| |
| First Water Trailhead, AZ | | -
| 2 labels |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
1 |
-
| 1 label |  |
|
2 |
|
| | First Water Trailhead, AZ | | | |
|
|
First Water Trailhead, AZ
| | |
|
| Hiking | 2.00 Miles |
100 AEG |
| | Hiking | 2.00 Miles | 7 Hrs | | 0.29 mph |
| 100 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Injured Hiker at First Water Trailhead
While working at the First Water TH on a very busy Sunday morning, I was alerted by some frantic hikers that a woman hiker had fallen between some boulders and had a compound fracture of her arm. The incident occurred East of Parker Pass on the Dutchman's Trail, about 3-1/2 miles from the Trailhead. The woman was severely injured and on the verge of slipping in and out of shock. The hikers had run most of the distance to alert us of the injured hiker.
With minimal to no cell phone service at the trailhead, I drove to Lost Dutchman State Park to place a call to 911 on their land line while Dean, another volunteer, grabbed some first aid supplies and headed out to the scene of the accident. Shortly after I returned to the trailhead, a Mericopa Search and Rescue vehicle pulled into the parking lot where we exchanged what information I knew. The Sheriff's Deputy then issued the necessary calls for aid including Apache Junction Fire and Rescue, Ambulance, Pinal County Search and Rescue and air evacuation.
We continued to monitor information from returning hikers and found out that the injured hiker was walking with the aid of her friends, back to the trailhead. So I geared up and went down the trail to meet them to see if I could assist. I met them a short distance in and they were insistent about continuing back to the trailhead.
As we arrived at the trailhead, the ambulance was still enroute. About two hours had now passed since the accident had occurred. The woman was in a great amount of pain although the arm had been stabilized, wrapped and secured using her hiking poles tied to the injured arm to immobilize it. When the ambulance arrived the Paramedics quickly took control of the situation and got her inside the ambulance where they could begin treating the injury and once the medications were taking effect would they drive down the rough First Water Road and take her to the hospital.
The details of this event are only meant to convey the message that if something should happen while hiking within the Wilderness Areas, be prepared to stay put. Get a message back to the trailhead or the closest telephone where help can be notified. It is important to know the details of the incident including GPS coordinates, how serious is the injury, age and condition of the injured person and accessibility to the immediate area.
The time from initial injury to transport by ambulance was close to three hours, this includes the time it took to get the message out of the area to the trailhead then notify rescue and get personnel and vehicles at the scene. If you are injured, try to remain calm (easier said than done), evaluate your condition and if you are in doubt about your ability to hike out, don't risk further injury and seek help.
I should further mention that the injured hiker is a seasoned hiker who is familiar with the Superstitions and is one tough person to have made the hike back while enduring such great pain. |
| _____________________
| On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip. |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
