A spring field trip to Matthiessen State Park in LaSalle County turned into an emergency evacuation Friday when two boys had to be airlifted out after roughhousing in the water left one unresponsive, authorities said. An adult chaperone with the group began CPR while waiting for emergency crews, who later called in medical helicopters to fly the children to a nearby hospital. The boys, ages 12 and 11, were part of a school group of more than 50 students.
Area fire departments were dispatched around 12:39 p.m. for a report of CPR in progress, Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire told NBC Chicago. Wire said the two boys had been roughhousing in the water when one inhaled water and lost consciousness, prompting an adult with the group to start CPR while waiting for first responders. Crews rendered aid at the scene before requesting medical helicopters, and both children were conscious and breathing by the time they were airlifted, Wire told the station.
Field trips and park rules
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, groups of 25 or more are required to obtain an activity permit, and the agency recommends at least one adult chaperone for every eight students on guided programs. Matthiessen and neighboring Starved Rock routinely host school outings and offer guided hikes, junior-ranger programming and educational packets for teachers. Those guidelines are designed to help staff plan programs and ensure adequate supervision on canyon and river trails, where footing can be slick and conditions change quickly.
Local coordination and safety work
Local officials and first responders have been working on upgrades meant to speed rescues in the parks, including a staff-only smartphone app for EMS dispatches and a plan to repurpose decommissioned tornado sirens to extend coverage. The cross-agency safety push brings together park staff, La Salle County emergency management, the sheriff’s office and area fire chiefs to refine response plans and communication. Those efforts were highlighted earlier this month as parks prepared for a busy spring season, when school groups and day-trippers pack the trails, Shaw Local reported…