PHILIPSTOWN – Perhaps Philipstown emergency services providers should establish an outpost on Breakneck Ridge.
For the second time within 48 hours, volunteer emergency responders from the Cold Spring and North Highlands Fire Departments in addition to the Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps spent time on the popular mountainous terrain assisting injured hikers.
Saturday’s mayhem began around 2:30 p.m. when the Putnam 911 Center received a request for medical intervention from a person suffering a heart attack. Fire and EMS were dispatched followed minutes later by a second call indicating a person was having difficulty breathing while climbing the Red Trail in oppressive heat and humidity. The temperature was 90 degrees at the time.
Emergency responders rushed to assist the two individuals when a third call was forwarded to the 911 Center in Carmel indicating a person falling on a trail and injuring his lower extremities. Another request was made for fire and ambulance personnel to assist.
State Park Police spokesman Randy Simons noted the three incidents were separate and unrelated.
Last Thursday evening, EMS providers spent several hours on the Washburn Trail when a Poughkeepsie man lost his footing and fell 100 feet to his death.
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