Being First On Scene

What to do if you encounter an accident on the road, or have an emergency at home? You come around a corner and there it is:

  • A car crashed into a PG&E pole
  • A motorcycle rider down on the highway
  • A bike rider smashed into the mountain side
  • A hiker down on a mountain trail

You call 911… and they can’t figure out where you are!

South Skyline residents are often the first responsible people on scene after accidents on SR-35, SR-84, and mountain trails. Emergency services take a long time to arrive — recently 40 minutes for a crash on Highway 35 and 90 minutes for an injured hiker on John Nicholas Trail.

On top of that, the 911 system has challenges in our area: difficulty identifying exact locations, and multiple county jurisdictions leading to dispatch delays.

Presentations and Videos

  1. How 911 Works pdf, video
  2. Where exactly are you in the mountains? pdf
  3. What to do at the scene of an accident pdf, video

Road Maps

Showing dangerous spots, call box locations, and fire stations:

First Aid and Stop The Bleed

To be prepared for these scenarios, it’s a good idea to have a trunk kit in your vehicle containing first aid supplies and tools. You should also get training on stopping bleeding. See the Medical & First Aid page for recommendations on this!