Sunday, June 21, 2009

Back Country Rescues


The following is a report received from Timberlake Fire District, along with the photos that they provided:

"At 7:07 PM on Saturday, June 20, 2009, the Timberlake Fire Protection District and a Paramedic from North Lakes Fire Protection District responded to a UTV accident on Forest Service Road 2708A, approximately 5 miles from the Bunco Parking Lot. The patient was not wearing a helmet - we encourage all ATV/UTV operators to wear a helmet and other protective equipment. Medstar was launched to the Bunco Parking Lot. Kootenai County Sheriff Deputies secured the landing zone.

Responders accessed the patient with a UTV owned by the patient's friend and the fire district suburban. The road was not suitable for the ambulance. The patient was packaged, stabilized, and transported to the helicopter via the suburban. The fire district does not have access or own an ATV or UTV, but desperately needs one for these types of incidents, which are becoming more frequent. The Medstar helicopter transported the patient at 8:51 PM to Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene."

This marks the third rescue in the last month involving Lakeview and/or the surrounding back country. Access on the roads in that area are primitive at best and impassable at worst. It would appear vital that the Fire Commissioners find a way to equip the department with off-road capability.

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