NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, June 20, 2013
INCIDENTS
Rocky Mountain NP
Ailing Firefighter Saved Through Rapid EMS Response
Early on the morning of Sunday, June 16th, a firefighter walking with his crew from a field spike camp to the fire line on the Big Meadows Fire collapsed due to sudden cardiac arrest. Prompt action by the firefighter's crew in administering CPR and the rapid response of fire line paramedics who arrived minutes later contributed to the successful resuscitation of 51-year-old Luther E. Larkin, a senior crew member of the Horseshoe Meadow Type I Interagency Hotshots based in Sequoia National Forest in California. An AED was used onsite to resuscitate him. The presence of an AED and the availability of advanced medical care on the fire line were critical to reviving him and obtaining a pulse. Fellow crewmembers then transported Larkin to the nearest helispot just as the requested medevac helicopter arrived on scene. He was then transferred to the medical flight crew and taken to a cardiac care hospital in Denver. Prompt ordering of the emergency medical helicopter by Rocky Mountain National Park dispatch and placing it in aerial standby were critical to the successful outcome of this life-threatening event, helping to facilitate a faster transport to a cardiac care facility. Early in response to the Big Meadows Fire, Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A, in coordination with Rocky Mountain National Park officials, began extensive preparation for any emergency response. Protocols established since the death of Andrew Palmer were instrumental in the success of this outcome. In 2008, 18-year-old firefighter Andrew “Andy” Palmer was struck by a falling tree while on the Iron Complex Fire in northern California. He died during a medevac flight while en route to a local hospital. After his death, protocols were put in place to prevent similar loss of life in the already dangerous environment in which wildland firefighters work. These protocols were implemented during the team's assignment to the Big Meadows Fire. [Bill Kight and Clark McCreedy, Fire Information Officers, and Kyle Patterson, Park Information Officer]
Grand Teton NP
Injured Climber Rescued After Fall On Grand Teton
Rangers responded to a report of a 57-year-old climber with an injury near Black Rock Chimney on the Grand Teton on the morning of June 17th. J.W. of Jackson, Wyoming, was leading a client on a guided trip of the mountain for an authorized park concessioner when the snow that he was standing on collapsed, causing him to take a short fall. During that fall, J.W. caught a crampon on the ice and sustained an injury. J.W. was able to get himself and his client through technical terrain from Black Rock Chimney to just above the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton. This effort involved descending across rock, ice and snow and required multiple rappels. Rangers commend J.W. for self-rescuing with his client to the extent that he did. Rangers assessed several factors relevant to a ground-based evacuation via rescue litter, including terrain conditions, distance to the trailhead, and the potential for injury to rescuer, and decided to have J.W. flown to the valley floor via helicopter. The aerial evacuation meant that fewer rescuers spent less time in precarious conditions. To conduct the aerial evacuation, rangers requested a ship from Yellowstone National Park because neither of the two Teton Interagency contract helicopters was available for the rescue operation. After the contract ship landed at Lupine Meadows, J.W. transported himself to medical care in Jackson, Wyoming. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
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/):
Olympic NP - This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Olympic National Park and the National Park Service is inviting park visitors and neighbors to join in remembering and celebrating the park's first 75 years.
National Capital Region - On Friday, June14th, the first class of 22 participants graduated from National Capital Region's midlevel management leadership development program.
Technical Preservation Services - Technical Preservation Services has launched new web-based guidance on the use of green roofs on historic buildings, including basic information on green roofs and special considerations for their installation on historic structures.
Intermountain Region - On Friday, June 7th, the Intermountain Incident Management Team completed five days of incident management training.
Northeast Region - On June 29th, Linda Canzanelli, a 35-year veteran of the National Park Service, will retire from her position as superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area.
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The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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