NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

INCIDENTS

Blue Ridge Parkway

Two Suffer Hallucinogenic Mushroom Overdose

On the evening of March 31st, rangers were dispatched to the Craggy Gardens picnic area in response to a 911 call concerning a probable drug overdose. Upon arrival, they found a man and woman parked in a vehicle, both exhibiting an altered mental status. They said that they'd ingested psilocybin mushrooms, with the woman adding that she was dead and had no pulse. Rangers and EMS personnel began an assessment and noted that the woman was suffering from periodic convulsive events. At one point, she jumped from the stretcher, climbed into the rear seat of a patrol car, exited again, dropped to the ground, and experienced another convulsion. She was eventually placed in an ambulance, where she was transported to a hospital for treatment and evaluation. During the transport, she continually asked if she was alive or dead and if what was happening was real. Rangers remained at the hospital until she returned to a coherent state. Both the man and woman were issued violation notices for using a controlled substance. The driver was released to the custody of his father. The 911 call actually originated from the couple, who were concerned that they were already dead. [Tim Francis, Pisgah District Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

Resource Information Systems Division - Experts from NOAA's National Geodetic Survey are nearing completion of a leveling survey of the National Mall as part of a long-term effort that will help determine if any monuments shifted during last year's earthquake.

Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - On April 6th, the Washington Office issued a memorandum to all parks entitled “Electronic Reporting - Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, and Emergency Medical Incidents.” The memo provides an update on two electronic reporting systems - IMARS and ePCR - that will go into effect on January 1st.

Workplace Enrichment - The 2012 employee viewpoint survey is now underway. In just 15 minutes, you can help improve the NPS workplace for you and your colleagues across the country. Your feedback has been employed to make changes in the NPS before and will again.

Yellowstone NP - Gary Nelson, a long-time Yellowstone law enforcement ranger, passed away unexpectedly on April 4th. Gary suffered a fatal heart attack while stopped along the West Entrance Road in the park last Wednesday morning.

US Park Police - Park Police and National Mall and Memorial Parks personnel received recognition from Secretary Salazar at the DOI awards ceremony in March for their efforts in managing the recent Occupy DC demonstrations.

Sequoia/Kings Canyon NPs - David Allen has been selected as the new fire management officer for Sequoia & Kings Canyon. Allen brings 24 years of fire experience and has worked for the parks for 12 years as the Sequoia National Park district FMO and aviation manager.

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The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced with the support of the Office of the Assistant Director for Information Resources and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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