Location: Kirkham Hot Springs
Date: April 25, 2026
Agencies Involved: East Boise County EMS District (EBCED), Lowman Fire, and Boise County Search and Rescue
Training Type: Technical Rescue / Patient Extrication / EMS Scenario-Based Training
Overview:
A joint training exercise was conducted at Kirkham Hot Springs to simulate a wilderness rescue involving a patients located in a difficult-to-access environment. The objective of the training was to enhance interagency coordination, improve technical rescue skills, and reinforce patient care in austere conditions.
Scenario Summary:
Crews were dispatched to a simulated call involving a patient who had sustained injuries after a slip and fall near the hot springs and another patient with Diabetic issues. The patients were positioned down an embankment, requiring responders to navigate uneven terrain and implement a coordinated extrication plan.
Environmental challenges included limited access, elevation changes, and proximity to geothermal water sources.
Training Objectives:
- Practice safe access and egress in steep, uneven terrain
- Utilize litter operations for patient packaging and movement
- Reinforce communication between EMS, BCSARs and fire personnel.
- Provide patient assessment and treatment in a wilderness setting
- Emphasize scene safety and hazard recognition
Actions Taken:
Responders established scene command and conducted a hazard assessment upon arrival. Teams were assigned to patient access, stabilization, and extrication. The patient was assessed, treated for simulated injuries and medical conditions, and properly packaged for transport using a litter system.
Crews coordinated movement up the embankment while maintaining patient stability and provider safety.
Outcomes:
The training was successfully completed with all objectives met. Personnel demonstrated strong teamwork, effective communication, and proper use of technical rescue equipment. The scenario highlighted the importance of planning, adaptability, and maintaining situational awareness in remote environments.
Conclusion:
This training provided valuable hands-on experience in managing complex rescue scenarios in a wilderness setting. The skills practiced at Kirkham Hot Springs directly support operational readiness for real-world incidents within Boise County and similar remote response areas
