Buzz_Lightfoot
08-06-2009, 13:11
Shock and outrage ensued after a hiker who broke their leg was rescued and the rescue agency didn’t charge for the rescue.
“Tom” had slipped and broke his leg while day hiking up Mt. Washington from Pinkham Notch. “I stepped on a patch of wet lichen and faster than I could blink my foot shot out from under me. I landed hard and heard my leg snap!”
“Jerry”, the leader of the mountain rescue team was heard to say “It could have happened to anyone of us. It wasn’t as if he did anything wrong.” When asked why Tom wasn’t charged for the rescue Jerry responded “It’s our job to rescue people. It is the whole reason our organization exists. We exist to help people. There was no negligence involved here.”
Jerry’s comments sparked outrage. A local woman “Sarah” exclaimed “We all know that government agencies do not exist to help people. What utter nonsense!” “Jill” was even more vehement in her outrage. “How can he say he wasn’t negligent? He had no splints or crutches with him. How can he have gone out a hike being so unprepared? This is negligence in the first degree!”
Environmental groups were quick to attack Tom for his wanton destruction of the lichen. PITA spokeswoman “Elvira” practically screamed “It takes hundreds of years for lichen to grow! Not only did his OWN wanton destruction of the environment cause irreversible harm but the rescuers also did so in their ‘rescue’ of this environmental terrorist. A $500,000 fine would be too little. He should be locked up for the rest of his life!”
Tom was mystified by the entire hubbub. “I was just out on a day hike and had some misfortune Thank goodness for my phone and especially for people like Jerry!”
Jill became more outraged at this point. “Who do these people think they are? They think it is all right to just phone for help when they break a leg or something! This is an example of just how low society has sunk. It seems everyone these days expects to be saved from any minor personal disaster. Instead of rewarding Tom for his “accident” Jerry should have refused to come unless paid up front!”
Elvira just said plainly. “For years I have been advocating a ‘Hiking License’ for anyone who plans on leaving the asphalt. This is just another example of just WHY this should be implemented post-haste. PITA would be honored to offer hiker training courses for a reasonable fee. Not only would we be able to train hikers in the dangers of the outdoors but we could take the time to educate them about PITA!”
Tom is home and recuperating and expects to be hiking again in a few short months. What may take longer to blow over are the ramifications of his accident on Mount Washington.
“Tom” had slipped and broke his leg while day hiking up Mt. Washington from Pinkham Notch. “I stepped on a patch of wet lichen and faster than I could blink my foot shot out from under me. I landed hard and heard my leg snap!”
“Jerry”, the leader of the mountain rescue team was heard to say “It could have happened to anyone of us. It wasn’t as if he did anything wrong.” When asked why Tom wasn’t charged for the rescue Jerry responded “It’s our job to rescue people. It is the whole reason our organization exists. We exist to help people. There was no negligence involved here.”
Jerry’s comments sparked outrage. A local woman “Sarah” exclaimed “We all know that government agencies do not exist to help people. What utter nonsense!” “Jill” was even more vehement in her outrage. “How can he say he wasn’t negligent? He had no splints or crutches with him. How can he have gone out a hike being so unprepared? This is negligence in the first degree!”
Environmental groups were quick to attack Tom for his wanton destruction of the lichen. PITA spokeswoman “Elvira” practically screamed “It takes hundreds of years for lichen to grow! Not only did his OWN wanton destruction of the environment cause irreversible harm but the rescuers also did so in their ‘rescue’ of this environmental terrorist. A $500,000 fine would be too little. He should be locked up for the rest of his life!”
Tom was mystified by the entire hubbub. “I was just out on a day hike and had some misfortune Thank goodness for my phone and especially for people like Jerry!”
Jill became more outraged at this point. “Who do these people think they are? They think it is all right to just phone for help when they break a leg or something! This is an example of just how low society has sunk. It seems everyone these days expects to be saved from any minor personal disaster. Instead of rewarding Tom for his “accident” Jerry should have refused to come unless paid up front!”
Elvira just said plainly. “For years I have been advocating a ‘Hiking License’ for anyone who plans on leaving the asphalt. This is just another example of just WHY this should be implemented post-haste. PITA would be honored to offer hiker training courses for a reasonable fee. Not only would we be able to train hikers in the dangers of the outdoors but we could take the time to educate them about PITA!”
Tom is home and recuperating and expects to be hiking again in a few short months. What may take longer to blow over are the ramifications of his accident on Mount Washington.