Tracking hikers in peril
New trail markers aid rescue in emergencies
A new trail marker system installed at China Camp State Park near San Rafael this summer is helping emergency responders to more quickly locate and rescue injured, lost and ailing hikers.
More than 60 markers at trailheads, bridges and trail intersections were set up along the 15 miles of trails in the park bearing both the trail names and a unique number. These numbers were then placed on a digital map and provided to Marin emergency response agencies.
Injured hikers or bystanders who call emergency dispatchers need only provide the number of the closest trail to help them pinpoint their location.
San Rafael fire Battalion Chief Kyle Hamilton
said while they can usually track a reporting party's location using cellphone GPS data, the nearly 2.5 squaremile China Camp State Park has a more complex trail system compared to other open space areas in San Rafael and has areas where cellphone signals are weak.
Especially for trauma cases or major medical emergencies, Hamilton said “time is of the essence” and having this extra information could help save a life.
“This is just another tool in case the signal goes bad or we lose it, or when we have these rescues, we have people like me that are down in a command vehicle,” Hamilton said. “Even though our rescuers are en route, we can triangulate it with multiple pieces of information
"You're not always near a post but if you're with someone and you can ask them to go to the nearest post and call in that number that's very helpful to the rescuers."
— Joyce Abrams, Friends of China Camp board member