Rapid Response Saves Girls With Monoxide Poisoning

A rapid response by park staff and the subsequent transporting of two 10-year old girls suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after “teak boarding” behind their family’s ski boat last week has resulted in their full recovery. The two girls from Jackson, Wyoming, were teak boarding for the third time behind the family’s 20-foot ski boat when the brother of one of the girls, riding on the stern, noted that his sister was not responding to him. After pulling the girls onto the vessel, the parents began CPR while a brother drove the boat to the Colter Bay Marina.  Several subsequent 911 calls led to a parkwide response that had rangers and the first ambulance on scene within five minutes. Both girls were transported to the hospital within another eight minutes. Although the girls were nonresponsive when personnel arrived on scene, they both quickly recovered and were released from the hospital the same night. Doctors and medical staff have credited the rapid intervention of park staff with the survival of the two girls. The park’s chief ranger is crediting all park divisions with this success, as volunteers, interpreters and maintenance division personnel joined rangers in the response. The operator of the vessel has received a mandatory appearance citation for operating a vessel in violation of 36 CFR Part 3.  Statements made by the parents at the time and during the investigation confirm that this activity – and the associated dangers – continues to be a boating education hurdle for areas with recreational boating. Both parents on the vessel are life-long boaters and claimed to be unaware of the danger in spite of increased efforts on the part of protection personnel over the past three years. The park public affairs officer is also fielding a number of calls from area news outlets who are also unaware of the danger.