Rangers saved the lives of two people in critical condition during three concurrent EMS responses on the night of Thursday, May 8th:
Albert Plummer, a 76-year-old visitor from Arizona, was sleeping in bed when he began gasping for air. His wife, who was lying next to him reading a book, found that he had no pulse and called for assistance. Dispatcher Sean Perchalski provided instructions on how to perform CPR while rangers Eric Keefer and Ben McKay headed to their location, arriving within two minutes. Four minutes later, a park ambulance arrived with ranger Jason Montoya and ranger/paramedic Brandon Torres. They employed advanced cardiac life support measures to convert him out of ventricular fibrillation and stabilize him.
While they were awaiting an ambulance to transport Plummer to the hospital, dispatch was notified that Daniel Lopez, a 55-year-old teacher at Grand Canyon High School, had accidentally shot himself in the leg with a .22 caliber handgun. Lopez had been showing the gun to friends while sitting in the back seat of a vehicle when the accident occurred. Arterial bleeding from the wound caused significant blood loss. Another ambulance responded with McKay, ranger Marty Huseman, and paramedic Robert Walters. They treated Lopez and immediately headed towards Flagstaff Medical Center, 78 miles away. Fortunately, an air ambulance became available and rendezvoused with them at the Valle airport, 28 miles south of the park. Alcohol was likely a factor in the accident. The investigation continues.
During the response to the shooting, dispatch was notified of a 73-year-old man with emphysema who was having difficulty breathing. Ranger/paramedic Ken Phillips responded and provided initial treatment, stabilizing him. He was taken by ambulance o the Flagstaff Medical Center.
Outstanding teamwork among park dispatchers, rangers, helibase staff and off-duty rangers contributed to the successful outcome of these three cases.
