Dany Guénette’s air evacuation:
On September 4, 2021, Dany Guénette and 10 hunting partners went to the Parent area in Mauricie to prepare for their hunting season. Their ATVs were covered by CAA-Québec’s recreational and leisure vehicle insurance, their hunting licenses were valid, and they had all the necessary equipment. The final step was to check the condition of their hunting towers, located more than 35 km from the cabin.
Upon reaching his hunting tower, Dany climbs the ladder to inspect the floor of the structure and encounters a wasp nest, an insect to which he has been allergic for many years. Panicked, he tries to descend the ladder as quickly as possible but is unfortunately stung twice. The combination of stress and pain causes Dany to lose his footing and fall 15 feet. At that moment, he realizes he has lost all sensation in his lower body and feels the allergic reaction gradually developing.
Following his accident and air evacuation in the fall of 2021, Dany and his friends issue a heartfelt plea to hunters, fishers, and anyone venturing into remote areas of Quebec.
“I can swear to you, Airmedic is important. Whether it’s you or one of your friends on the ground, you will remember it for the rest of your life. If you have the chance to get your Airmedic coverage, take it.” Mike, Dany’s friend
The benefits of an air evacuation
Lying on the ground, Dany has two fractured vertebrae, one of which is shattered into three pieces, pressing on his spinal cord, in addition to a fracture in his left wrist. Alone, he waits 45 minutes in panic and pain for one of his friends to come to his aid. His friend, Carl Guénette, who finds him on the ground, instinctively grabs the Epipen located on Dany’s ATV, 20 meters away. Fortunately, the allergic reaction is controlled. Carl then goes to seek help. He has a 1 hour 30 minute journey before returning to his companion’s side, who remains on the ground during that time.
Carl returns sooner than expected with reinforcements. His cousin, Tony Paradis, has first responder training. Upon seeing Dany on the ground, he immediately recognizes that his spine is affected. A road escort is therefore not feasible. For him, the solution is simple: they need to call Airmedic. Together, they use pieces of wood to create a backboard in order to safely move the injured person.
If Dany had used a ground evacuation, his vertebral fracture would have caused a spinal cord injury, resulting in permanent loss of muscle strength in his legs, loss of bowel and bladder functions, and loss of sexual function.
“If it weren’t for Airmedic, I wouldn’t be walking today. Thank you, Airmedic.” – Dany Guénette
Information to provide to the Airmedic dispatch center
Meanwhile, Sébastien Forget, who is at the cabin, calls an ambulance. It is expected to arrive within the next four hours. However, the team at the hunting camp informs Sébastien that a ground evacuation is not feasible due to Dany’s injuries. A helicopter evacuation is imperative. At that point, he calls Airmedic’s coordination center with the help of a neighbor equipped with a satellite phone.
The coordinator at the dispatch center asks for a lot of information, which can be difficult to provide in the heat of the moment, especially in Dany’s situation, where Sébastien, who is communicating with the center, is not next to the injured person. It is therefore important to be prepared in advance. Here is the list of relevant information to communicate:
- Name of the injured person
- Name of the caller and phone number
- Membership number
- Number of injured persons
- Description of the accident
- Condition of the injured person
- GPS coordinates
- Identification of a landing site
Once the helicopter is in flight, they maintain constant communication every 20 minutes to ensure that Dany’s condition does not deteriorate while awaiting the medical team.
“ When the helicopter arrived, we were the happiest people on the planet. ” – Jimmy Villeneuve
All’s well that ends well
Now, Dany walks and enjoys life to the fullest. He still has some work to do to get around, but he is on the right track thanks to rehabilitation sessions. Without Airmedic’s intervention, his life would be completely different today.
Airmedic, saving lives, everywhere in Quebec, at all times.
