MADERA COUNTY–Excessive heat, dehydration, and hikers falling ill kept Madera County Sheriff’s and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) busy over the hot weekend.
Rescue #1 Rainbow Falls
On Friday afternoon, July 15, 2022, Madera County Sheriff’s Sgt. Roussell and Deputy Vermeulen were on patrol in the Eastern Madera County area when they were dispatched to a possible medical aid at Rainbow Falls. It was reported a 54-year-old female suffering from a medical condition was unable to walk back out to the parking lot.
Deputies responded to the scene along with Mammoth Lakes EMS and found the couple on the trail. EMS conducted an assessment of the patient and assisted the patient to the ambulance for further medical evaluation.
Rescue #2 Fish Creek Trail
On Saturday, July 16, 2022, around 9am, Madera County Search and Rescue were advised of a subject walking the Fish Creek Trail just west of Devils Postpile, suffering from heat-related illness and dehydration.
Due to the location, California Highway Patrol’s helicopter H-40 was called to assist. Pilots responded to the location, located the subject, and were able to land and transport the subject to Mammoth Airport where MCSO Deputy Vermeulen and Sgt. Roussell were standing by along with EMS. The patient was turned over to medical personnel and transported to the hospital.
Starting from any of the Rainbow Falls Trailheads – from Reds Meadow Resort or Devils Postpile – the Fish Creek Trail reaches a junction just inside the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Tyson Pogue, Madera County Sheriff-Coroner
Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue remarks, “We are happy for the positive outcome of these medical aid rescues. With the ongoing extreme heat, we strongly encourage citizens to reconsider their plans to recreate outdoors, as conditions aren’t ideal at best, and can be critically dangerous at worst. We remind both visitors and residents to stay hydrated and be prepared for extreme heat conditions while outdoors.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following for preventing heat related illness:
- Stay Cool
- Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
- Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible.
- Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours
- Pace Yourself: Cut down on exercise during the heat.
- Wear Sunscreen: Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated.
- Do Not Leave Children in Cars: Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
- Stay Hydrated Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
- Stay Informed Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in your area. Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them. Monitor Those at High Risk.
Protect Others from the Heat
