Today I saw the reports on 2 emergencies that highlight the importance of knowing CPR and First Aid and being willing to help. Sometimes emergency services can be delayed or sometimes they can use the help of people on scene. These incidents highlight how helpful and important each of us is to help when needed.
Injured hiker on South Moat Trail. This is the official media release from New Hampshire Fish and Game.
I belong to several online hiking groups and saw a post from someone who was there and assisted from the start to the end of the rescue. I won’t share the entire post, but the part important to this post is this:
“Not having experienced something like this, we wanted to see it through until the end, so we assisted with the transport litter on the carry-out. It amazed me how right on spot they were with their projected timing, the coordination of officers and volunteers coming from all over, and the cooperation handling the load and hazards over boulders, through narrow tree gaps, and steep inclines.”
Lakes Region Search and Rescue, Fish and Game officers, and hikers in the area all helped to carry this injured hiker to the trailhead and safety. The initial actions by the hikers nearby helped to keep the injured person safe and stable. This was not 1 or 2 rescuers, this was a team comprised of trained responders and volunteers on the spot.
Medical Emergency with a surfer at Jenness Beach in Rye, NH. This is the news story from WMUR Channel 9.
What I learned today was that the surfing community started to bring the injured surfer in and alerted lifeguards who called for help and continued the rescue. Not only did the lifeguards do CPR, surfers and beachgoers assisted, helped bring equipment from the ambulance, and assisted the EMS crew on scene. The injured surfer was awake and talking when the ambulance began their transport.
What both these emergencies highlight is that anyone can help in an emergency. It can be making a shelter, assisting carrying a rescue litter, bringing equipment down on the beach or to where emergency responders need it, clearing the scene for movement of equipment or a patient, and helping emergency responders do their job more effectively.
Each of us has the ability to help in some way when someone needs it. We’re thankful for all the responders and volunteers that helped in these 2 examples. But we all know that there are emergencies that happen daily and hourly, and knowing what to do and being willing to help, even in a small way, is key in saving lives.
