Cave Emergencies

Despite our posted warnings and verbal warnings given by rangers, there are often medical emergencies in the cave. The majority of them are because people underestimate how difficult it is to hike down the Natural Entrance. Although it's only a little over a mile long, it takes most people an hour or longer to negotiate the many switchbacks which drops approximately 800 feet before climbing back up about 50 feet.

People attempt it in all kinds of shoes from flip flops and sandals to heels and hiking boots. Sadly, it's almost comical how they laugh off our warnings. Most don't realize the effort it takes to safely get them out of the cave if they injure themselves, or worse when their medical conditions cause them to suffer some sort of medical emergency.

Every week, there are several rescues in the cave - some can be handled by one staff member, patiently walking with the visitor, encouraging them on. More often then not, it requires four or more staff members to help retrieve them and get them out of the cave on stretcher or wheelchair. With a 20% grade inside a dark, wet cave, it is no easy feat to manage.

Today, I was one of the 'available' rangers when we had a medical emergency. A teenage boy with abdominal pains who was nauseated needed assistance. Myself, another ranger (only a little taller than me) and our LE officer who is also an EMT responded to the call. The teens location couldn't have been worse for. The Natural Entrance has a flight of stairs which dictates whether we take the victim back up or down. Although close to half way down, he had to be taken back UP the cave! :-(

Lucky for us, his condition was stable when we arrived, but pushing a 160 pound teenager up 400 + feet is not easy under any conditions. We took turns pushing him up the steep switchbacks. It wasn't until we were at the mouth of the cave before two muscular male rangers caught up with us and helped get him topside where our emergency vehicle was waiting. The EMT recommend he seek further medical attention in town, and we rangers returned to the Visitor's Center to cool off, and rehydrate.

An exhausting day, but it was good to know my co-workers give 100+ percent when it really counts. Although being a ranger is a generally a great job, there are times where it's very demanding both physically and mentally. Today was one of those days.