Djouce Rescue (17/06/12)
Woman airlifted to safety after third attempt
A group of Girl Guide leaders were forced to call on the Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and the Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue team this afternoon after one of their group collapsed on a hike near Djouce mountain.
The lady, who was in her forties, was experiencing a variety of symptoms including chest pain and was unable to continue her walk. A concerned group quickly formed around the lady and a mountain rescue volunteer who was out hiking with some friends noticed them in the distance. Realising something was wrong, he quickly made his way to the scene. The rescuer, who is a experienced advanced paramedic, provided initial care to the woman and used his mobile phone to request the assistance of his Mountain Rescue colleagues. He continued to care for the lady as more rescuers arrived at the location.
Since the lady’s condition required immediate hospital care the Mountain Rescue volunteers sought the assistance of the Coastguard helicopter. Visibility was very poor at the location and the helicopter made two failed attempts to airlift the lady before being forced to return to Dublin Airport to refuel. As conditions deteriorated the rescuers realised that the chances of a successful airlift at their location were poor. They made the decision to carry the lady lower down the hill so that they would be below the cloud level. This would allow the helicopter to airlift the woman from the hill and ensure she got to hospital quickly. The teams continued to provide medical treatment throughout the stretcher carry.
The helicopter arrived back on the mountain-side approximately 40 minutes later and was able to successfully lift the woman from the new location and bring her to hospital.
This was the second callout for the teams in two days – on Saturday a nurse who was out walking on the Spinc in Glendalough sustained a head injury after falling from the boardwalk. Her colleagues, who were also nurses, treated her on the scene and helped her to walk to a waiting Mountain Rescue vehicle. She received further treatment from the Mountain Rescue volunteers and was transported to a waiting ambulance.
We would like to thank all agencies involved in these incidents
The lady, who was in her forties, was experiencing a variety of symptoms including chest pain and was unable to continue her walk. A concerned group quickly formed around the lady and a mountain rescue volunteer who was out hiking with some friends noticed them in the distance. Realising something was wrong, he quickly made his way to the scene. The rescuer, who is a experienced advanced paramedic, provided initial care to the woman and used his mobile phone to request the assistance of his Mountain Rescue colleagues. He continued to care for the lady as more rescuers arrived at the location.
Since the lady’s condition required immediate hospital care the Mountain Rescue volunteers sought the assistance of the Coastguard helicopter. Visibility was very poor at the location and the helicopter made two failed attempts to airlift the lady before being forced to return to Dublin Airport to refuel. As conditions deteriorated the rescuers realised that the chances of a successful airlift at their location were poor. They made the decision to carry the lady lower down the hill so that they would be below the cloud level. This would allow the helicopter to airlift the woman from the hill and ensure she got to hospital quickly. The teams continued to provide medical treatment throughout the stretcher carry.
The helicopter arrived back on the mountain-side approximately 40 minutes later and was able to successfully lift the woman from the new location and bring her to hospital.
This was the second callout for the teams in two days – on Saturday a nurse who was out walking on the Spinc in Glendalough sustained a head injury after falling from the boardwalk. Her colleagues, who were also nurses, treated her on the scene and helped her to walk to a waiting Mountain Rescue vehicle. She received further treatment from the Mountain Rescue volunteers and was transported to a waiting ambulance.
We would like to thank all agencies involved in these incidents
