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Olyvia's Law heard in Augusta Monday
From Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello

AUGUSTA - Putting a new law on the books won't bring "Baby Olyvia" back, but efforts initiated by her parents may prevent a similar tragedy happening to another family visiting Maine's many state parks and the Maine Wildlife Park at Gray.

Testimony was presented Monday in Augusta before the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for "Olyvia's Law," LD 438, a "Resolve, To Improve Access to Emergency Services in State Parks and in the Maine Wildlife Park."Right, Ms. Smith, holding photos of baby Olyvia last summer, discussing the formulation of the bill. The Monument: Prata file photo

The legislation sponsored by Rep. Michael A. Vaughan, (R-Durham) and co-sponsored by Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello (R-Poland), and Rep. Susan M. Austin (R-Gray), was introduced in response to the tragic death of "Baby Olyvia, " the infant daughter of Stacy Smith. The resolve directs the Commissioners of Conservation and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop consistent emergency response plans within the Maine State Park system and the Maine Wildlife Park in hopes of avoiding a similar tragedy in the future.

Stacy Smith said three-month-old Olyvia died of "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome," and it is presumed emergency services may not have saved her. However, the traumatic experience while visiting Gray's Maine Wildlife Park caused Smith to realize that Maine's state parks may be poorly equipped to respond to injuries or sudden illness within their borders.

On that day in October 2003, Smith's frantic pleas for help for tiny Olyvia, when she stopped breathing, were stymied by a lack of a working phone at the park entrance, lack of a sufficient emergency entrance for a responding ambulance and park staff unprepared to respond.

"I do not want to see another child's life lost because of a lack of proper equipment, emergency services and no emergency response plan," Smith told the committee Monday.

Smith told the committee the park now has several new 2-way radios. The phone at the fee booth was up and working the day after Olyvia's tragedy. Gray Fire and Rescue has access to get through the locked gate. There is a stocked first aid station and paid personnel have taken first aid and CPR training. The process of these changes seemed very simple to Smith, but she said these measures should be standard for all parks in Maine.

Both Rep. Vaughan and Sen. Snowe-Mello advised Smith that introducing legislation with a price tag might be a certain failure. Smith, however, urged the legislators to proceed with an effort to minimize the costs to the state for standardizing emergency aid within the park system.

In this legislation Vaughan, Snowe-Mello and Austin urge a review of park staff training and duties, insure a trained emergency responder is on duty during open hours; maintain a working phone at the entrance, arrange for a pay phone, and develop policy for emergency use of cellular phones and post that information. In addition, the legislators' bill asks superintendents in each park to establish a first aid station and consult with local emergency response departments to insure they have easy access to the park when emergencies arise.

"We need to create consistency for emergency response in our parks," Sen. Snowe-Mello said. "We need to work with the Departments to insure that when a crisis happens there is someone there to help. One of the most important responsibilities of State Government is to provide safety for our people. I believe that we can do what this bill asks within our budget constraints."

Sen. Snowe-Mello also urged the Committee to replace $8,000 stripped from the wildlife park's budget this year. The funds could support better emergency response, but also benefit the park's on-going educational and rehabilitation efforts in support of Maine's wildlife. Rep. Austin met with the Governor in an effort to get the funding restored.

"The park is a valuable asset that educates our school children and Maine visitors about our wildlife resources," the Senator said.

A committee work session for LD 438 has not been scheduled.