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Manchester, KY FD “ATV Rescue Team” gets 1st SAVE with All Terrain Res-Q Trailer from Emergency Equipment

http://eeresq.com/CLAY & LESLIE COUNTIES, KY - A little thing like advanced diabetes wasn’t going to keep this 69 year-old avid ATV rider from enjoying a perfect spring day on the REDBIRD CREST TRAIL that begins in Clay County, and continues into Leslie County, Kentucky. Having set out at 10:00 AM that day, his family reported him “over due” at 5:30 PM; and for good reasons. Upon receiving a “missing report,” the Clay County EMA Director activated a well rehearsed plan that sent “hasty teams” toward the last know point of contact with the rider. From there, teams began their search under the direction of the Clay County SAR Coordinator, who also happens to be a local Redbird, Kentucky area resident.

Not knowing how far the elderly rider planed to travel on the trail that day, the hasty teams continued their search until a decision was made to call them in around 1:30 AM, Friday morning. As one of the teams was returning, a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy on an ATV, heard a faint call for help. On a side trail, over one-half mile off the 4X4 logging trail that comprises a large portion of the REDBIRD CREST TRAIL, the rescuer found this 69 year-old rider near the bottom of a ravine, pinned under his overturned ATV, over 4 and one-half miles away from the nearest ambulance access.

Upon location of the missing rider, the Manchester Fire Department’s ATV Rescue Team, a Polaris 700cc ATV equipped with a new ATR-1, All Terrain Res-Q Trailer, disembarked from the staging area in the direction of the ATV accident scene. On board the rescue trailer was a certified Paramedic and a supply of “Advanced Life Support” equipment. In effect, “a trained paramedic and ALS system was transported to the patient” 4-1/2 miles out on an ATV trail at 1:30 AM in the morning.

Once on scene, the 69 year-old man was found to be in remarkably good condition; considering this person requires 3 daily injections and a consistent diet to remain healthy. However, after several hours of being pinned under an overturned ATV, with no food, no water or medications, a few hours more and this story would not have a happy ending.

Taking the terrain, trail conditions and medical needs of the man into consideration, a decision was made to haul the patient out on the All Terrain Res-Q Trailer. However, for added safety, a second 700cc ATV was positioned in front of the tow vehicle, and tethered to the primary tow vehicle. In effect, “a two ATV tether operation” was performed. During the ascent back up the narrow side trail, the wisdom of this decision proved itself when, in the dark, the rescue trailer slipped into the same +20 inch tire rut that caused the overturn of the victim’s ATV on the previous afternoon.

The multipoint suspension of the All Terrain Res-Q Trailer worked and the trailer remained upright. However, the left trailer tire (on the down hill side), sustained significant lateral loading (estimated at over 660 LB’s) and lost air pressure during the event. Upon further evaluation of the situation, the decision was made to continue the two ATV tethered pull, with the flat tire, until the rescue team reached the 4X4 logging trail 1/2 mile later. Once there, the patient was transferred to a Sheriff’s Department 4X4 vehicle for the remaining 4 mile ride to a waiting ambulance.

In the words of the Clay County EMA Director: “As narrow and rugged as the side trail was, the only other way the man was going to be hauled out of this location was by a bull dozer, the next morning. The trailer did its’ job!”

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