By A.P. Crawford (ap.crawford@skipatrol.ca)
Mont Lac-Vert – March 2023
Shortly after 1 p.m. on a sunny 2023 March day at Mont Lac-Vert, Jacques Boudreault was on the lift near the top of the hill when he saw a snowboarder hit a tree below him. The snowboarder stopped moving and blood was observed pouring from his mouth. Jacques immediately called for the first available patroller to respond to the scene. Two patrollers were already at the top and one immediately headed down. Others made their way to the top to be available to assist.
The first patroller to reach the scene observed that the patient was conscious and had severe breathing difficulties due to the nature of his injuries. He cleared the airway which allowed the patient to expel large quantities of fluids that were also interfering with his breathing.
The next patroller arrived on scene to assist and immediately stabilized the patient’s head. At the same time the call to EMS was made, emphasising the severity of the patient’s condition. When Jacques reached the top of the lift he immediately retrieved a toboggan to bring it to the scene. Another patroller followed not far behind and upon arrival was quickly called upon to stabilize the patient. As additional patrollers arrived, they were deployed to assist with stabilizing the patient and preparing him for transport.
Meanwhile, as the other patrollers (assigned or visiting for the day) arrived at the top, another patroller took charge of this group and realizing the need to reduce any extra time in responding, also retrieved the trauma kit including oxygen in case it was needed. Almost immediately the kit was dispatched to the scene and oxygen applied to the patient, whose condition was deteriorating rapidly.
With the aim of ensuring a seamless transport of the patient from the site to the treatment room, other patrollers were dispatched to open the treatment room in readiness and when the toboggan arrived took charge of the case until the team from the site arrived. The patient had vomited several times by this point and the lead in the room made sure he was reassured.
The time from the patient first becoming injured to arriving at the treatment room was approximately 20 minutes. Despite the urgency of the situation having been clearly conveyed, it still took more than 40 minutes for EMS to arrive on scene at which point the case was handed over. EMS transported the patient to the Alma Hospital. Following assessment, he was then transferred to the Chicoutimi Hospital for major surgery.
In the hours and days that followed, news of the 15-year-old male’s condition was received. His father advised that his son had suffered fractures of all the ribs on the left side, rupture of an artery, damage to the spleen, internal haemorrhage, and loss of half of the left lung. He is reported to have been recovering slowly but surely from this episode.
In September 2024 the Canadian Ski Patrol recognized Jacques Boudreault, Donald Gravel, Réjean Coté, Mathieu Coté, Frédéric Gagnon, Alexandre Comeau, Joël Duschene, Vanessa Duschene, Luc Gagnon and Corinne Gagné, who all worked as a team to save the life of their young patient.
This post is also available in: French