Multiple individuals at Roaring River State Park have had a knack for saving lives in the last year, and they are still being recognized for it.
In November 2022, Cpl. Steve Jabben, park ranger, and Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resources manager, were presented with Governor’s Awards, recognizing their life-saving efforts in May 2022 when a woman was reported unconscious on Devil’s Kitchen trail.
Jabben said when dispatch called for him to respond, he grabbed his gear, including an automated external defibrillator, from his patrol vehicle and headed up the trail.
“I took off up Devil’s Kitchen from the CCC bridge side and found the couple that made the call, who did not speak much English, and then the lady unresponsive by a cave,” Jabben said. “I started CPR with the AED and continued CPR for about 12 minutes before anyone else go there. The Eagle Rock-Golden-Mano Fire Protection District arrived and took over, then Joel came and we continued to work on her.”
Topham said he and Jabben went up opposite sides of the trail, and by the time he arrived, he helped with CPR some, then a helicopter landing zone was established to transport her to the hospital.
“i stayed with the lady on the hill, and we carried her down to an ambulance that took her to the helicopter,” he said. “The two hikers that called 911 were by the small cave entrance at sign No. 6. I was at Camp Smokey when Steve called me, and he went up one trailhead so I went up another.”
Though such calls are rare, Jabben said when he gets one, there is a single thing on his mind.
“We’ve got to save them,” he said. “We had another lady around that time who was out running and collapsed. Your training just kicks in and you don’t worry about what is going on other than to save that person.”
Jabben said this instance was a bit more jarring than others, as well.
“I went up to the cave and she was up there with her head down,” he said. “It as a rough one. I had to drag her down the hill, and the couple that called 911 stayed back. I think they were still in shock.”
The Governor’s Award marks the second time Jabben has been recognized, as he was named the Department of Natural Resources’ Employee of the Month in July 2022.
Roaring River staff have also been recognized in the past for their handling of wreck and life-threatening situations.
“It’s a good team here,” Jabben said. “It takes a lot of training — you don’t just get someone to do it.”
Jabben said the way the park operates has been noticed by others, as well.
“My sergeant was in the park three weeks ago and there was a crash on the hill,” he said. “All the maintenance guys jumped in to gear working traffic and helping, and the sergeant couldn’t believe how well-trained they were. That’s how we do it here.
“It’s all about team training and understanding what it means to respond to this type of stuff and how to do it right.”
Topham said from his perspective, it’s just what people do.
“This is not 100 percent part of my job description, it’s just what we do,” he said. “We want to help people in distress. Just like when it might flood here, I don’t sleep. I’m up all night listening to the radio and determining if and when we need to evacuate.
“I think that’s just my generation and my military background. I like to run toward danger instead of away from it.”
In the certificate of recognition signed by Gov. Mike Parson, Jabben and Topham are lauded for, among other things, embodying the core values of Missouri state Parks, answering the call of duty and working tirelessly to protect the people and natural resources of Missouri.
Jabben’s specifically points out the 12 minutes of CPR he provided before any assistance arrived, and Topham’s specifically notes his assistance with CPR and lifesaving measures taken to transport the woman to safety.
