[pct-l] Volunteer Training Incident

[Steel-Eye]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judy A Mitchell" <jamitchell at fs.fed.us>
Cc: "Judy A Mitchell" <jamitchell at fs.fed.us>; <hayjudy at comcast.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 1:49 PM
Subject: vol. training weekend incident


>
> Some of you already know this information but we had an incident occur
> Sunday afternoon as the crew for "advanced tread and drainage" was coming
> down off the trail. One of the volunteers had a heart attack - Allan
> Polachowski.  The crew with Allan did an outstanding job administering 
> CPR,
> contacting 911 and doing all the things that needed to be done during such
> an ordeal. The Forest Service is grateful and proud of the volunteers
> involved - Dana Berthold (crew leader), Kit Dickey (Allan's partner), Bill
> McWhorter, Brad Meyers, Pan Owen, Ruth Weston, Rick Gratton, Carol Meyers,
> and Henry Panter.
>
> This incident pointed out how important it is to follow the procedure when
> working out in the Forest. Make sure someone knows where you are going,
> when you are coming back, you have some sort of communication, know who 
> can
> help with first aid/cpr if needed, and everyone is wearing the Personal
> Protective equipment for the job, enough food/snacks and of course plenty
> of water.
>
> I want to personally thank all of you for coming to the training and
> wanting to help out this summer. I was impressed with your dedication in
> wanting to increase your skills so will be more useful to yourself and
> others. I look forward to working with many of you this summer. Know that 
> I
> am always available to help make your summer fun out there while working 
> to
> help out.
>
> Below is a message from Kit, Allan's partner, that she sent out to family
> and friends.
>
> Judy

>
>
> Dear Family and Friends,
>
> It is with utmost grief that I must tell you that Allan died today from a
> massive coronary event he suffered yesterday at the Westfir training. He
> fought a hard battle, ultimately losing to the damage suffered during the
> 2 hours between his heart attack out in the wilderness and his arrival via
> Mercy Flights at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene.
>
> But you, his friends and family, know that, if Allan had a choice, that
> he’d want to end his days in the mountains. We’d been attending a Forest
> Service Trail Maintenance training weekend and Allan had a great time
> learning the fine art of cross cut saw bucking, drainage assessment, tread
> armor, cache dams, et al. We were trekking back to the trail head,
> wandering in an open forest full of Calypso lilies, wild iris and woodland
> violets (oh the fragrance!) when, entering a meadow starred with
> buttercups, he collapsed. His luck was great in that our crew included
> both a doctor and a nurse, and we had cell phone service available just 10
> yards up the hill – but he was beyond the seven minute EMT range of
> safety.
>
> Allan’s son Craig and my daughter, Claire, joined me for a 24 hour vigil.
> Early this morning it appeared that Allan’s strength and determination
> might be winning the battle, but the neurological damage of those early
> hours was too much. Having never regained consciousness from when he
> first collapsed, he passed at 12:15 PM today, May 19th.
>
> Our children and I are devastated. How could such a wonderful bear of a
> man, one in such great physical shape, fall? Allan’s current “favorite
> song” (you know how faddish he is) has been the Eagles “Get Over It.” And
> while typing this, I still hear him bellowing it at me from the den!
>
> I deeply appreciate your support and words, and love, at this terrible
> time. Allan donated his organs and if you wish to make a gift in his name
> it would be wonderful.
>
> All my love,
>
> Kit

>
> Judy Mitchell
> Forest "volunteer"  Volunteer Coordinator
> Wilderness/Trails
> 541-225-6319  work
> 541-554-8182  cell
> 541-461-4239  home
> 541-225-6223  fax
> hayjudy at comcast.net (home e-mail)