Full Notification

The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team was surprised and pleased to learn that the Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund (DVCF) chose their program to receive grants valued at $30,000. The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team depends upon the support of donors to maintain equipment and operating funds for the all-volunteer emergency response team.

Team treasurer Carlos Perez explained that he applied for a grant to purchase medical, search management, and winter rescue equipment valued at about $5,000. The requested funds would purchase equipment specific to search management, medical and snow and avalanche related rescues, such as beacon locators, probes, shovels and “pulse oximeters.”

The Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund agreed to donate the much needed funds as requested for winter rescue equipment. In addition, through the Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund, the Walt Disney Company provided an additional $25,000 in grant funds, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Disney VoluntEARS program.

During a rescue on Mount Baldy last December, one of the pulse oximeter units purchased with a previous Disney grant proved to be a very valuable tool. Team members spent over 20 hours monitoring a seriously injured patient. Due to extremely bad weather and a winter blizzard, the patient could not be safely evacuated by air or by ground. The pulse oximeter unit made it possible to immediately identify the need for more oxygen. Additional oxygen was hiked up 3-plus miles through the storm to the patient by alpine-trained mountaineers. Rescue personnel said that in the middle of the situation, they really came to appreciate the ability to quickly assess the patient’s O2 saturation and pulse rate. The grant provided a valuable tool which helped make a difference during a life-saving mission.

Dave Little, San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team Captain, said that these funds would allow for the continued operation of the team and purchase or replacement of mountaineering equipment. Among the items on the “wish list” for team members are an additional winch-equipped rescue truck, radios, emergency response safety equipment, and the replacement of worn out existing equipment. “We rely on the generous support of donors to keep our team and equipment up and running,” Little said. “This generous grant will be a tremendous boost to our continued ability to respond to rescue calls. We’re ecstatic that the Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund has chosen to support the team this way, which will have a positive effect on the people who enjoy recreation in the local mountains.”

The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team, founded in 1955, responds primarily to rescue calls in the San Gabriel Mountains from the Duarte border to the Mt. Baldy area, and from Orange County north to Crystal Lake and portions of Angeles Crest Highway. The team also routinely responds to assist with rescues in other areas of Los Angeles County and other counties. In addition to a high volume of local rescue calls, the team recently responded to assist with rescues in San Diego, Riverside, Inyo, and Kern counties. Team functions include rescues of victims in vehicles “over the side” of roads, search and rescue of lost hikers or missing children, navigation, helicopter training, snow and ice rescue training, search and evacuation of brush fire areas, downed aircraft, and technical rescues in caves or other hard to reach places. The team also conducts preventative search and rescue training and presentations to children, youth and adults to help them from becoming victims.

A comprehensive training program of over two years trains each team member as an Emergency Medical Technician, Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy, and development required for certification by the Mountain Rescue Association. Part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team is one of eight all-volunteer Search and Rescue teams that function as specialized units of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. Though the Department furnishes facilities, some vehicles and life-saving equipment to perform core Search and Rescue functions, the Teams are mostly funded by donations and grants from generous donors and supporters.

The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team and the community are very grateful to the amazingly generous people at the Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund!

San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team: http://www.sdmrt.com/index.html

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