Mass. Hiker Rescued in King Ravine

[sardog1]

The AP reports that solo hiker Steven Saxon from Billerica was rescued in "King's Ravine" (sic) last night after suffering seizures and falling into a boulder hole. The story is reported here.

Hope that he has a speedy recovery. Anybody here that knows him?

 

[Waumbek]

All I heard was that the first calls came in around 2.00 to 2.30 p.m. A rescue like this--terrain, darkness, hiker's situation--in 10 hours total time is excellent work, and thanks to AMC, RMC, AVSAR, and F&G for the carry out. Hope this hiker is OK. There was another rescue for seizures last month in Franconia Notch, I believe.

 

[SAR-EMT40]

The AP reports that solo hiker Steven Saxon from Billerica was rescued in "King's Ravine" (sic) last night after suffering seizures and falling into a boulder hole. The story is reported here.

Hope that he has a speedy recovery. Anybody here that knows him?

Not second guessing here but I am unsure if it was diabetic, that they couldn't straighten him out at the scene and walk him out. Of course his secondary injuries from the fall could have prevented that.

I guess my point is, since they didn't do that there must have been some reason. Probably related to the fall.

I hope the rescuer is OK as well.

Keith

 

[darren]

Not second guessing here but I am unsure if it was diabetic, that they couldn't straighten him out at the scene and walk him out.

It is my understanding that semi-unconscious diabetic and hypoglycemic people are very hard to tell apart. If you treat a hypoglycemic person as a diabetic and give them insulin you will probably kill them. Same outcome in reverse if you give a diabetic sugar. I have heard that treating diabetics in the field is rare. You need to be very, very sure that they are in fact diabetic and do a blood sugar test first.

I am hypoglycemic and if I don't keep on top of my eating I go downhill in a hurry (no pun intended). When I get really bad and slur my words, lose my motor skills, and get really lethargic it would be a major bummer if someone gave me insulin. I'd be dead pretty quickly.

- darren

 

[Waumbek]

Apparently he was treated for diabetic shock yet carried out, but DHMC physicians were still trying to diagnose the problem yesterday, or so this report says. This was a second incident for him. I doubt that we've heard the whole or necessarily accurate story yet, though.

 

[hikerfast]

when i came off adams i talked with the person who found him. She said she saw him laying down high up on the elevated section of the floor of king ravine and he was saying 'i dont feel good at all' and slurring his words and was incoherent. She said he kept trying to move but couldnt. He was laying on some rocks. Another couple showed up with a cell phone and called the fish and game. Authorities said not to give him any food or water and they would be up. On the phone they said they thought it was diabetic shock. No idea how they came to that possible analysis. The fish and game was on their way up to litter him out.

 

[NH Smokechaser]

From a rescuer's perspective, it's very easy for people not involved to 2nd guess any action either taken or not taken, I would hope that the very experienced crew on the carry out knew what was best for the patient. And I can assure you if there was any chance of him walking out on his own, you can bet they would have chosen that over a very labor intensive carry out.

 

[Seeker]

When I get really bad and slur my words, lose my motor skills, and get really lethargic it would be a major bummer if someone gave me insulin. I'd be dead pretty quickly.

- darren

We'll keep that in mind! Or maybe just take the Good Dr. out of your hand!

Sorry--don't mean to make light of a serious situation. I think the rescuers did just the right thing if this guy is still alive after having a diabeted seizure. Yikes.

 

[alpinista]

Hopefully someone who is diabetic or has a medical issue is also wearing a medical bracelet or tag to alert rescuers. I carry one that alerts folks that I'm allergic to penicillin, just in case.

 

[SAR-EMT40]

It is my understanding that semi-unconscious diabetic and hypoglycemic people are very hard to tell apart. If you treat a hypoglycemic person as a diabetic and give them insulin you will probably kill them. Same outcome in reverse if you give a diabetic sugar. I have heard that treating diabetics in the field is rare. You need to be very, very sure that they are in fact diabetic and do a blood sugar test first.

I am hypoglycemic and if I don't keep on top of my eating I go downhill in a hurry (no pun intended). When I get really bad and slur my words, lose my motor skills, and get really lethargic it would be a major bummer if someone gave me insulin. I'd be dead pretty quickly.

- darren

Again let me say (I thought I made it clear the first time) that I wasn't second guessing the crew. I was going under the assumption that they did know what they were doing. I was more making the point that it didn't sound like a simple diabetic emergency to me. It sounded like there was more going on in this call then was reported or known.

Darren. You are correct they are hard to differentiate but, I wouldn't worry. The standard treatment for a known diabetic who doesn't know what their recent blood sugar number is, and is concious, is to give oral glucose with an order of medic on the side. If they are hypoglycemic, it will bring them back. If that brings them back then they were hypoglycemic, no need for insulin. If they are hyperglycemic it won't hurt in the short term. If you haven't taken your B.S. then the medic or many EMT-I's can test you and we will found out what it is. This can be done even if you are unconcious. The medic will give whatever you need IV when we find out what your B.S. is.

In your case Darren. If you are a known diabetic and unconcious. This is one of the few cases that putting something in an unconcious persons mouth might be the proper thing to do. It has to be done very carefully with special attention to the fact that you don't aspirate anything but you are not going to get better without food or sugar. A chewed oreo or granulated sugar put in between you cheek and gum and laying you on your side might just save your life. But it is a gamble. You would never do this in a non-wilderness emergency. And you should think very carefully about ever doing this period.

Typically diabetics come around very, very, quickly and can go from being unconcious to fully alert and oriented very quickly. I have seen this over and over again. Many times they refuse transfer to the hospital. The only rivals to diabetics in the "almost dead to fully alive" awards are heroin overdoses with Narcan. I just recently helped carry in a drive up in front of the E.R. who's buddy wasn't responsive to painful stimuli and had snoring respirations that was fully concioius and smiling in his hospital bed in 3 minutes from 2 hits with Narcan. Worst part with them is they are usually fighters who are ticked off you screwed up their high.

Keith

 

[darren]

I always tell people I'm with "hey if I start slurring my words and sitting down, just pour a sugar packet under my tongue and I should perk right up". Usually just a glass of OJ or some other fruit juice will do wonders. I snap right out of it pretty quickly. The trick is to not let myself go that far. But even though I keep on top of it, sometimes it happens really quickly and surprises me.

Hey if nothing less, it's great party talk. I have lots of funny stories of me going down for the count. Maybe I'll share some at the Gathering.

- darren


ps: hey...I bet the good Dr. has lots of sugar in it....maybe I should carry that on the trail

 

[Steve_Saxon]

This is my first time posting here, so sorry for any goofs.

Well, it sure was strange waking up in a hospital room in Lebanon. I have no memory of the past four days, but I've read the reports and I sure am grateful everyone who hauled me out of there. I have some bumps and bruises, not for fortunately no broken bones. I also have several pages of ambiguous lab results which I have I have to follow up with my doctor down here.

I believe there was some other factor at play besides the diabetes that caused me to pass out and act crazy. I've had diabetes for years, and I'm intimately familiar with the onset of low blood sugar. I always have a supply of snacks with me.

Right now the key issue seems to be my abnormally high level of Creatine Phosphokinase. Apparently, it was supposed to be decreasing, and it isn't.
So I have an urgenty appointment scheduled with my doctor to get to the bottom of it.

I guess after this episode I'm going to have to reevaluate my pattern of hiking alone.

Finally, words can't express how grateful I am to all the people who hauled me out of there.

Steve Saxon

 

[Grumpy]

Steve, thank you so much for that first-hand post. Here's wishing you well in finding out what really happened, and in your future hiking.

Perhaps your story is a cautionary tale for all of those among us who hike alone and especially for those of who may be getting a little older or have some (more or less obvious) health risk factors.

G.

 

[darren]

Steve,

First off, I am so glad that you are at least out of the hospital for now and I hope you and your doctors get everything figured out.

Secondly, now that you have joined the site, you never really need to hike solo again! There are tons of us here that you can hike with. Hope to see you on the trails soon.

- darren

 

[mudhook51]

Steve, Thanks for thanking the rescue team. So often this simple gesture is overlooked .(No I was not involved, and have no idea who was or even where it took place.) It just means alot to some of us unpaid volunteers.

 

[Waumbek]

Steve, welcome to VFTT. You had one of the more unconventional debuts on this site; you may have been unconscious still, or nearly so, when the first SAR reports came in and we all hoped you were OK. I'm sure your physicians will figure this out and you'll be back on the trail again. All (well, many) things in time. Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[sardog1]

Steve,

Glad to hear you're recovering; thanks for posting here. Lots of us are soloists, and we understand weighing the larger risk against the larger pleasure we derive from going alone. Hope you're back on the trails soon.

 

[Seeker]

Thanks for writing Steve! So glad to know you are doing well. Best of luck at getting it all sorted out and hope to see you on the trails soon!

 

[Davehiker]

Steve,

Thanks so very much for posting. It's great to know you're better.

Sometimes folks on this board are starved for accurate information when an emergency or accident occurs. We all want to get the details so that we can learn from an incident. Unfortunately, the first reports are often incomplete or inaccurate, and speculation runs wild. We're glad to hear whatever good information we can get.

Welcome to VFTT, and I hope you enjoy this community as much as I do!

Dave

 

[SAR-EMT40]

Glad to hear things are improving for you. Hope the doctors straighten you out quickly and get you on the trail again soon. Alone or with friends.

Plenty of hikers on this board would be willing to hike with you I am sure.

Keith