Just Pushing a Swing

When is pushing a swing more than just pushing a swing?  

A Ranger on patrol noticed a young boy, maybe around 5 or 6, on the playground at one of your Metro Parks.  He was playing by himself. As there were no other kids on the playground at the time.  One of his parents was there, but not engaged with him, but rather head down, eyes absorbed on the screen of the phone.

This particular Ranger decided to stop, walk out to the playground and give the boy a sticker.  We do it all the time, but this time would be different.  He was super excited about the stickers.  The boy was smart, The Ranger had stickers of 10 different animals.  The boy got  a sticker for every animal he knew.  He went 10 for 10 and got 10 stickers.  He was all smiles.  The Ranger turned to walk away and the boy stopped him in his tracks with a simple question, “Will you push me on the swing?”  The Ranger smiled, and told him he would be happy to push him in the swing.  After a few minutes of smiles and giggles, the Ranger had to resume patrol and told the little boy he had to go.  The boy hopped off the swing and stood close, looking down at his feet and said all quiet and shy-like, “Thank you.”  Before the Ranger could react, the boy reached out and pulled himself into a hug with the Ranger.  The Ranger hugged him back, tussled the boy’s hair, and said. “See you again.”  It was hard to leave.

It is easy to be distracted in this day and age.  The phone rings and beeps, letting you know you have a call, a text or an email.  You can look at Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  You can check your schedule, or do some banking.  Heck, you can even video chat with friends and family on the other side of the country.  The whole goal of Metro Parks is to provide a place for you to come and explore the outdoors and have fun.  Don’t forget to look up from your phone and enjoy the wonders of the natural world.  Don’t forget to put the phone in your pocket and listen to the birds tweet.  Don’t forget to push the swing.

Emergency Medical Responder Training

March 16, 2016

 A Ranger practices using a bag mask device
connected to oxygen

Currently, all of our Rangers are certified in Basic First Aid, CPR and use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).  In order to provide better service to our visitors, Metro Parks began stepping up training in this area.  Last year the first group of Rangers completed a higher lever of First Aid training called Emergency Medical Responder training through the Ohio Fire Academy.  This training increases the Rangers ability to provide more advanced care as First Responders.  Providing more care in this, the first link of the emergency medical services chain, helps to increase the chance of a positive outcome for the victim.  Today, the second group of Rangers began the Emergency Medical Responder training.  Over the next three weeks Rangers will learn the principals of patient assessment, principals of airway management, obtaining vital signs, caring for head and neck injuries, caring for cardiac emergencies, dealing with multiple injury incidents and many other emergency medical skills.

A Day Gone Bad

We often hear, "You are a Ranger?  You have the best job ever."  My response is usually, yes... yes we do.  And I think to myself, but when it goes bad, it can go really bad.  Most people have this idea of what we do, and it generally does not involve anything bad happening.  People sometimes forget, anything that happens outside of the park, can happen inside the park.  Today was one of those days for Rangers out at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.  A good day goes bad.  Rangers were first on scene to a fatal car crash  near the entrance to Cedar Ridge Picnic area (Channel 6 News coverage).  Three teenagers, out of school for a snow day and on the way to go sledding, were in a vehicle that left the roadway, overturned, and struck a tree.  Rangers assisted with rescue and first aid until medics arrived.  One of the passengers was pronounced dead at the scene and the other two were transported to a local area hospital in stable condition.

Our hearts are heavy.  Our thoughts are with the teens' family and friends.

On The Run

Battelle Darby Creek - 1/27/2016

During the morning shift, the Ranger on duty was patrolling the wetland lot located on Darby Creek Drive.  He observed a Toyota parked in the grass, tucked in behind a bulletin board as if it were hiding.  Inside said Toyota was 4 male individuals getting some much needed beauty sleep.  The Ranger was in the process of running a check on the license plate when the driver decided he didn't want to stick around.  It may have been because he knew the Ranger was about to figure out said Toyota was stolen.  The driver fled out of the parking lot onto Darby Creek Drive, just as the Ranger's mobile data terminal alarms alerted the Ranger to the status of said Toyota.

The Ranger began to follow the vehicle but did not pursue because of the dangers to public safety on the roadway.  Franklin County Sheriff and Madison County Sheriff offices were notified.  Rangers and deputies checked the area but the vehicle was not located.  Battelle Darby Creek is a big place, often giving the impression it is remote and unpatrolled.  Ranger presence has a way of dispelling that illusion.

Welcome New Rangers

Rangers being  sworn in by Director Tim Moloney

Last night at the Board of Park Commissioners meeting, held at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, three new Rangers were sworn in and received their commission.  These Rangers spent the last 6 months or so attending the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, where they successfully completed the requirements of the academy and are now certified peace officers.  The commission they received through being sworn in gives them the authority to enforce state laws as well as the rules and regulations of the park district.

Rangers with the Board of Park Commissioners 

Greg Lashutka,  Jeff McNealy and Jim McGregor

Rangers will now be assigned to patrol their respective parks, Highbanks, Blacklick Woods and Blendon Woods Metro Parks. If you see them in the park, say hello and congratulations!

Rangers Wear Many Hats

In the late afternoon, early evening of Friday, September 4, 2015 a thunderstorm with high winds rolled through Sharon Woods Metro Park causing several trees to fall across the trails.  Typically, our outstanding maintenance staff would take care of such issues, but they had gone home for the evening.  Since maintenance staff were not scheduled until the afternoon the following day, a Ranger trained in the use of a chainsaw, took care of the issue in the morning.  This cleared the trail early in the day for our visitors, without having to call in maintenance on their time off, and without incurring any extra cost to the tax payer.  Just one of the many hats a Ranger may wear during the day.  It is one of the things that makes a Ranger a Ranger.  We don't just patrol the park and deal with law enforcement issues, we take CARE of the park.

Assisting Local Agency

On Friday August 21, 2015 Rangers at Sharon Woods Metro Park were contacted by officers from Westerville Police Department (WPD) regarding an incident in their jurisdiction adjacent to the park. WPD was informed a young woman, who was put on a medical hold for threatening suicide, ran from the doctors office.  Officers requested Rangers search the park for the individual.  Immediately, park maintenance staff notified Park Rangers and WPD they had seen the individual walk into the park.

A Ranger quickly located the individual on the multi-use trail and directed WPD to the location. WPD took the individual into custody and transported her off the trail.  Later, after a conversation with the individual's doctor, it was determined the individual was not on a medical hold, as initially reported, and she was immediately released.  WPD Officers offered her help to get medical assistance for her mental health issue, which she accepted.  Officers then transported her to a local area hospital for medical assistance.

An excellent example of how Rangers assist other local agencies.  Great work Rangers and WPD Officers.