Volunteer Fire Department of Big Elk

THE DEPARTMENT HAD 5 SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSIONS WHICH IS MORE THAN NORMAL. PEOPLE NEEDING RESCUE VARIES: THEY ROLLED THEIR UTV AND HAD SERIOUS INJURIES; SLIPPED AND FELL 8 FEET AND INJURED THEIR BACK; A SPRAINED ANKLE; A HIKER LOST BECAUSE HE DIDN'T STAY WITH THE GROUP; A FEMALE WAS TOSSED FROM HER HORSE DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT INTO A STREAM AND THE HORSE HAD THE GROUND GIVE WAY AND FELL DOWN THE EMBANKMENT LANDING ON TOP OF THE FEMALE. SHE HAD CRITICAL INJURIES. INCLUDED COSTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR ATV AND UTV WHICH HELP TAKE OUR VOLUNTEERS INTO THE FOREST AREA WHERE MOST OF THESE EVENTS OCCUR. IT'S FASTER AND ALSO SOMETIMES THE PATIENT CAN BE BROUGHT TO AN AREA WHERE AN AMBULANCE CAN RECEIVE THE PATIENT. TRAINING FOR SUCH EVENTS IS REALLY HANDS-ON. VOLUNTEERS WHO DO THIS WORK ARE TOLD TO BE PREPARED FOR A 24 HOUR COMMITTMENT AND BE PREPARED TO HIKE IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER AND TO HELP TRANSPORT THE PATIENT OUT. HAVE 4 TO 8 VOLUNTEERS TRAINED.

VOLUNTEERS WERE TRAINED FOR 24 HOUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALLS THAT WERE MOSTLY TO HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT OF PINEWOOD SPRINGS FPD WITH WHOM WE HAVE A MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT. PLUS THERE WERE AN ADDITIONAL 25 CALLS FOR MOTOR OR MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS ON EITHER LARIMER COUNTY ROAD 47 (WHICH COMES INTO BIG ELK MEADOWS) OR ON HIGHWAY 36 (NORTH ST. VRAIN). FIVE NEW VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED THE BASIC "EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE" CLASS. THE MEDICAL TEAM MEETS MONTHLY TO DISCUSS PAST INCIDENCES AND PRACTICE OUR SKILLS.