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GOLDEN TOWNSHIP – Trauma leaders at Trinity Health Shelby and Trinity Health Muskegon have joined a multi-agency effort to improve response times for injured patients at Silver Lake Sand Dunes.
“The effort has already been proven to dramatically reduce emergency response and patient transport times for dune-related injuries,” states a press release from Trinity Health.
The Dune Extrication Plan was developed in 2025, with Trinity Health Shelby and Muskegon joining the Hart Area Fire Department (HAFD), the Oceana County Medical Control Authority, Life EMS and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The dunes, a popular off-road vehicle and recreation destination, have historically provided significant challenges to EMS response and transport times.
“Previously, if someone was seriously injured at the dunes, DNR officers would have to wait for the ambulance (which often had to travel long distances) to arrive at the base of the dunes and then take the EMS crew to the incident location in a modified vehicle capable of navigating the difficult terrain,” states the press release. “After EMS would assess and treat, DNR would then transfer both the patient and EMS crew back to the ambulance at the base of the dunes. This process between dispatching an ambulance and the ambulance leaving the scene with the patient could range from 1-2 hours.”
The goal of the Dune Extrication Plan is to shorten this time, getting the injured person assessed and transported more quickly to an emergency facility for care.
“Recognizing this need, community partners came together to develop this plan, with trauma program coordinators from both Trinity Health Shelby and Trinity Health Muskegon lending their expertise to set attainable emergency response goals that would give patients their best chance at a successful outcome. They provided data analysis, evaluation of state and national trauma expectations, and clinical expertise to develop meaningful solutions.”
Since Memorial Day Weekend 2026, HAFD has provided dedicated medical response coverage on the Silver Lake Sand Dunes every weekend, cutting emergency response times in half, from 1-2 hours down to 31-38 minutes. Currently, HAFD staffs two medical first responders on the dunes from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each weekend. Their mission is to rapidly assess, stabilize, and transport sick or injured people from the incident location to the base of the dunes, where they are taken via ambulance to the most appropriate emergency facility.
“This project is a great example of how collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and a shared commitment to patient care can lead to positive change within a community,” said Trinity Health Shelby Trauma Program Coordinator Angela Schiller. “The commitment of our community partners has had a significant impact on response capabilities and patient access times, demonstrating how proactive local collaboration can improve care for injured patients.”
While the Dune Extrication Plan has achieved outstanding results, coverage is currently limited to weekends during the summer season. The Dune Extrication Planning Committee recognizes that many busy days remain without dedicated HAFD dune staffing. At present, the costs associated with staffing two medical first responders on the dunes each weekend is supported through Oceana County and Hart Area Fire Department funding. To sustain and potentially expand this level of service, several options are being explored, including:
- Additional state funding
- Local government support
- Community and business donations
- Development of additional on-dune resources to assist during periods when HAFD is not staffed
The committee remains committed to improving emergency response capabilities at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and ensuring that residents and visitors continue to receive the highest level of care possible.
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