NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
NOTICE
There have been no issues of this version of the Morning Report since Monday, June 29th, due to remote site access problems. I was on travel and unable to link to the National Park Service's internal email and web page as planned. Editions resume today.
INCIDENT
Grand Teton NP
Rapid Response Saves Girls With Monoxide Poisoning
A rapid response by park staff and the subsequent transporting of two 10-year old girls suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after “teak boarding” behind their family's ski boat last week has resulted in their full recovery. The two girls from Jackson, Wyoming, were teak boarding for the third time behind the family's 20-foot ski boat when the brother of one of the girls, riding on the stern, noted that his sister was not responding to him. After pulling the girls onto the vessel, the parents began CPR while a brother drove the boat to the Colter Bay Marina. Several subsequent 911 calls led to a parkwide response that had rangers and the first ambulance on scene within five minutes. Both girls were transported to the hospital within another eight minutes. Although the girls were nonresponsive when personnel arrived on scene, they both quickly recovered and were released from the hospital the same night. Doctors and medical staff have credited the rapid intervention of park staff with the survival of the two girls. The park's chief ranger is crediting all park divisions with this success, as volunteers, interpreters and maintenance division personnel joined rangers in the response. The operator of the vessel has received a mandatory appearance citation for operating a vessel in violation of 36 CFR Part 3. Statements made by the parents at the time and during the investigation confirm that this activity - and the associated dangers - continues to be a boating education hurdle for areas with recreational boating. Both parents on the vessel are life-long boaters and claimed to be unaware of the danger in spite of increased efforts on the part of protection personnel over the past three years. The park public affairs officer is also fielding a number of calls from area news outlets who are also unaware of the danger. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
Zion NP
Propane Leak Causes Lodge Evacuation
Staff at the front desk of Zion lodge reported a propane leak at 9:30 a.m. on the morning of July 2nd. Zion dispatch transmitted emergency tones and ICS was established with ranger Kevin Killian as IC and ranger Keith Winslow as operations section chief. Winslow arrived on scene within minutes, set up a protective perimeter, and ordered the evacuation of the main Zion Lodge building and a nearby public restroom facility. The second responding ranger provided medical care to a Xanterra maintenance employee who had suffered a propane inhalation injury; additional patrol and park wildland fire units assisted in traffic control, enforcing nearby trail closures, and performing trail and building sweeps. Park maintenance employees, using breathing apparatus, had the tank shut off by 10 a.m. An investigation into the cause of the leak is currently underway. A mutual aid response was received from Springdale police, fire and ambulance and from an ambulance and crew from the town of Hurricane. [Kevin Killian, Acting Chief Ranger]
Biscayne NP
Shark Bites Visitor Near Elliott Key
A woman was bitten by a six-foot-long nurse shark as she swam near an Elliott Key sandbar on the afternoon of Saturday, July 4th. Although severe, the bite was not life-threatening. A man in a nearby boat caught, then released the shark. Immediately upon being released, the shark swam directly toward a group of people swimming near the Elliott Key campground and picnic area, bit the woman on the thigh, then swam off. Nurse sharks are very common in southern Florida waters and are generally considered passive, although they can be dangerous when provoked. The woman was taken to the local hospital and is in stable condition. [Mark Lewis, Superintendent]
Delaware Water Gap NRA
New Jersey Man Drowns In Adams Creek
A 25-year-old man from Jersey City, New Jersey, drowned last Friday afternoon while swimming in Adams Creek. The man and nine companions, all male, were swimming in a pool in the creek. The victim apparently drowned while trying to assist another member of his group who was having difficulty swimming. Notification of the incident came just before 2 p.m. Rangers and emergency personnel from local volunteer fire companies, including Delaware Township, Dingmans Township, Hemlock Farms, Westfall Township, Milford, and the Bushkill Fire Company, immediately responded. A park diver located and recovered the man's body at 2:50 p.m. He was found in approximately 17 feet of water. He was pronounced dead by the Pike County coroner. Adams Creek is a small tributary of the Delaware River. A hiking trail follows the creek from a trailhead off US Route 209 through a hemlock gorge to a series of waterfalls. The area where the drowning occurred was approximately two miles from the trailhead. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS.
Statue of Liberty NM - America got a special present for its birthday on July 4th when the Statue of Liberty's crown was reopened to the public. The first visitors to the crown came from near and far -- as close as New York City and as far as Denmark, India, Australia and Japan, among many other countries.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7892" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7892
Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7893" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7893
NPS Law Enforcement Training Center - The 2009 revised version of the field training and evaluation program (FTEP) manual has been released and is now available on line. The revised version replaces the current manual, effective July 1st.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7895" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7895
National Parks of New York Harbor - David Luchsinger has been selected as the new superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Luchsinger will also be responsible for Ellis Island. He succeeds Cynthia Garrett, who recently retired.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2403" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2403
Northeast Region - Peter Samuel has been selected as national heritage area programs coordinator for Northeast Region. In his position, he will provide information and assistance to 21 of the 49 national heritage areas in the nation. Photo.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2404" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2404
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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