On July 28, 2009, at about 1:30 p.m., an elderly couple in their 80’s trying to get back to their home in Helendale suffered a terrible ordeal Tuesday when their vehicle got stuck in the desert. The couple left the main roadway of National Trails Hwy. on a dirt road trying to get around a road closure. The roadway had been closed due to criminal activity in the area. They headed west down a dirt road and had driven about 2-3 miles when they realized the sand was getting soft. They attempted to turn around when their vehicle got stuck.

In triple digit temperatures, the couple set out to get help. After about a half mile of walking in extreme temperatures, the male subject collapsed. His wife continued on to try and get help. She had walked about 400 feet when she fell down a 35 foot embankment and landed at the bottom of the Mojave Riverbed that was covered in bamboo, trees and rock.

A gentleman exploring in the same vicinity came across the elderly man and immediately went to a nearby residence to call for help. Firefighters had to hike to find the injured man. They found the man unconscious and near death. They immediately started cooling measures and advance life support. As the man started to regain consciousness, he kept mumbling “wife, wife”. Firefighters immediately started a search for the man’s wife, calling in the Sheriff’s helicopter to assist with the search. Shortly after, firefighters located the female disoriented but conscious at the bottom of an embankment. They conducted a rescue operation and were able to bring the woman to an area where she was hoisted with a rescue basket up into the Sheriff helicopter. She was airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. She sustained several broken bones and had heat exhaustion but is expected to survive. The male was transported by ground ambulance to Victor Valley Hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery.

Heat is the number one weather-related killer. On average, more than 1,500 people in the U.S. die each year from excessive heat. San Bernardino County Fire offers the following safety tips:

• Do not leave main roadways unless directed to do so by safety personnel
• Do not drive on unfamiliar roadways
• Always carry water in your vehicle. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tea which may lead to dehydration
• Always carry a cell phone, but remember remote areas do not always have service
• If you leave the roadway, call a friend or family member and let them know what you are doing and where you are located – especially in remote areas
• If you get stranded, try and find a shaded area - even a bush may provide some relief from heat
• Never leave your pets in the vehicle.

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