Crystal Lake Camp Grounds Emergency Services

Emergency Services as of 24/Nov/2011

There are irregular police and U. S. Forest Ranger patrolls to assist in keeping the peace and making the area safe for campers, hikers, bikers, climbers, and picknickers however because this is the wilderness, medical assistance will be delayed.

The USFS maintains radio and telephone contact with law enforcement officers, and presumably any problem -- with medical emergencies or other campers -- can be handled by police when they're called by the Forest Service Rangers or trained volunteers staffing the Visitor Center.

There is currently no indication that any medical facilities or equipment will be made available when the camp grounds open, and there are no plans for having a medic resident in the camp grounds.

The Rincon Fire Station crew of first responders presumably have crew who are trained in medical emergencies however they are stationed about 12 or 13 miles from the center of the Crystal Lake camp grounds or they may be stationed further away depending upon the rebuilding schedule for the Rincon Fire Station, medical and fire call-outs, and other tasks, all of which means there are no guarentees that medical help will be available.

When the Visitor Center is staffed by Forest Service employees or volunteers, there may be people on hand with emergency medical training -- but most probably not.

The Cafe does not have a telephone and while the USFS Visitor Center has both a radio and a telephone, the Visitor Center may be closed. So visitors should expect to have no easy access to emergency services and should plan their outings accordingly. In any event it is always a good idea to have a medical kit in your vehicle and in your backpack.