Objective
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS) lies at the northern tip of Wisconsin and is home to a network of 21 islands along Lake Superior. The goal of this report is to investigate emergency medical services (EMS) and search-and-rescue (SAR) trends at APIS in an effort to improve visitor safety and resource allocation.
Methods
This study is a retrospective analysis reviewing APIS SAR Reports and Annual EMS Summary Reports from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2015. Information related to incident type, incident time, individual demographics and activities, injury/illness type, cost, and contributing factors were recorded and analyzed in frequency tables. EMS analysis was limited to incident type.
Results
From 2006 to 2015, APIS SAR conducted 133 total missions assisting 261 individuals: 57 injured/ill, 200 not injured/ill, 4 fatalities, and 25 documented saves. SAR incidents cost $3439 on average, most frequently occurred during August and on Saturdays. Nonmotorized boating was the most common activity resulting in SAR incidents. Hypothermia/cold exposure accounted for over half of all injuries/illnesses (45.0%). The most frequently reported contributing factor was wind. EMS responded to a total of 85 incidents with the majority of the EMS incidents involving first aid (40.0%).
Conclusions
Overall, this study highlights the hazards associated with the frigid, rough, and unpredictable conditions of Lake Superior. The results of this report will allow APIS personnel to more saliently convey risks to visitors in an effort to decrease the need for future rescues.