Friends help save suicidal man from record cold
Dec 6th
On 04 December, 2013 at approximately 11:00pm, deputies from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the University of Colorado Police Department and Boulder Police Department, a City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Ranger, and rescuers from Rocky Mountain Rescue Group and American Medical Response, responded to Chautauqua Park to search for a 19 year old male student from CU-Boulder who had been reported as suicidal.
The male victim’s roommates had found a backpack containing some of his belongings in the area of the Bluebell Shelter and began their search from there, calling CUPD back to update them, as they had been working with CUPD officers initially to report their roommate as missing and suicidal.
Rocky Mountain Rescue Groups rescues a suicidal man from Flatirons
A BCSO deputy, CUPD officer, and OSMP ranger were able to hike in to the victim, who was severely hypothermic, semi-responsive, and severely frostbitten. They provided immediate lifesaving efforts to gently warm the victim until volunteer rescuers with Rocky Mountain Rescue Group could safely perform a technical evacuation of the victim down to an AMR ambulance. He was transported from the scene to Boulder Community Hospital for further evaluation.
While we discourage individuals from engaging in such a rescue effort without the proper training, equipment, and resources in place (in order to avoid becoming additional victims themselves), especially on such a bitterly cold, dark night, the victim’s roommates’ courageous efforts led to a successful suicide intervention and likely saved their roommate’s life.
At the time of this press release the victim’s medical condition is unknown.
A copy of this press release can also be found at: www.bouldersheriff.org A photograph of the rescue, provided courtesy of RMRG, is attached to this press release.
Sergeant Clay Leak
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
5600 Flatiron Pkwy
Boulder, Colorado 80301
303-441-3650
Gas “outage” comes at a bad time
Dec 6th
Boulder Fire-Rescue offers safety tips during gas outage
Xcel Energy is working to address a gas outage that is impacting a significant number of homes in parts of the city and Boulder County. Boulder Fire-Rescue is offering tips to help keep people safe during the outage.
ü If your pilot light is out after gas service is restored and you don’t know how to re-light it, you may contact Xcel to come to your home to relight the pilot for you. Xcel is asking individuals who need assistance to call 1-800-295-4999 to provide a cell phone for crews to contact you; if you will be home when crews come by, please leave your porch light. Call a professional contractor if you don’t wish to wait for Xcel.
A gas outage hit Boulder Friday
ü If your pipes freeze, avoid using blow torches or open flames to try to heat them. Just yesterday, Dec. 5, 2013, someone caused a fire in a mobile home while using a blow torch to heat frozen pipes. Although no one was injured, the mobile home suffered extensive damage from the fire.
ü If you have neighbors who are elderly or who are physically/mentally challenged, please check on them to make sure they’re okay. If they are in need of medical attention, call 9-1-1.
ü If you plan to use an electric space heater, consider the following precautions:
· Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from flammable objects like curtains, furniture and bedding.
· Make sure to keep a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around space heaters and fires.
· Use space heaters only when you’re present in your home or business, and only while you’re awake. Never use space heaters while you sleep.
How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which can be produced when a furnace or other appliances are not working properly. It can also be produced when wood-burning fireplaces are not vented properly.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas, and inhaling it can cause death. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include feeling out of breath, dizziness, nausea and headaches. If you or any of your family members experience these symptoms, leave the building immediately and call 9-1-1.
ü Make sure to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home or business. Check the batteries regularly to ensure that it’s working properly.
ü Don’t use a charcoal or wood grill indoors or in a garage.
ü Never operate kerosene or propane heaters indoors without proper venting.
ü Never use your oven to heat your home.
Emergency Contacts and Shelter Information
In case of emergency, contact 9-1-1. For other calls, the non-emergency dispatch number is 303-441-3333. To report outages, please contact Xcel directly at 1-800-895-2999.
The American Red Cross will be opening a warm shelter for people impacted by this emergency. The shelter will be available starting at 3 p.m. today and is located at Douglass Elementary School, 840 75th St. near 75th Street and Baseline Road.
–CITY–
7,000 B.C. homes are without heating gas
Dec 6th
Natural Gas Outages in Boulder County Report as of 4:00 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, 2013
To supplement our Colorado crews working to restore natural gas service to customers in Boulder County affected by this morning’s outage, we have called in additional Xcel Energy crews from around the state and from Minnesota and Wisconsin. We have also contacted utilities in California and New Mexico plus private companies too. With temperatures hovering in the single digits, we want to restart service as quickly and safely as possible. Approximately 7,000 homes are without service. We estimate 90 percent of customers will have service by noon tomorrow. Crews will work around-the-clock to restore service to customers.
7,000 homes in Boulder County are w/o heat
We will call customers in advance to alert them that crews will be in their neighborhoods to relight pilots for natural gas appliances. It is important that we can reach you with this information. If you have not given us your cell phone number in the past, please call us at 1-800-895-4999 to provide your cell phone number or another alternate phone number.
To help our crews restore your service tonight, please turn on an outside light if you will be available to let them into your home. A person who is at least 18 years old must be at home to allow our crews access to your home. If not, we will need to return later. Please do not attempt to re-light natural gas appliances yourself. Not only can your appliances or equipment be damaged by improper re-lights but you can place yourself and your family in danger.
Our employees will check your appliances and re-light them for you free of charge. The American Red Cross opened a warming shelter for people affected by the natural gas outage. The center is located at Douglass Elementary School, 840 75th St. near 75th Street and Baseline Road.
