SYNOPSIS

On Tuesday, June 7, 2023, a 14-year-old male was injured at Navajo Lake State Park. He was using a pontoon boat slide and his hand struck a sharp metal edge attached to the vessel. Park rangers administered first aid. He was transported by his parents to the hospital of their choice to obtain further medical treatment.

NARRATIVE

On Tuesday, June 7, 2023, I was on boat patrol on Navajo Lake with officers. At approximately 11:50 a.m., we were flagged down by people aboard a beached pontoon boat. The patient, 14-year-had  a deep laceration to the backside of his right hand. His hand was not bleeding. However, the laceration exposed a tendon of the hand. Officer wrapped the patient's hand and advised his parents to have it examined at an urgent care center.

Meanwhile, the patient's parents explained to me that he cut his hand while sliding down the pontoon slide. I inspected the slide and found a metal corner that was not protected by a corner guard, along the right-hand side of the slide, which formed a privacy partition for the toilet. This is consistent with witness statements and appears to be consistent with the mechanism of injury. Based on my personal observations and all witness statements, the vessel was not underway at the time of the incident; however, the vessel did contribute to the incident.

The patient and his parents drove themselves into town to obtain medical treatment at the hospital of their choice. About an hour later I advised boat rental facility owner and Navajo Lake Marine Enforcement Officer of what had happened.

Navajo Lake
Navajo Dam                    