WASHINGTON TWP., NJ - On June 19th, the Long Valley First Aid Squad and Rescue Services was dispatched by Morris County Communications to Schooley's Mountain Park at 91 E Springtown Road for an injured hiker. The Long Valley First Aid Squad responded with Rescue-1, Rescue-2, Rescue-3, Support-2, EMS-3, and Command.

The Morris County Communications Center was able to gather accurate GPS data off the caller's phone and pinpoint the location of the injured party, enabling them to coordinate the response of EMS and Rescue Services to the scene.

Long Valley Rescue Services made entrance to the park and quickly located the patient about a quarter mile down the blue trail near the waterfalls. The victim was at the bottom of a 25-30 foot steep rock face that was wet and slippery due to weather conditions.

A LVFAS EMT/Rope Rescue Technician was able to safely rappel down the rock face to the patient to assess and stabilize injuries. Thankfully, the patient was stable but non-ambulatory. The subject was packaged and secured to our Cascade Rescue Company litter.

LVFAS Rescue Services rigged a low angle haul system with main and belay lines using MPD's with a 3:1 mechanical advantage. Within 30 minutes of LVFAS Rescue Services making patient access, the subject was stabilized and packaged, rope system rigged, and the patient was hauled to the top of the rock face.

Upon landing the patient at the top of the rock face, the patient was then transferred onto our Cascade Rescue Company litter wheel. The Long Valley Fire Company and the Morris County Park Police assisted LVFAS Rescue Services and EMS with carrying the patient back over a quarter-mile of rough terrain with loose, wet rocks and over 100-feet of elevation gain. The patient was then transferred to Long Valley Rescue-3, a 2010 Polaris Ranger 6x6 with a Kimtek Medlite transport body, and transported another approximate quarter-mile from the trail entrance across the lake to the staging area for further evaluation by the BLS crew from Long Valley EMS-3.