Case Study 14

There you are, hiking with a companion through the San Juan Mountains in Colorado, when suddenly there appears a rider on a pale horse galloping across a meadow. Your attempt to access a vague memory about pale horses passes into a focus on the beauty of the horse and rider, which becomes a stumbling horse and airborne rider whose graceful flight ends in a tuck and roll as the horsewoman lands on her back, tumbles, stands, and runs a few steps before finally collapsing in a heap.

Your companion says “wow” as you fumble for your first aid kit and stumble toward the patient. In the back of your mind you hear the voice of your NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructors saying quietly, “Slow down. Scene size-up.” This kicks in your WFR response. Pausing to survey the scene, you observe that the horse is long gone. You kneel next to the one patient, introduce yourself, and ask her permission to help. She agrees, your friend holds her head, you don your gloves and begin the assessment. She seems alert and responding appropriately, although very anxious and in pain. Her airway is clear and her breathing, while fast, appears adequate and unlabored. Your blood sweep doesn’t find anything; her radial pulse is strong and fast. The weather is warm and the ground dry, so you decide not to move her. You roll back on your heels, take a deep breath, and proceed with your assessment.