BADGER MOUNTAIN PRE-PLAN

WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON

For the past six months, RFD has worked with Benton County Parks/Rec, Friends of Badger Mountain, and BCFD#1

Looking for ways to improve our EMS and fire response to the mountain

Popularity is Soaring!

Estimated that over 170,000 people climbed mountain in 2012

Increase of 50,000 from 2011

Impact to Fire/EMS

Increase in calls for service 6 calls in 2012 1 working code in

2010, in addition to other calls

Potential for increase in call volume

Problems Identified(Access)

Service Road is accessible by ambulance

Many of the trails, however, are not

4x4 vehicle needed

Problems Identified(Manpower)

Takes several hands to carry someone off trail

Due to accessibility, fatigue will happen quickly

Do current run cards account for this?

NO!

Types of Calls

Chest pain Shortness of breath Slips, Trips, Falls Heat/Cold Injuries Bicycle Wrecks Dog Bites Snake Bites Anaphylactic Reaction Diabetic Other Medical/Trauma Fire

Why the Big-to-Do Now??

Because we are behind the 8-ball

Shift in fire/ems from reactive to proactive

Pre-planning is a must

Will help mitigate future calls for service

Problems Identified(Caller doesn’t know location)

Have had several instances of this

Event on 8/16/12 Chest pain call 20 minutes to

locate Contrary to popular

belief, dispatch cannot GPS location using cell phone Washington State Emergen

cy Management FCC 911 Guidelines

Problems Identified(Weather)

Safety factor for hikers and responders

Will make access more difficult

May exclude landing of MedStar

Problems Identified(Increased Popularity)

Number of people using mountain goes up every year

Also a good thing!!

Badger South Development

Larger range of age-groups making hike

What is the Solution?(Access)

Become familiar with the trails and access points

Updated maps in MDT’s

MedStar Predetermined LZ’s

What is the Solution?(Manpower)

Updated run cards Increase in number

of personnel responding

Pre-staging of equipment

Rescue Litter and Rescue Mule Litter Wheel at top and bottom of mountain

What is the Solution?(Caller unaware of location)

Mile markers and Signposts “People often don’t pay

attention to the trailmarkers” ~Larry Nunez, Phoenix Fire

Lifesaving value is real Scottsdale, AZ McDowell

Sonoran Preserve Could become

trend/serve as example: As Benton County works

to create countywide trail and path network

Parks and Rec Master Plan

Badger Mountain has been listed as a special address at SECOMM

There are three addresses listed for mountain 5305 East 210 PR NE, Richland, WA

This is off of Dallas Road 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA

Also known as Trailhead Park @West end of Bermuda Rd

New run cards will add more staff and appropriate off-road capable apparatus

Also puts MedStar on standby At a minimum you will get 9 personnel responding

UPDATED RUN CARDS

5305 East 210 PR NE, Richland, WA (which is also the main address for the Badger Mt.

Beat 150: 100, 160,140, 72, 210, 420, 130, 63, 110, 71, 62, 120, 64, 83, 73, 61, 82, 410, 81, 34, 93, 32, 94, 36, 51, 610, 54, 31, 310, 510, 620, 52, 92

525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA (this address marks Trailhead Park)

Beat 72: 71, 420, 63, 140, 73, 410, 62, 210, 83

@West end of Bermuda Rd.

Beat 140: 100, 160,150, 72, 210, 420, 130, 63, 110, 71, 62, 120, 64, 83, 73, 61, 82, 410, 81, 34, 93, 32, 94, 36, 51, 610, 54, 31, 310, 510, 620, 52, 92

1DC/DO 1RESQ 1ENG3 1ENG3 1MD 1MD 4X4 MDSTAR standby

1BC/DC 1ENG1 1ENG1 1MD

1DC/DO 1RESQ 1ENG3 1ENG3 1MD 1MD 4X4

MDSTAR standby

MDSTAR standby

PRE-STAGING OF EQUIPMENT

Rescue Litter Benton County purchased two (2) rescue litters BCFD1 and BCFD2 donated Stokes Baskets The combination will improve patient transport

Equipment will be staged in two (2) locations

At the base of the hill at 525 Queensgate Drive Will be located in the bathroom in Trailhead Park

At the top of the hill in the repeater tower building

The building is the one on the far east

HOW TO GET IN THESE BUILDINGS

Supra-S boxes will be staged on both buildings

One will also be staged at gate on service road off of Dallas Rd

Key/Combination will be located inside each box to allow entry

Code for boxes is “R-F-D”

LOCATING THE PATIENT

Each trail will have individualized trail markers spaced every .25 miles

Markers will be color-coded and numbered

When call is made to 911, caller will be able to identify the trail marker, providing the color and number to dispatch

So… how does this help us?

LOCATING THE PATIENT

Each trailmarker will be GPS-located A map, with trailmarkers, will be

uploaded in our MDT’s Dispatch will be able to provide us with

the trailmarker location, and we will be able to tell the exact location of the injured person Will allow us to determine best access

point Will save valuable minutes and allow

care to start sooner

LANDING ZONE/REFERENCE POINT MAP

LANDING ZONE/REFERENCE POINT MAP

That last picture didn’t come through very well.

We apologize. There will be a better picture on the MDT

DISPATCH RESPONSIBILITIES

As stated in previous slide, there will be trailmarkers that are color-coded with corresponding numbers on them

You will be provided with a map containing these markers, and the corresponding locations

Please prompt the callers with the following information after they identify that they are on Badger Mountain:

Tell them to look on the trail for a marker The marker may be in front of them or behind them The markers are spaced every .25 miles Ask them to identify the color of the marker and the number

that is listed Relay that information to responding units so we can pinpoint

their location and identify best access

RESPONDER RESPONSIBILITIES

Determine location based upon milepost and color of trailhead.

Dispatch the proper apparatus to the pre-determined locations for the quickest patient access

Based upon patient condition put MedStar on Stand-by or Launch.

1st arriving apparatus, gather litter from summit or base and go to patient.

Additional resources stage at pre-determined location and communicate needs to the patient crew.

RESPONDER RESPONSIBILITIES

Identify best route for evacuating patient uphill or downhill.

Get medic units to the patient evacuation area.

Use tactical radio channels if necessary (think of topography and tac channel limitations –vs- geographic channels)

Establish an IC to coordinate rescue/care If landing MedStar identify a lead person to

communicate landing and ensure a clear zone at the LZ.

WHAT ELSE…

The plan also includes a public information piece to educate the hiking public. We will have new signs at the trailheads Fire danger signs will be posted Possibility of having PSA’s and announcement in

utility bills In the future we are looking at an Early

Alert System for fires on the mountain Also examining the possibility of

establishing “safety zones” on the mountain in the event of a fire

MOST IMPORTANT…

Get your hands on the equipment Practice with it Put someone in the basket If you can… hike the mountain to become

familiar with the trails

Questions? E-mail Duncan or Hardgrove