Spokane, Washington – Man Hospitalized After Being Rescued from the Spokane River

Spokane, Washington (December 5, 2019) – A man was rescued from the Spokane River at Post Street Bridge on early Thursday morning. The patient was reported to have hypothermia and trauma sustained from an apparent fall, and was transported to a hospital after the incident. His current condition has not been given in the report. No other injuries were reported in the incident.

The incident was first reported just before 1 a.m., when a person called the Spokane Fire Department after hearing someone screaming from help at the edge of the river. Firefighters used a spotlight to locate the victim, who was found at the bottom of the cliff at the south side of the river, between the upper and lower falls. Crews lowered blankets and other gear to keep the patient warm, and two firefighters were later lowered to give the man medical attention. These firefighters also secured the patient with a harness and a flotation device, and the patient was lifted up onto the bridge using a mechanical fire engine ladder. The cause of the man’s fall into the river has not yet been reported.

About Falls and Related Injuries

According to the World Health Organization, falling down is the 2nd leading cause for accidental or unintentional deaths. This is second only to road traffic injuries as the leading cause of unintentional injury death. While most cases of falls are non-fatal, as seen in this case, it can still be cause for concern due to the injuries related with falls. An approximate amount of 37.3 million falls are said to require medical attention every year. Injuries may not always be serious, but have the potential to be life-threatening or disabling – examples of injures with long-term effects are broken bones (commonly fractures in the hip or wrist) or head injuries, as falls are the leading cause for traumatic brain injuries.

While falls are a matter of concern for all people, there are some factors which can make falls more risky for some. Age is one of these factors – particularly, the elderly and children are said to be at most risk in falls. Adults over the age of 65 are said to suffer the most number of fatal falls. Furthermore, adult victims may be more susceptible to future falls once they have sustained injuries from another fall. Children are at risk due to having developing bodies, and innate curiosity to explore. Factors such as environment, occupation, alcohol or substance use, and other medical conditions can also affect the risk of falls. As such, we urge everyone to do what they can to help prevent falls. Be sure to look out for hazards in the area which may lead to a fall. Keeping the body healthy is also a good way to help prevent falls, as a healthy body will have far more coordination and be ready to respond to a fall should it happen. There are many ways to ensure our safety, and preventing falls is one of them.

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