The Doctor Weighs In

Pat Salber MD

There are lots of health reasons to lose weight:  chronic illness prevention (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure), better fit into imaging machines (such as MRIs) and mental health (some heavy people get depressed about their weight).  An Associated Press story this week adds to the list --  it can be tough to get rescued if you are really obese.

A 500-pound man went tubing on the St. Croix River.  He was following his doctor’s instructions to become more active.  Things were going well until his inner tube hit a rock and deflated.  

At some point after that, the 39 year old developed chest pain and his friends called 911.  A paramedic arrived by helicopter and “stabilized” him, but he was too heavy for the helicopter to carry.  More than 50 ground rescuers headed his way, arriving about an hour after the 911 call.

The rescuers really ran into trouble once they reached him.  The river was shallow and the ground, rocky.  They tried to use an aluminum boat as a makeshift stretcher to carry the man, however he weighed so much they could not carry him more than a few feet before having to put the man and boat back on the ground.  What to do?

The rescuers lashed three canoes together and placed four boards across them.  The man got on and the rescuers dragged the contraption for hours, finally reaching an ambulance almost twelve hours after the initial 911 call.  Thank heavens he wasn’t having a heart attack!

He was admitted to the hospital overnight. And, released the next day.  His mom says, “He is really pretty healthy.” 

Thank heavens.  If he had something that needed immediate attention, he would have paid a high price.  

In need of an immediate rescue?  “Yet, another reason to lose weight.”