Kentucky Department Creates Bike Team for Park Calls
May 12--When the city purchased Ben Hawes Park, it inherited more than just a golf course. It also received about eight miles of mountain bike trails near the Rudy Mine section of the park.
Occasionally, Owensboro firefighters have been called to the trails for emergencies. For example, firefighters have responded to calls of people with broken bones, and to one report of a lost child. Although parts of the trails are accessible by the fire department's all-terrain rescue vehicle, most of the biking trails are too narrow to be accessed by anything other than by foot or bicycle.
Last week, firefighters who will respond to medical emergencies on bicycles began training on the park trails. City Fire Chief Steve Mitchell said the department purchased mountain bikes so firefighters can ride the trails to medical emergencies and provide assistance.
The trails "were too thin to get an ATV out there if someone gets hurt," Mitchell said.
Lt. Jason Pickerell said the goal is to have OFD volunteers trained to ride the trails available on all shifts. Although the park is closed at night, there's always a possibility firefighters will need to respond to an emergency after dark.
An incident "could start in the day and end in the night," said Lt. Chris Curtis, a shift supervisor who is also training for the bike patrol.
Tuesday's training sessions were geared to acclimate firefighters to the trails so they'll be ready to provide emergency response immediately, Pickerell said. "We're going to ride all (the trails) today, so we know what they're like and what's out there."
Pathways cut through the woods will connect the ATV-accessible trail to the mountain bike trails, so firefighters will only have to move an injured person a relatively short distance to reach the rescue vehicle, Pickerell said.
The bicycles are equipped with first aid kits that contain items such as gauze, suction, cold packs, an "EpiPen" for treatment of allergic reactions and other basic supplies. The bicycles will be at Fire Station Three on Cravens Avenue and be brought to the park by an engine with a bicycle rack, Pickerell said.
Firefighters from Station One are also training with Station Three firefighters, so members from Station One can respond when firefighters from the other station are unavailable.
Lt. David Spalding, a member of the group from Station One, said the trails can be treacherous. "I've been riding these trails before they were completed," Spalding said. "There's a potential for pretty serious injury."
Pickerell said the bicycle team will also be used to provide medical assistance at public events, and Spalding said they can also be used to respond to emergencies on the David C. Adkisson Greenbelt Park.
James Mayse, 691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com
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