CLOSE CALL IN ENTRANCE RAPID
Youghighenny River near Ohiopyle, PA.
By Paul E. Kammer
On Sunday, August 5, 1990 four or five small groups of Three Rivers Paddling Club boaters were making their way through Entrance Rapid. One of these groups had eddied out above Bryson's Hole on river right. As they continued downstream, a boater flipped, failed to roll up, and swam. Four of five boaters quickly responded to assist the swimmer, several from her group and several from other groups.
Another boater from the same group flipped just below Bryson's Hole shortly after the first boater swam. This person "hung in" and made numerous attempts to roll. Several boaters who had moved to assist the swimmer noticed the boater attempting to roll at the bottom of Entrance (towards river left normal route). The boater finally hit a roll, only to go completely over. In the distance the upside-down boat was observed to raise up. Either the boater was "kicking out" of the boat or the boat had hit a rock. Two boaters gave chase.
When assistance arrived, the boater was still in his upside down boat. The spray skirt was still attached to the boat. The buoyancy of the life-vest was pushing the victims back against the rear deck of the boat, with his face exposed. The boat was righted by the first rescuer still in his boat. The victim was limp, his face and lips had a blue-gray color to them and he was not breathing. An immediate attempt was made to give mouth to mouth resuscitation while the rescuer was still in his boat. This proved difficult, so the rescuer did a wet exit and proceeded to again right the victim's boat with him in it. A second boater had arrived and a third boater from another group came up to lend assistance. "Get him to shore." "No, we need mouth to mouth NOW!" With the rescuers standing in waist deep water and the victim still in the boat, his helmet was removed and two breaths administered. Pressing hard, a "weak" pulse was detected. Mouth-to-mouth was continued for a short time (10 - 12 breaths?) and the victim began to breathe on his own.
A fourth boater arrived and sent two hikers who were standing at the base of the Cucumber Falls trail for help; the first rescuer told them "Get help - we have a near-drowning, victim breathing but unconscious."
Concerned about the possibility of losing the pulse and having to do chest compressions, the rescuers pushed the victim's boat, with him in it, the 10 or 15 feet to shore. The victim was then removed from his boat.
Some of the rescuers' companions arrived, and a commercial raft pulled in to assist. The State Park has provided the raft companies with radios. This boat did not have a radio, but when asked by the rescuers to radio for help, he promised to pass the word on to the next raft with a radio.
The rescuers continued to monitor the victim's pulse, which was present but still weak. After approximately 5 - 7 more minutes it became stronger and the victim regained consciousness. The victim was asked his name, if he knew where he was, etc. A "gung-ho" boater he replied that he'd be ready to head down river in a couple of minutes. "No way! You need to go to a hospital to get checked out."
A Park Ranger with a radio, accompanied by a paramedic, arrived on the scene shortly and assessed the situation. From the accident site the ranger was in radio contact with the ambulance. The ambulance crew arrived, took vital signs, placed the victim on oxygen and placed on I.V. line. A cervical collar was fitted to the victim and he was secured on a backboard. He was then carried out in a litter up the Cucumber Falls trial to the waiting ambulance.
The accident occurred at about 10:20 AM, and the victim departed for the hospital via ambulance at 12:50 PM.
ANALYSIS:
1.The opinions and comments are the author's. They were reached after interviewing the victim the following night, discussing the incident with those who also lent assistance, and talking with some of the members of the victim's group.
2.A PLEA - CPR training saved this boater's life. It's a skill you hope you never have to use, but it could be the difference between life and death! Please consider becoming trained! This can be accomplished in one night only, four hours of your time!
3.INITIAL 1st AID BOATER RESPONSE - The group administered mouth-to-mouth as soon as possible. They didn't waste time getting the victim out of the boat and to shore. Fortunately, the victim had a pulse. Had the group waited to start mouth-to-mouth on shore the victim might have gone into cardiac arrest, lessening the chance of survival.
4.SUGGESTION - If you're involved in a near-drowning, INSIST that the victim go to a hospital. The victim may tell you he/she feels fine and doesn't need to go to a hospital etc. Politely but very firmly explain there are serious complications that could occur in a near drowning, tell the victim that you're concerned about pulmonary edema ... tell the victim anything but convince him that despite feeling fine, he must go to a hospital to be checked out by a physician. Several physician members of TRPC have stated emphatically that, because of potential delayed complications of near-drowning such as lung and brain edema, all near-drowning victims should be hospitalized for at least 24 hours observation.
5.PARK RESPONSE - Ohiopyle State Park people were quick to respond and acted in a professional and helpful manner in the evacuation.
6.EMERGENCY CARE AND EVACUATION - The unit from Hopwood Ambulance that responded was good. Vital signs were taken and the victim was quickly placed on oxygen and an I.V. solution. The possibility that the victim might have floated over rocks, sustaining a neck or back injury, led to the use of a cervical collar and back-board with the Stokes litter to evacuate the victim.
7.VICTIM - The victim had run the loop the previous day with the same group. He was characterized as a class III boater with a good roll. In Cucumber he was observed executing a solid and quick white-water roll. The river level on the day of the incident was 2.1. The victim was boating within his skill level.
