Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Another Air Evacuation
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ducks |
Thank you for letting us know how everything turned out. I will make sure I don't forget my PLB when my 13 yo duckling and I head out on our daddy/daughter trip this week. Did you use the Garmin Inreach to communicate back and forth w SAR? Did you use it to let Rockwood know and that was how they met them at the Lizz portage with the boat? Were you able to let people at home know what was going on throughout? Sorry for all the questions... I'm curious because I've been thinking about getting an Inreach when the battery life runs out on my PLB and this story has pretty much made that decision for me now. On Thursday I'm going to give Carl and Mike a big high five and "way to go" when we stay in the bunkhouse at Rockwood. |
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boonie |
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missmolly |
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campcrafter |
Read a boy hit his head in the boreal.org article. Appreciate you sharing additional details. Glad your stepson is doing well and hope they find the cause for the seizure. I know how scary that can be and can only imagine how frightening it must have been to have happened the first time out in the bush. All the best to you and yours. Blue Skies! cc |
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andym |
We’ve carried a PLB for a while now and just got an Inreach. I’m glad it worked for you. |
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HangLoose |
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scramble4a5 |
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Northwoodsman |
It sounds like a happy ending. One of several incidents this week where a satellite device not only came in handy, but may have saved lives. |
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MN_Lindsey |
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LindenTree3 |
I'm so glad things worked out, I have been on two Grand Mal Seizure's while they were happening. One like your situation, was the first one for this fellow. Having been a emergency responder for 29 years and launching the Search and Rescue recently, I kinda know waht you were going through, but it is always different when it is a family member. Good luck and thanks for sharing. |
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TipsyPaddler |
ducks: "Did you use the Garmin Inreach to communicate back and forth w SAR? Did you use it to let Rockwood know and that was how they met them at the Lizz portage with the boat? Were you able to let people at home know what was going on throughout? Sorry for all the questions... I'm curious because I've been thinking about getting an Inreach when the battery life runs out on my PLB and this story has pretty much made that decision for me now. I could not communicate directly with the local SAR team as everything from the Garmin InReach is routed through the IERCC but they played intermediary and kept all parties updated with ETAs and patient status. I did not contact Rockwood via the InReach but I could have if I had the forethought to add their phone and email to my contact list (d’uh...face palm!). I had my mobile phone as well and called them from the Grand Marais ER once I had my stepson in good hands and had cell service. My buddy and I used the time waiting for the plane to make sure the “right guy” had the phone, car keys, etc. and coordinate things as extraction plan details got clearer. Carl at Rockwood was awesome ...I told him want was going on and all he said was basically “Got it, on my way!” His timing according to my buddy was Hollywood blockbuster perfect with the motor boat entering the bay just as he set down the last pack and canoe at the end of the Poplar-Lizz portage. I could text with my wife as well. I had been sending her and the other moms/wives “just checking in” preset messages every 12-14 hours all trip which was great. Unfortunately the call from the IERCC totally freaked her out. They pumped her for details she didn’t have (e.g. what color was our canoe?) and couldn’t tell her any details about who was hurt, status, etc. I had decided not to text her until I had more details on our son’s status and the extraction plan but in hindsight I should have sent her a quick text right after hitting the SOS button. I spaced that she would be their first call (or right after calling the local Emergency Response Team.) That is probably my only regret on that afternoon as she had an unnecessarily extra stressful hour or so by me not texting her right away. Let me know what it would take to upgrade the high five for Carl and team at Rockwood to a big hug! |
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Canoearoo |
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ducks |
TipsyPaddler: " Nothing! You got it!!!!! I think they deserve some cold beer also :) I'm trying to figure out what kind of beer he likes and I'll bring him some from the brewery in our town. He posted a pic of a meal at the Trail Center recently on his facebook page, but the beer can is turned so I can tell what kind it is. Otherwise I'll flip a coin and hope he likes it. Thank you for the additional info. You did an amazing job of coordinating, keeping calm, and getting things done to help him though a very scary situation. This all helps us be prepared for an emergency situation. |
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andym |
It’s good to know that the rescue center did a good job of being intermediary. I had thought of adding the local rescue folks to my contacts, I would carry those numbers with a sat phone, but texting them separately might confuse things and make them think there is a second incident. |
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ellahallely |
I hope for the best. |
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Mashuga |
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bfurlow |
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HangLoose |
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Savage Voyageur |
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TipsyPaddler |
I am incredibly thankful for: * The US Forestry Service and Cook County Emergency Response Team had my son and I moved from Gaskin to Grand Marais ER in 3 hours after I hit the SOS button on my Garmin Inreach * At least 4 different people helped the other two members on our party get the two canoes and packs from Gaskin to the Poplar-Liz Portage at the four portages they had to cross on the paddle out * The owners of Rockwood Lodge & Outfitters who met them at the Poplar-Liz portage with a motor boat to get them across Poplar safe and fast * My wife for getting me a Garmin Inreach for Christmas. I didn’t expect to test its full functionality on the first trip of the season! I will never cross a BWCA EP without one. So we had to leave 24 hours earlier than planned and had a scary 6-8 hours Friday but between good preparedness, great people and some luck on where/when the seizure happened it all worked out very well in the end. |
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4keys |
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WhiteWolf |
Thanks for sharing. |
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Rockwood |
It was our pleasure, the good news is that Cooper is doing well and he'll be back in the BWCAW soon. Ducks, Grainbelt Premium is the beer of choice, but my second favorite is whatever brewery is in your town. Ummmmm beer. Since Poplar isn't a huge lake we don't have proper tow boats set up at Rockwood, but after this excursion it might be good to get a rack built for our boat - you never know! BTW, Rockwood rents Garmin inReach, we have two! See you soon! |
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ducks |
See you Thursday |
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BWPaddler |
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