incident at Sullivan's Cave

Date
28th Aug 1982
Publication
ACA 1982 p. 263
Cave
Sullivan's Cave
State
Indiana
County
Unknown
Country
United States of America
Category
Cave
Incident type
Illness
Group type
Unknown
Group size
6
Aid type
Unknown
Source
Unknown
Incident flags
 

Injured cavers

No injured cavers recorded.

Incident report

On August 28, 1982, a group of six experienced cavers entered Sullivan's Cave in Indiana. They penetrated to nearly the rise of the Sullivan River when one of the group displayed signs of advanced hypothermia. Three of them went for help when the victim refused to proceed. The State Police were called and they called NCRC, who alerted Bloomington and Central Indiana Grotto members. The Bloomington cavers answered the call accompanied by an EMT, with CIG on stand-by. The victim was reached and given aid. He eventually left the cave under his own power.

Incident analysis

It may not apply to this situation, but be aware that a victim of hypothermia, if he is in an environment where he will continue to lose body heat while moving may be better off to stop. Movement for a hypothermia victim no longer produces much body heat and may use up the last of the victim's energy, causing death.

Summary

An experienced caver in Sullivan's Cave, Indiana, showed signs of advanced hypothermia and was assisted out of the cave by rescue personnel.

References

  1. Jane Miller "Minutes, September Meeting" CIG Newsletter October, 1982 98.
This record was last updated on 27th Apr 2024 at 23:11 UTC. The data was processed and input using AI.