Firefighters Respond to Rattle Snake Bite

On Saturday, April 7, 2007 just after 4:00 PM, Santa Clara County Park Ranger Lisa Pappanastos requested 911 medical assistance for an adult male who was bitten by a rattlesnake at Joseph D Grant Ranch County Park. Grant Ranch Park is located high above San Jose in the Diablo Range. Emergency services are provided by the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) with San Jose Fire assisting on mutual aid requests. Grant Ranch is located 8 miles up from Alum Rock Rd. on the steep and winding Mount Hamilton Rd.

Upon receiving a request for assistance, San Jose Engine Company 2, AMR Ambulance 653, and a CDF (CAL FIRE) responded to 18405 Mount Hamilton Road (Grant Ranch Park). Due to the extended response, Engine 2 personnel requested an Air Ambulance to expedite patient transport. CalStar 2 was immediately dispatched and in the air at 4:17. San Jose Fire Battalion Chief Cliff Hubbard responded and assumed incident command.

Upon arrival Engine 2 personnel met Park Ranger Pappanastos who was providing basic first aid. San Jose Firefighter Joe Ysselstein quickly assessed the patient and provided advanced life support care. AMR 653 and CalStar 2 arrived shortly after Engine 2. CalStar 2 identified a safe landing zone about a quarter mile from the patient. The patient was stabilized and loaded into the ambulance then shuttled to CalStar 2 at the landing zone.

CalStar 2 Air Ambulance 'hot loaded' the critically injured patient and flew him from Grant Ranch Park to the nearest trauma center.

Posted by: Captain Alberto Olmos, Public Information Officer
Submitted by: Battalion Chief Cliff Hubbard, Battalion 2B