Emergency Services react quickly to injury at airport

[August 28, 2011]  Friday evening spirits may have been hampered a bit for the crew of the balloon, Mom’s Toy, after one of their crew members fell from the transport trailer as she was preparing to help inflate the balloon for the Friday evening glow.

According to Emergency Management Agency director, Dan Fulscher, the female accident victim was preparing to exit the trailer when she stumbled and fell, fracturing her arm.

Fulscher said that the response of the emergency assistance crews went exactly as it should have. The Logan County Paramedics had an ambulance on stand-by at the airport and quickly made their way across the field to the accident site.

In addition, Andi Hake, the director of the Lincoln Logan Chamber and Roy Logan of the Lincoln Park District were both at the accident site very quickly, and stayed until the fall victim was transported to the hospital.

Fulcher said he was very well satisfied with the response of the paramedics and other officials who responded quickly, took care of the patient, and sent her off to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital for further attention.

He also noted that the standers-by and audience in general did not overreact to the site of an ambulance, and stayed clear of the situation, allowing paramedics to do their job more efficiently.

Once the accident victim was placed in the ambulance, they drove out of the airport and according to Fulsher received assistance from the Logan County Sheriff's Department in getting through traffic.

It may be something one doesn’t think about when attending an event such as the Annual Art and Balloon Festival, but accidents and emergencies can occur.

Part of the planning process for the annual festival involves being prepared for such incidents with the hope that they never happen.

While the fall victim’s injury was not life threatening, it was still traumatic for her and the rest of the Mom’s Toy Crew.

Though they hope not to be needed for the rest of the weekend, everyone is reminded that dialing 911 on their cell phones will connect them directly to the Logan County Emergency Dispatch, so help is just a phone call away.

[Nila Smith]