Diabetic without medication exhausted on trail
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September 25, 1999 |
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By
RMRU
was notified at about 1:30am and was soon at the
lower tram station. State Park personnel
accompanied us to the upper tram station. A hasty
team consisting of two State Park Rangers quickly
made their way down to the subject for an initial
medical assessment. The subject was stable but
unable to move very far before becoming
completely exhausted. It was decided that he
would be taken to Desert Hospital by helicopter
at first light. A
team from RMRU was sent down to assist with
moving the subject to a suitable landing zone for
the helicopter. Star 80, a Riverside Sheriff's
helicopter, arrived at our location at about
6:00am and flew the subject to Desert Hospital.
Star 80 then returned to fly the remaining rescue
personnel to the lower tram station.
At
4:00am, September 24th, two men started up the
Skyline trail from Palm Springs. One hiker was
diabetic and was due for his next dose of
medication at about 5:00pm. At about 7:00pm they
were still over 2 miles from the end of the trail
and, unfortunately, they did not bring the needed
medication with them. The exhausted diabetic
could no longer continue and decided to stay
where he was. His friend hurried to the top of
the trail and called for help from the payphone
outside the Palm Springs Arial Tram.