Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:04 pm
mrchad9 wrote:The Chief wrote:The CHP Helo responds just as does any emergency vehicle when summoned via a 911 call out. It is not nor should it be the HAC's responsibility to determine when, how or if they should respond to the call. We have already touched this issue.
Gary noted yesterday how the LACSSAR & SBCSSAR automatically respond to any mountain call with an air resource as does the CHP.
Again- you are only confirming that is the SOP which we all know.
And I am staying it is a bad one. It encourages this behavior. You did not address if you thought it was a good one or not, which is what I was asking. Neither did the others who replied.
I think a reasonable expectation would be to have someone assess the situation in some way. I've called 911 before, no helicopter showed up, only the police, fire, and ambulance because that's what was needed. If they aren't going to assess the situation you are telling me they will carry me down from Helen Lake if my knees are sore? Hell, that's pratically what they are doing.
The police, fire, and ambulance showed up? This could be considered to much. The thing is, when a call comes in, based on details given, all assets needed for that emergency role. A fire alarm at a school will have numerous fire trucks rolling until it is determined their not needed. No different on a mountain, only difference is information can be a lot harder to verify and determine what may be needed. So the call comes in for a man who has fallen on Mount Shasta and all assets needed for a major rescue are going to be dispatched. In my bomb world, when we would get a bomb call we would role with all equipment. This is because we didn't know what exactly would be needed. So we would bring everything. A car crash call will have numerous assests rolling to it as well until it can be verified their not needed. Little difficult to get an ambulance and police cars up Shasta. So air support will likely always be dispatched to assist.