A Typical Day for our Sheriff’s Air Rescue Team

Sheriff’s Dispatched requested the assistance of the Aviation Unit to search for an injured motorcycle rider in the mountainous terrain north of Lake Silverwood. The Aviation Unit launched one of its patrol helicopters to search the area while the Air Rescue Helicopter prepped for a possible hoist mission.

The patrol helicopter, manned by Deputy/Pilot Cliff Walters and Flight Officer/Crew Chief John Scalise, located the victim on an extremely muddy and slippery trail at about the 4,800 foot level.

Due to the rugged terrain and the victim’s obvious leg injuries, the patrol crew immediately called the air rescue helicopter (manned by the Corporal Pilot Al Daniel Jr. Reserve Deputy/Dr. Mike Guirguis and Volunteer Medic Bernie Horak).

Once the area was evaluated, Dep. John Scalise boarded the rescue helicopter as the hoist operator and Cpl. Daniel flew the crew to the victim. Cpl. Daniel steadied the helicopter about 40′to 50′ above the victim as Dep. Scalise lowered both Dr. Guirguis and Medic Horak to the victim. The helicopter orbited the area while the medical crew examined and packaged the victim into the gurney to be hoisted back up to the helicopter. The helicopter was once again flown to the hoist area and the victim was hoisted up to safety. Once the crew was back on board, they flew the victim to ARMC for treatment.

The Sheriff’s Air RescueTeam is comprised of local Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, and E.M.T’s who donate thousands of hours of their personal time to the Sheriff’s Department in support of our Air Rescue program. Due to their dedication, citizens of San Bernardino County receive the best medical care and neither the victim(s) nor their families are billed for their services.

Sgt. Mitch Dattilo
Aviation Division
909-356-3800

Cactus Thorns has been online in one form or the other since 2001. What started as a personal blog documenting the corruption and lack of Due Process of the 29 Palms Community Development Department has turned into over these many years into a hugely popular Independent Alternative News Media Outlet. We have partnered with other media including The Desert Star Weekly, Joshua Tree Star, other blogs, indie media and an incredible staff of volunteer Reporters, Commentators and Opinion Makers to create one of the most read, honest and dependable alternative to the Local traditional Media services in the country. Thanks to you the reader we are in the 5% of most read sites in the World.

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Tags: citizens, Medical care, motorcycle rider, rescue helicopter, san bernardino, san bernardino county, Sheriff, victim