KE7GVL
09-09-2010, 11:03 PM
Hello All, this is a brief account of a situation I was in a few weeks ago - I was glad to help out!!! I always carry my radio!!!
A Ham Radio Rescue
By Anne Blankenship, KC7RAG
It was Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 - Here is a rough draft of an even rougher log of the event:
ll:00 a.m. (actually more like 10:56 - my watch is fast) KE7GVL called for anyone listening who could
help with an emergency.
KE7IJU (Aaron Hadley, North Salt Lake) answered and asked what was the nature of the emergency.
KE7GVL: (Verle Skidmore, Clearfield) - we have a female who is in and out of consciousness - she is at the
base of the falls but did not fall. We are going to need help to get her out.
KE7IJU: what is your location? Which waterfall?
KE7GVL: We are at the base of the falls up Adams Canyon. The fainting may be caused by a low sugal level,
but the patient is not diabetic.
(While KE7IJU was calling 911, Lou Little, W7JOF came on and asked if low blood sugar was suspected did
they have hard candy they could give the patient and did they have water?
The answer was yes to both questions.)
(K7PDW who had not heard the initial contact came on
to warn that the 911 access would time out on the radio.
KC7RAF (Hall Blannkenship, North Salt Lake) came on
to explain that the contact was being relayed and was not
on the radio direct.)
KE7IJU: I have dispatch on the line, the dispatcher is not
familiar with Adams Canyon can you give a better
location?
KE7GVL: Adams Canyon is East of Layton Surf and
Swim water tower on Hwy. 89.
911 (relayed): What age is the patient? (Ans. 50-55)
Is the patient alone? (Ans. There are people with her
her daughter and her husband.) Do not give the patient
anything to eat or drink as there is a possibility of
choking if she loses consciousness. (Ans. Will relay the
instructions.)
11:10 Dispatch reported (by relay) that there were two
paramedic deputies at the trailhead and asked about the
distance to the falls.
KE7GVL Reported the distance was three miles and
reiterated that a litter or some means of transport was
likely to be necessary. Dispatch reported that the deputies
had been considering what equipment to bring and that
they were now headed up the trail.
KE7GVL then asked if dispatch needed any further
information. If not, he would climb down off the rock he
had climbed to get a good path to the repeater, but would
remain on scene to relay any further traffic as needed.
KE7IJU likewise promised to monitor in case of further
need.
11:15 traffic completed.
I went on QRZ to look up the operators. KE7GVL, the
hiker, was listed as Verle Skidmore, of Clearfield.
KE7IJU was shown as Aaron Hadley, of North Salt
Lake, with the bio as quoted below.
We later heard that the patient was airlifted out
about an hour later. Condition unknown, but
presumably a satisfactory resolution to the emergency.
Hope this helps. I did not copy everything verbatim,
but hopefully the gist of it is there. Conversations
were clear, concise, and dealt with only the necessary
information. Impressive! Kudos to both!
A Ham Radio Rescue
By Anne Blankenship, KC7RAG
It was Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 - Here is a rough draft of an even rougher log of the event:
ll:00 a.m. (actually more like 10:56 - my watch is fast) KE7GVL called for anyone listening who could
help with an emergency.
KE7IJU (Aaron Hadley, North Salt Lake) answered and asked what was the nature of the emergency.
KE7GVL: (Verle Skidmore, Clearfield) - we have a female who is in and out of consciousness - she is at the
base of the falls but did not fall. We are going to need help to get her out.
KE7IJU: what is your location? Which waterfall?
KE7GVL: We are at the base of the falls up Adams Canyon. The fainting may be caused by a low sugal level,
but the patient is not diabetic.
(While KE7IJU was calling 911, Lou Little, W7JOF came on and asked if low blood sugar was suspected did
they have hard candy they could give the patient and did they have water?
The answer was yes to both questions.)
(K7PDW who had not heard the initial contact came on
to warn that the 911 access would time out on the radio.
KC7RAF (Hall Blannkenship, North Salt Lake) came on
to explain that the contact was being relayed and was not
on the radio direct.)
KE7IJU: I have dispatch on the line, the dispatcher is not
familiar with Adams Canyon can you give a better
location?
KE7GVL: Adams Canyon is East of Layton Surf and
Swim water tower on Hwy. 89.
911 (relayed): What age is the patient? (Ans. 50-55)
Is the patient alone? (Ans. There are people with her
her daughter and her husband.) Do not give the patient
anything to eat or drink as there is a possibility of
choking if she loses consciousness. (Ans. Will relay the
instructions.)
11:10 Dispatch reported (by relay) that there were two
paramedic deputies at the trailhead and asked about the
distance to the falls.
KE7GVL Reported the distance was three miles and
reiterated that a litter or some means of transport was
likely to be necessary. Dispatch reported that the deputies
had been considering what equipment to bring and that
they were now headed up the trail.
KE7GVL then asked if dispatch needed any further
information. If not, he would climb down off the rock he
had climbed to get a good path to the repeater, but would
remain on scene to relay any further traffic as needed.
KE7IJU likewise promised to monitor in case of further
need.
11:15 traffic completed.
I went on QRZ to look up the operators. KE7GVL, the
hiker, was listed as Verle Skidmore, of Clearfield.
KE7IJU was shown as Aaron Hadley, of North Salt
Lake, with the bio as quoted below.
We later heard that the patient was airlifted out
about an hour later. Condition unknown, but
presumably a satisfactory resolution to the emergency.
Hope this helps. I did not copy everything verbatim,
but hopefully the gist of it is there. Conversations
were clear, concise, and dealt with only the necessary
information. Impressive! Kudos to both!