EISPIRATEN

No copter rescue for hiker with hurt thumb

Posted on: Sunday, 16 August 2009, 03:18 CDT

New Hampshire authorities told a mountain hiker Saturday an injured thumb didn't qualify him for a helicopter rescue.

The 50-year old Texan injured his thumb while hiking with a group on the 3,251-foot Mount Crescent in the Icy Gulch area.

Authorities, who did not release the man's name, said members of his hiking party were headed to help him, The New Hampshire Union Leader reported.

The Gorham Fish and Game office got a cell phone call from the man.

"An officer from Gorham talked to the individual, who wanted a helicopter, and advised that for a thumb injury, and especially with a group of people heading up to help him, that it would not be practical to send in a rescue helicopter," conservation officer Matt Holmes said.

Holmes said this isn't the first request for a rescue for injuries that are less than life-threatening. Some people ask for emergency services to carry their dog. Then there was the woman who called to be rescued because she couldn't find her shoes.

"It's just prior to 7 p.m.," Holmes said. "Who knows what else we may get tonight?"

Holmes said he couldn't risk spreading rescue workers thin by sending a rescue team for a minor injury.

Poor guy. He hurt his thumb and probably couldn't hitch a ride. Did they expect him to hitch with his other hand? How is he supposed to get around except by chopper?

They don't make Texans like they used to!

edenooch wrote:No copter rescue for hiker with hurt thumb

Posted on: Sunday, 16 August 2009, 03:18 CDT

New Hampshire authorities told a mountain hiker Saturday an injured thumb didn't qualify him for a helicopter rescue.

The 50-year old Texan injured his thumb while hiking with a group on the 3,251-foot Mount Crescent in the Icy Gulch area.

Authorities, who did not release the man's name, said members of his hiking party were headed to help him, The New Hampshire Union Leader reported.

The Gorham Fish and Game office got a cell phone call from the man.

"An officer from Gorham talked to the individual, who wanted a helicopter, and advised that for a thumb injury, and especially with a group of people heading up to help him, that it would not be practical to send in a rescue helicopter," conservation officer Matt Holmes said.

Holmes said this isn't the first request for a rescue for injuries that are less than life-threatening. Some people ask for emergency services to carry their dog. Then there was the woman who called to be rescued because she couldn't find her shoes.

"It's just prior to 7 p.m.," Holmes said. "Who knows what else we may get tonight?"

Holmes said he couldn't risk spreading rescue workers thin by sending a rescue team for a minor injury.

Thumb sucking injury? That dude's gotta "man up" or take up knitting.

Knitting puts one's thumbs at great risk.

If this dude takes up knitting, he'd better not set foot in Texas again!

He needs to turn in his Texan and Man Cards!

What a F*#@ing wimp!

He needs a emergency sex change operation....Jeeeeez

Perhaps we can contribute to the fund

mattmaxon wrote:He needs to turn in his Texan and Man Cards!

I'm pretty sure the Texas Rangers will send a fella up to collect the Texas one. If they haven't already.

mattmaxon wrote:He needs to turn in his Texan and Man Cards!
What a F*#@ing wimp!
He needs a emergency sex change operation....Jeeeeez
Perhaps we can contribute to the fund

A sex change operation won't do any good. I'll bet any self respecting gal from Texas in this same situation would be able to walk out on her own.

aye cabron!!!

20 grand just to start the ignition. .... and people bitch about suv's!!!

damn! is there health insurance for hiking that will cover this shit?

edenooch wrote:damn! is there health insurance for hiking that will cover this shit?

Most medical insurance policies cover ambulance, some may cover air evacuation, though not likely for a busted thumb etc...

If you're really concerned a there are insurance policies that would cover it. Any where in the world

So basically dont even think about calling for anything in New Hampshire because its too much trouble to even answer the phone on the taxpayer's dollars.....unless its a personal call to him from his family, of course.

DamOTclese wrote:

AW wrote:So basically dont even think about calling for anything in New Hampshire because its too much trouble to even answer the phone on the taxpayer's dollars.....unless its a personal call to him from his family, of course.

The thing is, such rescue is what we pay taxes for and what society in general seems to feel is an acceptable expense even though maybe a percentage of us ever go hiking, biking, camping, or climbing. We like to feel that if our car goes over the side of the road in to the canyon below, we ourselves might be saved and the tax payer will absorb the expense for our own misfortunes.

The Eagle Scout candidate who was billed for his rescue was billed because the authorities felt that he did something knowingly stupid and irresponsible, and lacking any recent adult to make an example of, leaped on to that kid. Thing is, if I did something really stupid and had to be rescued, I would expect to be billed for it.

The complaint was about a phone call....it was a simple matter of saying ' I know you guys are asking for help, and heres the plan. We are going to send your hiking party back up to you and no one should be in panic for this thumb injury. Stay safe until your party arrives and give a call if your situation deteriorates or your party does not show.'

There are many agencies that get calls leading to a waste of taxpayer dollars, but are we going to bill for them? Even police here dont bill out the full cost of false alarms muchless visits that could have been solved without them. Of course the climber who was on a 5.9 route in the Tetons should have had planned better than call the ranger for the part of the beta he was missing, but then again ,they talked him through the route instead of a New Hampshire attitude of scolding him which doesnt solve the situation at hand and is a true waste of time and money.

The eagle scout being billed $25K is ridiculous. I dont know what value you put on a persons life, but I cant think of a more appropiate forestry expense than to save or help a persons life.

DamOTclese wrote:[ Drunk driving should be a cause to bill them (and execute them on the 3rd offense, IMO)

"In Hong Kong, for instance, driving over the 0.05 percent blood alcohol limit can result in fines and in extreme cases, imprisonment for three years. In Pakistan, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, as wells as many nations in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the legal limit is zero. Drivers are not allowed to be under the influence of any alcohol whatsoever. In other European nations, the limit varies from a low of zero up to 0.08 in just a few countries, but is between 0.02 and 0.05 in most countries. The average 160 pound man would have a blood alcohol content of approximately 0.02 percent after consuming two 12-ounce beers in one hour.

In addition to lower limits, punishment is often more severe in other parts of the world. For instance, the Swedes punish DUI of above 0.02 percent with imprisonment of up to six months;"

lol Sweden. do not mess with Swedish law. ridiculously safe being a pedestrian there. cars will stop if they think you are approaching the road and want to cross, even if you don't plan on it.

DamOTclese wrote: Getting dinged 25 Grand for a rescue seems like an important lesson in life for a young Boy Scout however it'll probably turn him in to a bitter Republican NRA gun nut extremist right wing anti-government domestic terrorist loon.

Well, thank God there's still hope!