9 replies to this topic

[Aaron]

On Monday, September 12, at 3:15 p.m. park rangers were notified via cell phone that a 60-year-old woman from Texas had taken a 15 foot tumbling fall at Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was later determined she was at Lake of Glass which is 4.5 miles from the Bear Lake Trailhead. She was hiking with a family member. The two bystanders who called stayed and helped care for the woman. Two park rangers, including a park medic, reached the injured woman at 5:19 p.m. She had multiple traumatic injuries. Once it was determined that the patient could be moved and had possible serious injuries, rangers began planning for a helicopter operation to evacuate the patient. After moving the patient to a landing area on the east side of Lake of Glass, a St. Anthony Flight for Life helicopter from Summit County was able to land and fly the patient from the area prior to night fall to St. Anthony Hospital in Denver.

At 4:23 p.m. park dispatch was notified by park staff of a 61-year-old man, hometown unknown, who was having a severe food allergy reaction near the bridge at Bear Lake. Park rangers reached the man at 4:45 p.m. An ambulance and paramedics from Estes Park Medical Center responded at 4:49 p.m. The man was treated on scene and declined to be taken by ambulance from the area.

At 6:24 p.m. park rangers were notified of a 55-year-old man from Ohio who fell in to the water near Alberta Falls. One family member ran to the Bear Lake Trailhead for assistance and another family member assisted him down the trail until he could no longer proceed. Park rangers reached the man at 6:41 p.m. He had numerous injuries including hypothermia from falling in the water. He was roughly ¼ mile from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. An ambulance and paramedics from Estes Park Medical Center also responded. The man was brought down the trail by a park litter team at 8:34 p.m., who were staged for the first incident, and reached the Bear Lake Road at 8:50 p.m. He was then taken by ambulance to the Estes Park Medical Center.

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[mistylady]

We were wondering what was going on. Think goodness RMNPFORUMS can inform us. We heard sirens as we were coming back from Bear Lake at 3:30ish yesterday and then sirens off and on until evening. Hope all will be okay.

[rcw]

Rough day in the park!

[SandyM]

Thank God for the rangers.

I hope everyone will be okay.

[jflo]

way to go Rangers and Medical Staff!! They are true heroes (all in a day's work for them though). Was HPM in the mix?

[HighPlainsMedic]

jflo, on 14 September 2011 - 03:00 AM, said:

way to go Rangers and Medical Staff!! They are true heroes (all in a day's work for them though). Was HPM in the mix?

No.. my response time would have been 4 hours lol.. We do however discuss best practices and my hat is off to them..

There are some similarities in the incidents. maybe it's the time of year more than anything.. but did you see the ages of the patients?? (I'm in the same demographic so I can mention such things)

[DrCloud]

HighPlainsMedic, on 14 September 2011 - 06:37 AM, said:

No.. my response time would have been 4 hours lol.. We do however discuss best practices and my hat is off to them..

There are some similarities in the incidents. maybe it's the time of year more than anything.. but did you see the ages of the patients?? (I'm in the same demographic so I can mention such things)

Age, yeah, but the food thing was unusual. I guess you gotta watch out for which berries you eat, or something. HPH

[Rhonda]

And that age thing is why I sometimes change my plans and don't reach my destination if I am too nervous about exposure or loose rocks or pushing it too hard, and I don't feel bad about it. I don't want to be in a press release.

[DeeCeeM]

Rhonda, on 14 September 2011 - 08:02 AM, said:

I don't want to be in a press release.

Don't worry - we'll edit out your name. (Just kidding.)

In all seriousness, you make some good points. After all, it's not a successful adventure until you return from it safely.

[Mark Zemmin]

Hopping day at the park. Great job by the park rangers.