PARAGLIDER'S ROUGH LANDING RESULTS IN SPINAL INJURY
November 27, 2010 (Lakeside) – Lakeside Fire Protection District received a report of a paraglider that had experienced a rough landing at the Blossom Valley Glider Port, resulting in injuries to the pilot. A rescue response was dispatched, including one structural engine, one rescue unit , an ALS ambulance, and Battalion Chief Lawler.
On arrival, crews were informed that the patient was at the top of the peak, and had suffered spinal injuries. San Diego County Copter 10 had arrived in the area and was attempting to locate a landing zone while ground crews accessed the area.
The crew from Rescue 3 and Medic 3 accessed the area by vehicle and made patient contact. The CalFire flight crew had accessed the area and had initiated patient care. Due to the remote location, the decision was made to fly the patient via helicopter to the Rios Little League Field, where they would rendezvous with a ground transport unit.
After the patient was stabilized, the crew hiked the patient to the helicopter, where two Lakeside Paramedics boarded for the short flight to the ball field, where the patient was loaded into an ambulance for ground transport to Sharp Trauma in San Diego.
Assisting Lakeside on this incident was SDSO, Cal Fire, and CHP. A total of nine Lakeside personnel responded to this incident.