Kilted Samaritan

**Riverkilt** · 16th October 11, 01:16 PM

Coming back from my hike to Nine Mile Wash today (pics on that forum) I was arriving back at the trailhead when I saw a guy slump to the ground. He was with his wife and another couple and they propped him up and started pouring water on him. By the time I got to them they were having him drink a LOT of water. He'd already passed out twice and his friend had given him Pepto Bismo for indigestion. Turns out he'd hiked to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook and back without water. Its only about two miles round trip but its hot today, no shade, and its uphill in sand both ways - and at altitude.

I've had enough First Aid training since I was a Cub Scout and have lots of desert heat problems experience to know to just call 911 and get an ambo out there. While we waited we kept him shaded and talking. Guy was 62yo with hypertension. Of course he said he was fine but his wife kept him down until the ambo arrived.

He wanted to minimize but the paramedics were firm and took him to the hospital. Our local hospital gets a LOT of similar cases all summer. I'm sure they took good care of him.

The entire time no one commented on my kilt...focused on the guy. He kept kinda looking up at me and staring at my kilt pin - which was in front of his face as I shaded him. Wonder if he though he was hallucinating...pin is the stock sword and cloverleaf but I painted the cloverleaves a bright green.

Guessing it all ended well in the hospital and the couples could continue their vacation. Nice to put a bit of those years of First Aid training to use. Never know when you're gonna need that stuff.

**KiltedDixon** · 16th October 11, 05:51 PM

Well done sir.

**Standard** · 16th October 11, 06:30 PM

Well done Ron. Sometimes it takes someone not too closely related to the situation to be able to "make the call" as it were and get the professionals on their way. Too often people think they can just shake it off. Most times that is ok, but it sure sounds like you made the right decision here.