Mountain Preparedness
Mountain Preparedness
Press Release
USDA FOREST SERVICE
Rocky Mountain Region
740 Simms Street Golden, CO 80401 Contact: Mary Ann Chambers, 970-295-6676
Forest Service Managers Call in “NIMO” Team to Help Manage the Mountain Bark Beetle Incident
Denver, Colo. November 10, 2009 - U.S. Forest Service officials have tapped a National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) team to
assist Regional staff as they continue to address the 2.5 million acremountain pine beetle epidemic in Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming. Falling beetle-killed trees continue to increasingly present health and safety concerns to the public and employees, and a growing threat of wildfire poses a threat as well.
Last winter, a beetle-killed tree resulted in a fatality on private land. Forest land managers are acutely aware of the safety issue this
beetle epidemic has caused, and their concerns continue to grow.
A letter of delegation, signed this week by Regional Forester Rick Cables and Incident Commander Steve Gage, will delegate the responsibility of the incident to the National Incident Management Organization team. The NIMO Team will coordinate activities among the
three heaviest impacted bark beetle Forests (Medicine Bow-Routt, Arapahoe and Roosevelt, and White River National Forests) as a single
incident. This team will use a resource ordering system to fill orders
to provide technical and labor support to the effort. In many cases, Forest Service employees from across the Rocky Mountain Region will
assist in the mitigation activities.
Some of the objectives of the NIMO team will be to manage the removal of hazard trees along roads, power lines and in campgrounds. The NIMO team will also direct any necessary resource surveys within the area affected by the epidemic, will assist in further development of fire preparedness plans, prescribed fire plans, etc across the region.
“Public safety is our number one priority. This is a seven-member team of professionals with incident management as their primary focus. This
approach would allow us to separate and track the emergency response. The NIMO team approach assures us the opportunity to respond
appropriately given the scale and complexity of the incident,” said Deputy Regional Forester, Tony Dixon.
The NIMO team will immediately begin assessing the current situation, reviewing existing plans, and collecting data in order to prepare a
strategic action plan for work priorities.
The following are guidelines to help forest visitors avoid risks within bark beetle affected areas:
For general information about the mountain pine beetle epidemic go to
www.fs.fed.us/r2/bark-beetle. Land management agencies have also developed a site devoted to the bark beetle happenings on the Front Range; www.frontrangepinebeetle.org.
What you should know about High Altitude Sickness Symptoms of high altitude sickness occur at elevation of 6000 feet or higher. Due to faster transportation, people are arriving at higher elevations more quickly than in the past and their bodies do not have the time to properly acclimate. Altitude sickness is usually divided into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild Altitude Sickness Mild altitude sickness usually occurs within 8-24 hours of arriving at an elevation over 6000 feet. Symptoms may include headache, nausea,vomiting, dizziness, or lightheadedness, and difficulty sleeping. Alcohol ingestion can make it difficult to determine whether the symptoms are from consumption or altitude sickness. For this reason alcohol consumption should be avoided at high altitudes. Mild altitude sickness indicates that more time should be given to acclimization. Spending 1 to 2 days at a lower altitude can help. After the symptoms have subsided, returning to the higher altitude can be tried. While mild altitude sickness is more a nuisance than a serious problem, it should not be taken lightly. If ignored, the symptoms can worsen and progress to a moderate or severe condition and seeking medical
attention can become extremely important. Moderate Altitude Sickness With moderate altitude sickness the headache becomes more severe and is
resistant to conventional pain medication. All the symptoms of mild altitude sickness can occur plus breathlessness with exertion, decreased urine output, and a loss of coordination can occur. Should these symptoms occur it is important to immediately descend to a lower elevation and seek medical attention. Severe Altitude Sickness Uncommon,but potentially fatal, severe altitude sickness is most common among people exercising at an altitude of 14,000 feet or higher. Symptoms
include all those listed under moderate altitude sickness but progress to breathlessness at rest, productive cough with frothy pink sputum, inability to sleep, and confusion. Severe altitude sickness requires an immediate descent to lower elevation and to the nearest hospital emergency room. How to prevent Altitude Sickness 1. Get acclimated to higher elevation slowly. If you arrived by airplane to Denver from a lower elevation, 2.
Drink plenty of liquids. Dehydration may lead to altitude sickness. Drink enough fluids that you produce large amounts of clear urine.
Drink fluids before and during your activities. The climate is dry and it is easy to dehydrate quickly. 3. A high carbohydrate diet may prevent some symptoms. 4. Medicines are available for prevention of altitude sickness. Ask your doctor about this. 1. Heart disease with uncontrolled rhythm irregularities Note: Susceptibility to altitude sickness can change from one year to the next. Also be aware that if you have previously lived at high altitude and have moved and lived at a lower altitude, you are at high risk for altitude sickness if you return to high altitude.
consider spending the first night in Denver or one of the front range towns. Do not over exert the first few days. If you are climbing in the back country do not ascend more than 1000 feet per day. Some good advice is to "climb high, but sleep low."
Do not spend time at High Altitude if:
You have been diagnosed with the following medical conditions:
2. Congestive Heart Failure
3. Mitral Stenosis
4. Pulmonary hypertension
5. Angina and symptomatic heart disease
6. Moderate to severe COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
7. Anyone with a complicated pregnancy
8. Uncontrolled hypertension
9. Anyone with sickle cell disease
First Aid Basics
All rural family members should know basic first aid and how to respond in the event of an emergency. At least one person in your family should be certified in CPR especially since hospitals are generally more than 15 minutes away. Keep emergency phone numbers by the phone: police, fire department, doctor, poison control center, and veterinarian. Take emergency phone numbers along when you travel into the backcountry. Remember, however, that cell service is not always available in mountain locations, and it is good to be aware of what locations you find you have cell service in case an emergency occurs. One first aid kit should be located in the following:
Inspect first aid kits routinely to ensure they are well -stocked and components are sterile. Monthly inspections are a good idea. A home and rural vehicle first aid kit should include:
Note: One Flight-for-Life call can cost a minimum of $8000 and more. Think safety at all times and don't take unnecessary risks. Procrastination with a more minor medical problem can lead to a more serious problem. Seek help from medical professionals in a timely manner when needed. What to do when Living, Camping and Hiking in Bear Country
Living in Areas with Bears Most conflicts with bears are linked to careless handling of food or garbage. Black bears will eat human food, garbage, hummingbird food, birdseed, and pet and livestock food when available.
Camping in Areas with Bears
Hiking in Areas with Bears
If you meet up with a Black Bear
Some Additional Tips for Better Mountain Living:
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| Extreme Heat | Extreme Cold | Hiking Tips | Hypothermia |
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