Helicopter hoist rescue, 1/27/24, altitude sickness hiker, Mt. San Jacinto, Riverside County CA.
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- čas přidán 27. 01. 2024
- This was a very windy hoist rescue, wind sustained at over 20 kts and high altitude to contend with. He, like all others with injuries are flown down to awaiting paramedics and transported to the hospital if necessary. 
Not sure how many folks commenting here are locals, but Mt. San Jacinto is often accessed from the Palm Springs Tramway, and folks end up at altitude from sea level very rapidly. I'm an experienced hiker and a member of a SAR team and even I was surprised by how quickly the effects of lower oxygen levels set in immediately after stepping off the tram. There's a very good chance these folks didn't know exactly what they were getting into until after it happened.
And in any event, this is why we do what we do. Of course it's better to be prepared for every possible condition you can expect to encounter, but we would much rather you get to care safely if you're in over your head than delay care until your condition deteriorates.
Great response Pete, thank you. That is such a great point about the sudden onset of altitude sickness due to the rapid elevation ascent. We will respond and do everything to get you home. The pre-planning or lack therof is not our concern and does not influence our decision to respond or not. It's never a "Well they should have seen this coming, so it sucks to suck" kind of thing.
I see everyone's comments about wasted resources and I'm with you but wouldn't this be more prudent and safer as opposed to wait for his vitals to drop then react? I get it should've thought twice and not ascended that high but were not perfect and we're so fortunate to have these services/rescue. I ride motorcycles and have seen a few airlifts on the Angeles highway. TRUST me these guys are passionate about what they do, and we ultimately do pay for these services from our taxes. But yes, it looks like a senior hike group, the organizer should think twice next time.
Hi thank you for that reply. We are very passionate about what we do in SAR. It seems to be the going opinion of some that these people, and other rescues on my channel, have wasted resources and placed our lives as an aircrew at risk. I can tell you that my unit aircrew members, nor any ground-based SAR volunteer organizations hold any ill-will towards someone who may find themselves in a hard spot. We dispassionately respond to the best of our abilities to get you home, no matter what happened, it's not up to us to judge but to help.
You called a helicopter because you had Altitude sickness? Start drinking water and head down. The resources used for that is crazy. Plus not to mention every time these brave men and women go out, there is a possibility that they may not get back. Fly in mountains, and the weather elements are challenging. I just can't see calling a Helicopter for altitude sickness. That's like calling an ambulance because your back hurt or you have a cold.
Uhh...This is insane...the guy was standing up. What a waste!
An airlift for altitude sickness under 12,000 feet...
Are you kidding me? Talk about a waste of resources and the tremendous risk to rescue a person when this is 100% preventable.
I HOPE THEY WERE CHARGED FOR THE SIGHTSEEING TOUR.