Death Valley National Park (CA)
Fatal Helicopter Accident
A helicopter that was being used to shoot part of a Volkswagen car commercial under a commercial filming permit crashed on Highway 190 between the Panamint Springs Resort and Father Crowley Point just before noon on December 30th. The road had been closed by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers during the shoot, so no vehicles were involved. Two of the three occupants were airlifted to a hospital in Vegas; the third was taken by ambulance to Lone Pine. One of the two people who was flown out subsequently died. Park EMS personnel and firefighters responded along with other agencies. Additional details will follow.[Submitted by Nancy Wizner, Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Fire and Aviation Management
Preparing for the Fire Season
The January 2005 newsletter of the USFS Fire Operations Safety Council contains an aritcle entitled Give Us This Day, Our Daily Rest on the importance of physical conditioning in preparing for fire assignments. The text follows:
Physical conditioning, regimented diet, and safety refreshers are all essential ingredients for personal preparation for next fire season and most likely your next fire assignment. While you can probably add additional items to the above, consider this "sleeping giant" of concern:
"The impact of disrupted sleep cycles and circadian rhythms is a key factor when personal decision-making ability is necessary during critical situations." It is very important to understand how the mechanics of alertness, sleep cycles, and circadian rhythms interact to affect personal, "decision-making readiness." With regards to "normal" cycles of sleep and wakefulness, once you get outside your normal average of sleep, decision-making becomes not only a personal safety issue, but a primary concern for those who depend on the decisions you make for the group!"
Many sleep science experts agree that most adults need 8 hours of sleep every night. Research indicates that individual needs are genetically determined, and vary — but only slightly. Cumulative sleep deprivation or "sleep debt" grows over time. While most people can recover from sleep debt with two good nights of sleep, you cannot "bank" sleep. When sleep deprived, you are classically okay with well-learned behaviors, for example: staying between the lines while driving. However, if required to react to new stimuli, such as an unexpected pedestrian crossing the road, reaction time failures frequently occur.
The amount of sleep and the nature of your sleep patterns change as you age, with sleep becoming less deep and more disrupted. While total nocturnal sleep decreases as you age, it is significant to note the need for sleep does not. Classic patterns of circadian rhythms and associated sleepiness occur at 0300 to 0500 and 1500 to 1700 each day in association with the time zone to which you are acclimated. Also, your body temperature will drop as your body clock anticipates this slow down. If you find yourself driving (www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt/DrivingStandards2004.pdf) while fatigued at these times, your body may push you toward "micro-sleeps".
In transportation accident investigations where fatigue impacts have been implicated as causal, most stem from an interaction between sleep loss and disruption of circadian rhythms. In aircraft crew settings where operational safety awareness is tied to shared monitoring of systems and identifying potential hazards, the impacts of collective fatigue on all crew members tends to shut down communication within the crew, too often with deadly results.
How did this come to be a problem? Modern society has come to accept the need to respond to the 24/7 requirements of life. We think we can easily adapt to shift changes and cross country travel. We feel that "cat naps" on the plane or in the waiting room can catch us up on sleep deficits. Or that vigorous exercise prior to bedtime can help us get to sleep even though our "personal" clocks tell us it's too early to lie down. There are merits and limits to both of these prospects, as part of an understanding of how our body is physiologically programmed for daily recovery with productive sleep. Personal preparation for fitful performance on the fire line, as well as safe travel to the fire and back can be aided with an understanding of sleep effects.
Before you can tell the world "you're good to go", you may need to ask your body if it agrees. Being able to interpret that reply next summer may require some study now.
The newsletter can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/council/
[Submitted by Al King, al_king@nps.gov, 208-387-5967] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (ND)
Passing of Bob Powell
On December 31st, long-time Theodore Roosevelt NP chief ranger (retired) Bob Powell passed away at his home in Rapid City. Bob had been diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year.
Bob began his career in the NPS as a ranger in Joshua Tree NM, served as a district ranger in Badlands NM (now park), was later appointed as unit manager of Colorado NM, and served 25 years as chief ranger of Theodore Roosevelt NP, beginning in 1972.
As a graduate of South Dakota State University and through his long experience in prairie parks, Bob was an expert in prairie wildlife management and considered an authority on black-footed ferret and especially bison management. Known always as a gentleman, with the highest personal integrity, Bob was a quiet leader and an exceptional trainer of young rangers and resource managers.
Condolences may be sent to wife Julie and daughters Jennifer and Robin at: 3509 Hall Street, Rapid City, SD 57702-2223. A memorial service and scattering of ashes will be held in the Little Missouri River Badlands, near Medora, North Dakota, in May.
[Submitted by Jeff Bradybaugh, Acting Superintendent, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.