The Los Angeles Fire Department rescued an approximately 50-year-old man after he fell off a trail at Temescal Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades early Saturday morning.
LAFD spokesman Erik Scott told Pali Patch that firefighters got the call at 5:37 a.m., reportedly from an early-morning hiker. Scott says the hiker located the patient and called 9-1-1. Firefighters immediately responded with air and ground crews.
Scott told Pali Patch that the injured man had hiked quarter- to a half-mile on a trail at Temescal Gateway Park and then fell off the side of that trail. Scott says he fell approximately 15 feet.
Firefighters transported the man to a local hospital in serious condition.
The LAFD offered the following safety tips:
- Consider what timeframe you are hiking. Don't hike too late in the evening, when you could be susceptible to the environment, such as lack of light or cold.
- Know your location. When you call 9-1-1, the first thing a dispatcher will ask is where you are located, so observe any landmarks that might help responders find you.
- Bring enough water.
- Make sure you are healthy enough to hike, especially if you're hiking in the deep fire roads.
- Be mindful of the wildlife you are sharing the area with, including snakes and coyotes.
- Bring a cellphone when possible and make sure you have a fully-charged battery.
- Let someone know you are hiking and what trails you may take.
Firefighters also told Pali Patch one more tip. If you are hiking in a remote area, you may want to park your car in a visible location and leave a note inside. That way, if you get lost someone knows where you were headed.
