A dozer operator died from an apparent heart attack Monday, July 8 while working to suppress the Pardee Fire northwest of Kamiah, Idaho according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Public Lands.
Dennis Long, a 65-year-old private logging contractor from Clarkston, suffered an apparent heart attack while building a fire line with the bulldozer. The dozer boss on the fire performed CPR on Mr. Long before a Life Flight crew and other emergency responders arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife and two adult daughters, all of Clarkston, were notified of his death Monday night.
Our sincere condolences go out to Mr. Long’s family.
Thanks go out to Kelly
While saving someone’s life by having an AED on every “module” sounds good in theory, there are some practical matters to take into consideration. First, if they are “required”, does that make it the new Standard of Care? Will we refuse to let a “module” of logging dozers cut fireline if they do not have an AED? Who should pay for them – Fed, State, Local, Private? Where will they be stored and maintained? How about Operator Quals to use an AED? Are there liability issues involved, even during the IA stage of fire suppression actions? If a Volunteer Department does not have an AED on their “module”, must the State/Feds turn them away (read the Point Fire lawsuit findings)? Just a few implementation questions that come to mind.
Rileymon – very good points that would have to be addressed. I think one could argue that having an AED already is the standard of care, when the lay public is being trained to use them in every Heart Association or Red Cross 4 hour CPR class now, and airports and malls make them available for public use routinely. Modern units are so simple to use, and so low-maintenance, most require replacing batteries every couple years, and don’t even need routine testing as long as the little window has a green check mark instead of a red X (or similar indicators, depending on models). I would anticipate they would be like any other equipment that is required – perhaps not practical on a dozer, but an engine, crew buggy, etc., already has to meet mechanical requirements, have certain equipment, etc., all provided by whomever owns the vehicle, so it would not have to be any different. I have equipped all of our agency’s engines with AED’s through federal excess programs at very minimal cost – about $200/unit for new pads, batteries, and to get them tested. Not everyone could get them that way, but even new ones wouldn’t cost much in the overall scheme of things compared to all the other “stuff” we’re required to provide before we can work.
Will it ever happen? Who knows. But it’s been demonstrated just in the last few weeks the benefit of having them even on wildland rigs that “don’t run medical calls”.
Of course i don’t run the world, so my opinion may not be worth a great deal…
Respectfully,
Eric
Are the agencies going to fund AED’s for modules?
Seems like in the 21st century, that should be a requirement just as a first aid kit and fire extinguisher are required.