Accident at Muir Today (Tues., Oct. 19 2010)

[weber]

Will anyone who has facts about the climbing accident that occurred this afternoon in Muir Valley, please call Rick Weber at 317-291-0354 or send a PM. Liz and I were away today and were not there to respond. It is very important that we receive this information. Thank you.

[weber]

Although we don't have all the facts yet, it appears that a climber who was lounging on a boulder under a climb at the Solarium was struck in the head and shoulder by a rock that had been dislodged by a climber above on an overhanging route. The injured party was given first aid treatment and delivered to an ambulance outside the Valley. The injured party's condition is not known at this time. If he/she elects to contact us with permission to disclose details, we will do so. Otherwise it is private information protected by HIPAA.

It was very fortunate that a physician was at the scene climbing and also had a vehicle at that location with which to transport the party to an ambulance.

An important point to make here is - once again, the Wolfe County 911 Dispatcher failed to direct an ambulance and rescue team to an accident in Muir Valley. The County Judge and Dispatch staff have, on four different occasions been given instructions, personally by me, on how to get to the climbing areas in Wolfe County and they have been given a copy of Ray's guidebook. Yet these folks don't have a clue where Muir Valley is (or that it brings the county desperately-needed income from 18,000 visitors this year.) Nor do they seem to care.

If you have an accident in Muir Valley, here are some important reminders:
1. Always try to call 911 first. Miracles do happen and you might get a dispatcher who has the intelligence to send EMS and SAR to the correct location.
2. Try to contact the Webers. We are not always there, so this is not a guarantee. But, if we are there we can expedite first aid treatment, a rescue, and transport. Open one of the six emergency tubes located at strategic points throughout the Valley and call on the enclosed FRS radio. If no answer, refer to the enclosed laminated instructions that will explain how to get help.
3. Realize that Wolfe Co. EMS WILL NOT leave the ambulance to go pick up an injured person back on a trail in Muir or any other place in Wolfe Co. They are neither willing nor physically able to hike an approach trail to access an injured person. They also do not have a litter with which to safely transport an injured person back to the ambulance. We have a full compliment of tech rescue gear at Muir, including a litter and spine board, available on a moment's notice, but ONLY when we are there!
4. The Wolfe Co. EMS can bring an ambulance down into the valley on our emergency road, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. Yesterday, we understand they indicated they could not do so, and the injured person had to be driven up to Rogers School to meet them. I will check with Wolfe Co. EMS today and see what their current policy is. As many of you know, the emergency road has just undergone significant improvement and can accommodate a box ambulance and the SAR truck.
5. The Wolfe Co. Search and Rescue Team DOES have a litter and will access, treat, and transport, via litter, a patient out to a tarmac where an ambulance can take over. If you get hold of a live one in 911 Dispatch, ask for an ambulance AND the SAR Team. You'll need both.

Any reasonable questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Remember, it is your responsibility as a climber to be prepared in the event of an accident. Get beta on exactly what is available to you in the way of emergency services in the area in which you are climbing.

Rick

[Clevis Hitch]

they can spend two months working to dig you out of a mine in Chile' but they can't pick you up off of a road in Wolfe County! Awesome.

[dustonian]

Thanks for the info Rick. In this case, as best I understand it, the decision was made that it would be faster and more definitive to meet the EMS folks at a well-defined location. The fact remains that most local emergency personnel are highly uncertain when it comes to finding specific locations within MV (or PMRP or wherever) while they know specific locations outside on specific county roads quite well. The possibility of a mix-up and unnecessary lost time is fairly significant. And as you mentioned, if and when they get to the crag they don't have a litter and won't bring the victim down to the vehicle anyway. The crux is really getting the guy from the crag to the dirt road... in this case, he was communicative and appeared reasonably able to walk out with a little assistance from two extremely helpful volunteers.

I'd also like to add that laying directly beneath climbers on soft sandstone--or any type of rock for that matter--is a bad habit and should be strongly discouraged... adults, kids, dogs, whatever.

Finally, is there anyway to have a litter available Tuesday through Thursday? I understand that theft is a concern, but maybe a designated "cache" spot someplace not completely in the open? Or if this seems too insecure perhaps a padlock with key or combo in the PVC pipes? Just throwing out some ideas here, feel free to reject them.

[Shamis]

Maybe you could designate ambulance pickup points in muir valley, and then just give them directions to that?

For instance, you could put up 3-4 signs along the road, that say, Emergency Pickup #1, #2, #3, #4 etc.

Then just tell the ambulances to drive down into muir valley and stop at emergency pickup #x.

[mike_a_lafontaine]

Finally, is there anyway to have a litter available Tuesday through Thursday? I understand that theft is a concern, but maybe a designated "cache" spot someplace not completely in the open? Or if this seems too insecure perhaps a padlock with key or combo in the PVC pipes? Just throwing out some ideas here, feel free to reject them.

While that is a nice idea, I think there are just too many inconsiderate jerks in the world for that to work. Somebody WILL abuse that set up. If someone could gain access to a simple padlock combo in the pipes to get at a shed with something as valuable as a litter only to vandalize or steal it, then eventually they will. If the litter and rescue equipment were public domain, that's one thing, but this is Rick and Liz's personal property, and I think it is far too much to ask for them to put that out there.

[woodchuck008]

they can spend two months working to dig you out of a mine in Chile' but they can't pick you up off of a road in Wolfe County! Awesome.

This is sadly so true. +1

[weber]

Excellent suggestion that would work in most areas of the country.

However, in Wolfe County, Kentucky, the 911 Dispatchers (and almost all of the residents) don't have a clue where Muir Valley is located, even though the annual visitor days number three times the total population (7000) of the county! So, to suggest these folks go a step farther and become aware of pickup points is not realistic. I've provided them with maps and info on four previous occasions and will do so again tomorrow. Great idea, but just not here.

Rick

Maybe you could designate ambulance pickup points in muir valley, and then just give them directions to that?

For instance, you could put up 3-4 signs along the road, that say, Emergency Pickup #1, #2, #3, #4 etc.

Then just tell the ambulances to drive down into muir valley and stop at emergency pickup #x.

[weber]

Finally, is there anyway to have a litter available Tuesday through Thursday? I understand that theft is a concern, but maybe a designated "cache" spot someplace not completely in the open? Or if this seems too insecure perhaps a padlock with key or combo in the PVC pipes? Just throwing out some ideas here, feel free to reject them.

While that is a nice idea, I think there are just too many inconsiderate jerks in the world for that to work. Somebody WILL abuse that set up. If someone could gain access to a simple padlock combo in the pipes to get at a shed with something as valuable as a litter only to vandalize or steal it, then eventually they will. If the litter and rescue equipment were public domain, that's one thing, but this is Rick and Liz's personal property, and I think it is far too much to ask for them to put that out there.

If and when Liz and I are here, which is most of the time, as soon as we are made aware of an accident, we will have the litter, spineboard, and first aid supplies on scene asap. If we are not here or unavailable, when you call 911, tell them to dispatch the Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team, which also has a litter and gear. The Team DOES know where Muir is and has a detailed map of this area.

Rick