Guest dies on Expedition Everest

[Kwahati]

"We offer the family our deepest sympathies and will provide assistance to them during this difficult time," Disney representative Andrea Finger said.[/I]

Gotta love that. It's clearly not Disney's fault at all and they'll still help out the family to make sure no stigma is attached to the Disney name over this.

Seriously, though: did Grumpy and I call it or what? Heart or brain all the way. Those are just the most common ways a person dies "for no apparent reason"... Still sad for the family, but the warning signs do say that if you have heart issues, you shouldn't ride...

Hey Grumpy! I know you're on the ground, unresponsive as a result of your recent, churro and rum induced, heart event, but what do you think about Disney's response? :p:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Gotta love that. It's clearly not Disney's fault at all and they'll still help out the family to make sure no stigma is attached to the Disney name over this.

Seriously, though: did Grumpy and I call it or what? Heart or brain all the way. Those are just the most common ways a person dies "for no apparent reason"... Still sad for the family, but the warning signs do say that if you have heart issues, you shouldn't ride...

Hey Grumpy! I know you're on the ground, unresponsive as a result of your recent, churro and rum induced, heart event, but what do you think about Disney's response? :p:

I think its appropriate. People die every day, quite suddenly and with no prior warning. I remember a MD who was giving us a first responder course mention that approximately 92 percent of people do not survive their first heart attack. (the info is a number of years old) because they do not recognize the symptoms, or they can't believe its happening to them!

He also mentioned that a brain annurism can trigger a heart attack, or you simply go light out, end of shift!

(It wasn't a heart event, it was a RUM soaked churro stomach event, I'm getting better!)

[Big Wallaby]

Yeah, I am glad that Disney is taking care of them. No, it's not Disney's fault, but they are doing the right thing. I figured it had to be a heart or brain event as well, so you forgot to mention me in your list of people that called it. And the fact he was just completely gone in 50 seconds? It must have been quite the event.

My guess is he probably would have died Tuesday anyway, roller coaster or not. When it's that sudden, it's usually with no warning at the time that would make one think, "I shouldn't get on that roller coaster".

It's like in my first day of training, my trainer and I found a guy with his hand to his chest, so we took him to first aid, and he told us he was having an arrhythmia. At first aid, he kept trying to tell the RN that it was food induced, but she called the paramedics, and I'm glad we didn't hear about him on the news.

My sympathies go out to this man's family.

[hobie16]

It's like in my first day of training, my trainer and I found a guy with his hand to his chest, so we took him to first aid, and he told us he was having an arrhythmia. At first aid, he kept trying to tell the RN that it was food induced, but she called the paramedics, and I'm glad we didn't hear about him on the news.

Don't EVER let them talk you out of getting them medical care. Most people don't want to be a bother or are in denial. Lie, if you have to, and say it's company policy.

We see, on average, one heart attack a week on the beach at the bottom of our hill. It's usually a male, mid fifties to sixties, out swimming in the ocean. I'd guess they don't have an exercise program, see a bunch of other people in the water and decide they've paid a bunch 'o' bucks for the trip and they're gonna get their money's worth. It's a pretty big, unexpected shock for the family in such a nice place.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Don't EVER let them talk you out of getting them medical care. Most people don't want to be a bother or are in denial. Lie, if you have to, and say it's company policy.

We see, on average, one heart attack a week on the beach at the bottom of our hill. It's usually a male, mid fifties to sixties, out swimming in the ocean. I'd guess they don't have an exercise program, see a bunch of other people in the water and decide they've paid a bunch 'o' bucks for the trip and they're gonna get their money's worth. It's a pretty big, unexpected shock for the family in such a nice place.

But isn't that a mark of a true american? We play harder than we work, and we could NOT possibly have medical problems on vacation? right?...right? (oh crap call the paramedics!!!)

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Yeah, I am glad that Disney is taking care of them. No, it's not Disney's fault, but they are doing the right thing. I figured it had to be a heart or brain event as well, so you forgot to mention me in your list of people that called it. And the fact he was just completely gone in 50 seconds? It must have been quite the event.

My guess is he probably would have died Tuesday anyway, roller coaster or not. When it's that sudden, it's usually with no warning at the time that would make one think, "I shouldn't get on that roller coaster".

It's like in my first day of training, my trainer and I found a guy with his hand to his chest, so we took him to first aid, and he told us he was having an arrhythmia. At first aid, he kept trying to tell the RN that it was food induced, but she called the paramedics, and I'm glad we didn't hear about him on the news.

My sympathies go out to this man's family.

Also, just knowing Disneys attitude, I would expect them to react the way they did. Anything less would not seem Disney like!!

Good for that RN..She knows that denial that an event is happening is the dangerous mind-set to overcome!!

[Kwahati]

Good for that RN..She knows that denial that an event is happening is the dangerous mind-set to overcome!!

One of my favorite Lifeguard Training instructors (the guy in charge of the pools for the city of Spokane, Washington several years ago) told us that, like all lifeguarding classes teach, if a victim is flailing too hard, you can drown him a little bit to make getting him back to land easier...he went on to add that you can use the same tactic if you get to a victim and they suddenly decide they don't want help! :D:

Edited to add: I'm glad that nurse was good enough with people to convince the guy...I'd have been jumping in the castle moat with him!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

One of my favorite Lifeguard Training instructors (the guy in charge of the pools for the city of Spokane, Washington several years ago) told us that, like all lifeguarding classes teach, if a victim is flailing too hard, you can drown him a little bit to make getting him back to land easier...he went on to add that you can use the same tactic if you get to a victim and they suddenly decide they don't want help! :D:

Edited to add: I'm glad that nurse was good enough with people to convince the guy...I'd have been jumping in the castle moat with him!

When people panic, its amazing that more don't die when rescuers get to them!! I remember years ago helping a paramedic load a guy on the gurney into the ambulance, the guy kept insisting he was okay and wanted off, but he was white as a sheet and sweating badly on a cool day!! I looked at the paramedic, and she said, just wait a bit, and sure enough, he went out!! she then got the I.V. and o2 going, and in a split second, they were in route!!

[Kwahati]

When people panic, its amazing that more don't die when rescuers get to them!! I remember years ago helping a paramedic load a guy on the gurney into the ambulance, the guy kept insisting he was okay and wanted off, but he was white as a sheet and sweating badly on a cool day!! I looked at the paramedic, and she said, just wait a bit, and sure enough, he went out!! she then got the I.V. and o2 going, and in a split second, they were in route!!

Yep. That's the other great one: "I don't want help!" "Okay, I won't help you...But is it okay if I sit with you for a few minutes?" ;) [For those of us who don't know the legality of the situation, Grumpy and I are referring to the fact that if someone actually *refuses* care, then you can be sued for helping them, even if they really do need help. However, under the law, if they go out, then it is implicit that they would accept care. It's a "reasonable person" standard thing...]

Edited to add: I was also taught (by that same instructor I mentioned before incidentally) that you should encourage them to sit down and then subtly put a hand behind their head or position someone behind them, that way when they do go down, you don't have to treat the head wound too!

[CMGUY89]

Definitely. We are trained with the whole "ask three times" thing. But most of us freak out and will ask like 20 times. Once I was at boat dispatch and my merge person (fresh out of training) was loading a wheelchair incorrectly. He went forwards down the ramp, the chair tilted and the woman fell out onto her face. I FREAKED OUT! I slammed on the station stop button (dumb idea at the time as the boat wasn't moving) and tried to help as much as I could. I had a CM who was tasking come over and keep and eye on my monitor while the merge person and I assisted the woman back into her wheelchair. We both apologized a million times and kept asking if she wanted first aid. She was very pleasant and understanding. She even joked "Hey this is my kind of vacation, two young, strong men come to my rescue..." I blushed and all was well. Things went back to normalcy.

I also remember walking towards the Soarin' desk one day and seeing a man looking very pale on a bench. He was alone so I approached him and asked if he was ok. He said yes, but his hands started to shake and he was sweating pretty profusely. I found another CM to help me and I asked the man if he wanted some medical attention, what he had for breakfast (nothing but coffee), then I got a wet paper towel from the adjacent bathroom and placed it on his forehead. He relented and let me call the paramedics so I called and alpha-unit. They showed up and I had to go back to work, I felt bad I couldn't stay with him until his family showed up. He was treated on-site and released. Just some dehydration.

Another time woman came running up to me at front doors and was like "Some kid just fell and hit his head on the bench, I think we need a doctor!" So I go down and take a look at the toddler who fell. He had a HUGE bruise on his head. He was crying, a good sign, and I asked his mother what happened, if she wanted to medical attention. She refused initially but I convinced that they could at least come and take a look to make sure everything was ok. She said yes and I called an alpha-unit. I then had to make sure they kept the baby awake incase he had a head injury. I was treated and released on site.

Just gotta keep your wits about you...