Sheriff reports on snow-related accidents and transport

Late yesterday afternoon, County Sheriff Bill Cumming responded to a snowboarding accident at the Orcas Island Golf Course. A 17-year-old boy fell while snowboarding at suffered a cervical spine injury. He was transported to Harborview Hospital in Seattle by the Coast Guard, and the severity of his injury is not known at this time, Cumming said.
When the Guardian, the Sheriff’s rescue boat, was called to the Orcas Landing to transport the boy from the ambulance, the wind had picked up. There was an attempt to contact the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island for a Medivac flight, but the weather had shut down the station.
The Sheriff then contacted the Coast Guard in Port Angleles, which first attempted to land in the ferry parking lot. When that landing didn’t work, the Coast Guard went to the airport at Eastsound to transport the boy to the Seattle hospital.

The Guardian had been called out repeatedly yesterday, responding to respond to two cardiac arrests on Orcas Island, a broken hip on San Juan Island, and another broken hip on Lopez Island. At one time, there were two patients being transported on the Guardian at the same time.
During this cold snap, Sheriff Cumming said, “The roads continue to be hazardous. People are exercising caution, but are advised to stay warm, and to keep a supply of water and food ready in case we lose power.
“And check on your neighbors; this is the time for us to realize what a community we live in,” said Cumming.
Currently, the cold weather is expected to continue at least until Dec. 24.
Weather information and advice on safety during the freezing temperatures is available at the county website, www.sanjuanco.com.