectivity because she
tends to become too involved with the people she is counselling. She is taking a course in
social work through the Open University to prepare her for a full-time career. She is currently
having an affair with a married man whom she met through her voluntary activities.
Unfortunately, he has tested HIV positive.
Tia
Tia is 19 years old and an art student in Mumbai. She is the daughter of wealthy parents who
live in Dubai. Her father is an industrialist. Tia is unmarried but has several high-born suitors
as she is outstandingly attractive. She has recently participated in a documentary. She is an
active member of PETA and her hobbies include watercolour painting, pottery and origami.

Ajay
Ajay is a man of 59 years who has lived and worked in Delhi, for most of his life. He is
general manager of a factory producing rubber belts for machines. The factory employs 71
people. He is also a prominent member of the Social Entrepreneurship club and working on
an idea which, if successful, will employ over 100 people. He is married with two children
who have their own families and have moved away from Delhi. Ajay’s hobby is collecting
antique guns, and he intends to write a book on privatisation in the public sector on his
retirement. He is also a keen cricket supporter.
Jay
Jay is a man of 41 who was born in Jhansi and now settled in Pune. He was a religious person
whose life work had been devoted in spreading positive words about his religion in the
community. Jay has recently become disillusioned with the religion and has now become a
Buddhist monk. He has paid several visits to Tibet in recent years to study Eastern religions
and mysticism. He is married with 3 children whose ages range from 14 to 19 years. He is
very interested in promoting health food, faith healing and holistic medicine.
Seema
Seema is an unmarried woman of 27 years. As a CBI offer, she spent part of her service in
Noida where, as an undercover agent, she broke up an drug cartel and received a special
award for her bravery. Since returning to civilian life, she has been unsettled and recently
spent some time in a psychiatric hospital where she was diagnosed as being manic
depressive. She is currently on medication to control these symptoms. In her spare time, she
is a Youth Adventure Leader, devoted member of the local amateur drama society and plays
golf most weekends. She is also a member of the Toastmasters Club.
Paul
Paul is a man of 42 who has been divorced for six years. His ex-wife is now happily re-
married. He was born in Surat, but now lives in Bangalore. Paul works as a genetic research
scientist at a large hospital in Bangalore where he is recognised as a world authority on motor
neuron disease. He has been currently working on a treatment and believes that he is only
months away from a breakthrough which could provide relief for many who are diagnosed in
the early stages. Much of the research data is still in his working note-books. Unfortunately,
Paul has experienced some emotional difficulties in recent years, has a drinking problem and
has twice been convicted of drink driving offences. The last time was 11 months ago. He has
recently joined Alcoholics Anonymous where he is attempting to come terms with his
problem. His hobbies are classical music, and trekking.

RANKING SHEET
Order of rescue (Name and reasons):
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Adapted from: https://sites.google.com/site/hmeducationwing/home/international-business/cave-rescue-exercise