Riverside Firefighters Rescue Man Stuck Among Boulders

A March 25 rescue in California again showed that the simplest rescue technique is often the best.

The incident began when a 9-1-1 call went to the Riverside joint dispatch center for fire and police, reporting “a person trapped on the rocks” at Mount Rubidoux, a park and city landmark located on a hill in the city of Riverside.

At 0819 HRS, the Riverside Fire Department dispatched Battalion 1, Engine 1, Squad 1, Engine 3 and Rescue 3, along with Training 2, Training 3 (training captains who serve as safety officers and PIOs) and Chief 3.

First units arrived on scene at 0828 HRS. They were able to access the area via a hiking trail that had previously been a paved road, but could accommodate emergency traffic, such as fire department utility vehicles. So the firefighters left their heavy equipment on the main road and took their equipment with them along the trail via their utility vehicles–Utility 1, Battalion 1-R (a battalion chief reserve vehicle,) Training 2, and Training 3.

The reporting party and a few bystanders directed the rescuers to an area of large boulders. When they found the man, he appeared to be down in a funnel-shaped area among large boulders with his head below grade. He was alert and talking. He seemed to be wedged in, like a cork in a bottle, and was unable to get out.

The patient had originally been discovered by a man who was hiking the area with his dog. The dog began acting strangely, whimpering and tugging at its owner’s leg. Puzzled by the dog’s behavior, the man turned back up the trail, following the dog. The dog then led him off the trail to the rocky area. Still not knowing what was disturbing the dog, the man began looking around the boulders. Finally, he looked down and saw a pair of eyes. He initially thought it might be an injured animal. But as he looked closer, he saw it was a person. According to a report in KABC-TV, the man then said, “I need water. Please don’t leave me.” So the hiker gave him water from his backpack.” Another hiker used a cell phone to call 9-1-1.

The primary paramedic made contact with the patient. From talking with the patient, the medic determined that he was responsive, had not lost consciousness, had slipped into the hole without suffering significant injuries, and there were no signs of head, back or neck injuries. As such, the paramedic concluded that the man could be extricated from the hole without needing stabilization. So the firefighter/paramedic and an engineer reached down, each grasping an arm and pulled the patient out.

The firefighters laid him down on the hiking trail, and a paramedic did a full ALS patient assessment. He had no notable injuries, but was dehydrated. They placed him on oxygen and initiated an IV with normal saline. They placed a metal basket litter beside the patient, lifted him into the litter and lashed him in with webbing. They moved the patient into a utility vehicle and drove it down the hill, where an American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance was waiting.

AMR transported the patient to Riverside Community Hospital, where he was admitted in good condition. He was treated for severe dehydration and kept overnight for observation.

The last unit on scene, a training/paramedic captain acting as PIO with the local media, cleared at 1226 HRS.

Sources: Riverside Fire Department Training Captain/Paramedic Bruce Vanderhorst provided information for this report. Some additional details were taken from accounts of the incident by the Riverside Press-Enterprise, KTTV-TV and KABC-TV.

Lessons Learned/Lessons Reinforced:
A couple of principles that experienced rescuers always keep in mind: First, always be ready for the unexpected. Second, use the simplest rescue technique, if possible. Some novice rescuers often think that just because they have been trained in a particular rescue technique, they have to use that technique. But that can potentially prolong and complicated the rescue operation and potentially make the patient suffer even more.
    
The paramedic was able to clear the patient’s spine in the field. He did this by talking to the patient to conclude that the patient had no discomfort in the spine, neck or head areas, had not hit his head when he slipped into the hole, had not lost consciousness, and was not impaired by alcohol or drugs. Trying to immobilize the patient in place would have complicated and prolonged the operation. Fortunately, paramedic in his assessment realized this was not needed.

The rescuers, part of USAR Task Force 6 out of Riverside, had the training and experience for a much more complicated operation; however, they knew they should work the simplest method first.