Los Alamos Firefighters carry the stokes litter used to transport an injured woman to an awaiting ambulance on Piedra Loop after she fell on Red Dot Trail this afternoon. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By Carol A. Clark

Los Alamos Firefighters rescued a hiker who had fallen on Red Dot Trail in White Rock this afternoon while walking with friends. Shortly after noon, a member of her hiking party called out to a passing trail runner and asked him to call emergency dispatch to request help for the injured woman.

“She is a 69-year-old who fell down on the trail and apparently hit her head on a rock,” Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider said. “She sustained a laceration to her head and was treated at the scene by our firefighters.”

The injured woman was alert and talking when firefighters arrived at the scene. They transported her by stokes litter (rescue basket) to an ambulance in which she rode to Los Alamos Medical Center, he said, adding that the entire incident took about three hours.

Grider commended the firefighters from Station 3 in White Rock who responded to the call for help and the LAFD Tactical Rescue Team who assisted, for a job well done in rescuing the hiker this afternoon.

“This incident serves as a good reminder to always hike with a buddy,” he said. “That way if you get hurt there is someone with you who can call for help. It’s also wise to leave a hiking plan at home so people know where you are going, and to anticipate the weather and dress accordingly. This morning was beautiful and now it’s snowing.

Firefighters near Red Dot Trail. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

LAFD Firefighters rescued injured woman on Red Dot Trail. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Red Dot Trail at Piedra Loop in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com