Man stranded in freezing temperatures

NAPLES — A Boundary County man suffered frostbite after he became stranded in his disabled vehicle.

The 35-year-old was on some state land near Round Mountain Road when South Boundary Fire Protection District and rescue crews tried to find him. However, the road was blocked by a car, SBFPD Chief Allen Merritt told the Herald. 

“We could not get around the car in our vehicles so that’s when Search and Rescue was activated to come out with snowmobiles and get back to where the man was located,” he said. “As far as I know the frostbite was minimal, thankfully.”

The patient was located by search and rescue crews and transported via snowmobile to where the ambulance was staged, SAR officials said in a press release. The patient was quickly assessed and treated for cold and exposure and transported to Boundary Community Hospital in stable condition.

The temperature recorded by Medic One at the time of this patient contact was minus 27 degrees, although the National Weather Service has a recorded temperature at that time of minus 31 at the location. 

During this cold snap, first responders and law enforcement ask community members to strongly consider limiting travel, and for those who must travel, to take the time to prepare themselves and their vehicles for emergencies.

“Frostbite can happen very fast on exposed skin in those temperatures,” Merritt said. “If you do go out make sure to layer up on clothes and wear gloves. Make sure you have adequate heating in your home especially in rooms where pipes could freeze and keep cabinet doors open to help from freezing pipes.”