John P. Banuelos:  

To all- Amador 1969, then you speed forward through UC Berkeley, Stanford University ( twice) and three degrees later. Then you speed forward through my lives with three beautiful and exceptional wives, two daughters, and the best years of my life being with each of them. I was transformed by the touch and presence of each. Even in divorce I look back at my time with each as the best of times. Contra Costa Search and Rescue, has been central to my life since 2009. My resume is detailed at the end of this note. However, on July 31, 2017 my SAR passion took a curious turn: Excerpt from an AAR report, with my added notes. Team members exited and scrambled away from the helicopter (...which was executing a one skid landing...) to hunker down in preparation for its departure. Field Team Lead John Banuelos was the last team member to exit the helicopter. He exited as instructed in a direction perpendicular to the helicopter. Upon landing (,,,jumping to the ground from the HELO to a lower rock slab...) he felt himself falling (...It was a blur moment. I believe I tucked and rolled based on bruise patterns on my body...) and immediately fell approximately 6 feet (down) from the landing slab to the adjacent lower slab. John was on his left side with the left side of his head flat on the ground. His body was rolled slightly onto his chest and blood was visible near his head. --------- Long story short we (my CocoSAR team) had an incident within incident (IWI) and I was the subject. The field team back-boarded me and had me flown back to the original LZ on our Blackhawk HELO. I was transported by ambulance approximately 20 miles to a medical LZ that could accommodate a medical transport helicopter. I was then flown to Sutter Hospital in Roseville, to their trauma center, for a full evaluation. I was evaluated as having a grade 2 concussion, later upgraded to a grade 3. I suffered no spinal injury or broken bones. However, it was highly recommended that I monitor the concussion because as with all concussions there is no set timeline. More serious symptoms could appear later. I was under observation from August 1, 2017 until December 21, 2017. My Concussion Doctor has cleared me. However, she did provide this advice, "...while you are in stellar shape, for a 'man of your age', it might be time for a “man of your age” to consider not doing SAR." That hurt more than the fall. I told her I would take her suggestion under advisement, NOT! As long as the spirit and body are ...Expand for more