How I Became a Burn Victim, with a Sprained Ankle to Boot

It was a foggy night on the Tuolumne River, with average evening temperatures settling in the low 50s. We had decided to set up camp at Indian, just under a mile downriver from Powerhouse. My fellow rafting mates were finally asleep after a long night of sharing jokes by the campfire and enjoying a brewski (or three). I decided to hit the hay a bit earlier than them, along with my excuse to relax with a good book and the sounds of the river—too ashamed to admit how my angina occasionally controls my social decision-making.

I had been avoiding a trip to the groover for almost 15 minutes now, so slipped on my flip-flops and stumbled half asleep towards the eastern side of the beach. It had been a while since the others had gone to bed. The fire was lifeless and the wood had already turned to ash—or so I thought. As I was approaching it, I tripped on a huge pinecone and before I knew it, had seared my left forearm well and through. I let out a scream that sounded more like a shriek and our river guides came rushing out of their sleeping bags, headlamps glaring me in the face.

I felt a tremendous amount of pressure in my chest and began to panic as I glanced down at what appeared to be a third degree burn on my arm. They started evaluating me immediately. My heart rate was at about 100, respiration at 20; it felt like someone was standing on my chest. I suddenly realized that my right ankle was throbbing; I must have sprained it in the fall. “Have you taken any medications in the last 24-hours? Do you have any medical conditions we should know about?” shouted our trip leader, Danny Amos assertively. So much for keeping my heart condition under wraps. “Yes, I have angina pectoris. I took a baby aspirin approximately five hours ago. The doctor prescribed me nitroglycerin, but I don’t know how to use it.” They checked my radial pulses, which were strong. Then they asked me an embarrassing question about erectile dysfunction drugs, which apparently can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure when combined with nitro. And yes, apparently women take it too. I confirmed I had never taken any, and they continued their evaluation as I screamed out in pain for my arm, which felt like it was still on fire. My ankle wasn’t as bad, but if I were to guess, had swollen into an area larger than two tennis balls. At least, that’s what they told me to say…

“…I screamed out in pain for my arm, which felt like it was still on fire. My ankle wasn’t as bad, but if I were to guess, had swollen into an area larger than two tennis balls. At least, that’s what they told me to say…”

If that seemed real, then good, I accomplished my goal as a helpless victim in a 3-day Wilderness First Responder (WFR) refresher course. When asked if I wouldn’t mind being a participant, how could I have refused? Being crammed up behind a desk most afternoons, I’m always game for taking a 30-minute break outside. Plus, how often do you get to play the role of a campfire burn victim without any subsequent scarring or pain?

This was the final test for O.A.R.S. guides who signed up for their WFR recertifications, and they were doing excellent. My ‘wound’ appeared to be clean, but they washed it out anyway just in case any ash or bacteria had worked its way in. They gave me water to stay hydrated, and kept me comfortable and warm in the process. I was instructed to take 324 milligrams of aspirin and my heart rate soon stabilized to 90 beats per minute as I relaxed, with a respiratory rate back down to 16. Since they didn’t witness my fall, the students performed a full c-spine, but everything appeared to be fine. My ‘injuries’ were properly bandaged and wrapped, with a brace on my ankle and a giggle or two on my face. “Good jobs guys!” I shouted as our instructor from Desert Mountain Medicine (also an O.A.R.S. guide), Deryn Peck, clapped a few times as she began to retrace our steps, making certain nothing was overlooked.

O.A.R.S. typically hosts a WFR recertification course each year, and this year’s training was held on March 13th – 15th, 2011 at their Angels Camp office. For more information regarding instructional paddling programs, please visit oars.com if you’re interested in pursuing a career in the outdoors, or check out other wilderness medicine and rescue courses at Desert Mountain Medicine. All O.A.R.S. guides are required to have updated First Aid, CPR & ADE certifications, and trip leaders must also have their WFR. O.A.R.S. encourages additional training in swiftwater rescue, Leave No Trace outdoor ethics, emergency medical technician training, open water rescue and more. Of course nothing beats actual real-life experience in the field, which is why O.A.R.S. aims to give employees as many diverse opportunities as possible in a variety of climates. Even in the safest of places, river guides start each workday prepared for any unexpected adventure that may come their way.

Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Sales & Marketing Coordinator