Industry News
According Pomerelle Mountain Resort, the mountain’s ski patrollers saved one of their own on Saturday, December 10th, 2016 after Marvin Heilesen, a ski patrol at Pomerelle, collapsed in the first-aid room. After collapsing, his coworkers sprung into action and began performing CPR on him. Six volunteer patrollers administered CPR, taking turns for 40 minutes, until a ground ambulance arrived. The mountain employees had requested for an air rescue, but the weather prohibited them from flying.
“It was a grave situation. He was in full cardiac arrest,” said Dane Higdem, patrol director.
Marvin was provided lifesaving chest compressions, artificial ventilations, supplemental oxygen, and electrical therapy (defibrillator) via AED by the Pomerelle Ski Patrol. These measures brought him back to life, which is truly a miracle. After the ambulance arrived, Marvin was transported to a Magic Valley Hospital for further care and he is currently recovering at home. Heilesen is only 51-years-old, so we are ever-so thankful that he is still with us.
Pomerelle Mountain Resort is a relatively small ski area located in Albion, Idaho with a ski patrol staff consisting of 45 people, mainly volunteers. Thankfully, patrollers are required to train to the level of an EMT, which allows them to act appropriately in situations such as this. They are fully trained and certified, which allows the public to feel safe in their hands on the mountain. It’s truly a miracle that Marvin is still with us and its all attributed to the life-saving actions of the Pomerelle Mountain Ski Patrol.
