Bring instructions with you to the Reserve; review them prior
to your visit. In the absence of Reserve staff, you are responsible for your own
safety. There is no water, electricity, or telephone. Cell phones work in
selected locations. An outhouse is on site.
LOCATION: 1201 Stunt Road; 1.8 miles from intersection
of Stunt Road and Mulholland Highway – on north side of the Stunt Road in
Calabasas. Carved redwood sign at entrance to reserve.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:
- 911 - Lost Hills Sheriff Station (310) 456-6652 or (818) 878-1808
- UCLA Police (310) 825-1491
- Report ALL emergencies to reserve office on campus at (310) 206-3887 or page
Reserve manager at (310) 915-3462.
NOTE:
- How to dress/what to bring: Dress in layers, wear sturdy
walking shoes, and bring drinking water, hat, sunscreen, and if you have one, a
first aid kit, and cell phone.
- “Red flag alert”: During periods of peak fire danger, the
National Weather Service calls a “red flag alert”. This means that a
critical fire condition exists. The Reserve follows the same policy as the
California Department of Parks and Recreation. When parks or “back country”
areas are closed, the Reserve will also be closed. Call the State Park Fire
Weather Information Line at (805) 488-8147 for updated information. Access the
National Weather Service website at
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/CAZ041.php?warncounty=CAC037&city=Calabasas
NEARBY MEDICAL FACILITIES
If severe injury, rattlesnake bite, allergic reaction, or other
life threatening condition, call 911 (ask for Lost Hills Sheriff Station) and/or
proceed directly to either Columbia West Hills Medical Center or Kaiser
Permanente Medical Center. See directions below.
COLUMBIA WEST HILLS MEDICAL CENTER:
(818) 676-4000, 7300 Medical Center Drive, West Hills.
DIRECTIONS: Stunt Road to Mulholland Highway. Right on
Mulholland Highway. Go a short distance past Old Topanga Road on the right, and
then turn left on Old Topanga Road; after a short distance, the street name
changes to Valmar. Proceed on Valmar to Mulholland Drive. Left on Mulholland
Drive to the 101 Freeway. Enter the freeway going south (towards Los Angeles).
Turn right onto freeway entrance and take it to the Fallbrook exit (one exit
past Valley Circle). At the end of the exit, turn left and then left again on
Fallbrook. Take Fallbrook to Sherman Way. Left on Sherman Way to Medical Center
Drive. Right on Medical Center Drive. (1 block west of Fallbrook off of Sherman
Way). 7300 Medical Center Drive, West Hills.
KAISER PERMANENTE MEDICAL CENTER:
(818) 719-2000, 5601 DeSoto Ave, Woodland Hills.
DIRECTIONS: Stunt Road to Mulholland Highway. Right on
Mulholland Highway. Go a short distance past Old Topanga Road on the right, and
then turn left on Old Topanga Road; after a short distance, the street name
changes to Valmar. Proceed on Valmar to Mulholland Drive. Left on Mulholland
Drive to the 101 Freeway. Enter the freeway going south (towards Los Angeles)..
Turn right onto freeway entrance and take it to the DeSoto Ave exit. At the end
of the exit, go left (under the freeway) several blocks on DeSoto towards
Burbank Blvd. The hospital is on the left side of the street. If you pass
Burbank Blvd. you have gone too far. 5601 DeSoto Ave, Woodland Hills.
FIRE
- Call 911 to report fire.
- ALERT all persons in vicinity.
- If the brush fire is inside this canyon, move immediately to the closest SAFE
ZONE.
- Reserve entrance gate/parking area - Picnic area in educational zone
- Young children should be physically restrained by an enclosed structure or
vehicle in a safe zone, or joined together with a rope.
According to a L.A. County Fire Department Battalion Chief, it
is best to leave the area if at all possible.
- If the fire is coming from the north (Calabasas), take Stunt Road south toward
the ocean (top of hill) and turn right on Schueren Road. At the end of Schueren,
turn left on Rambla Pacifico. Go less than a mile and take a left on Las Flores
exiting on PCH (do NOT take Piuma into Montenido).
- If the fire is coming from the south (Malibu), take Stunt Road north to
Mulholland Highway, and proceed either right or left out of the area.
- In a worst case scenario, stay at the Reserve, but avoid getting trapped on
the Reserve access road (between the picnic area safe zone and entrance gate
safe zone). Stay in either of the two safe zones. YOU must decide if you feel it
is safe to evacuate the Reserve. Check auto or portable radio for emergency
information including safe travel routes.
EARTHQUAKE AND/OR LANDSLIDE
Gather all persons to clearing(s) on the reserve. Avoid trees
and rocky areas. Check auto or portable radio for emergency information. Be
prepared for aftershocks. Stay at the reserve until it is safe to travel home.
Assess condition of reserve access road; you may need to walk rather than drive
out. Mountain roads frequently have landslide debris during and after
earthquakes; drive slowly and do not stop at the base of a steep slide prone
slope. Carry a preparedness kit in your car at all times with: flashlight and
batteries, blanket, food, water, clothes, first aid items/medications, and
toiletries to last up to 3 days per person.
Minor injuries: if necessary, use a first aid kit.
Unless someone has removed it without the reserve’s knowledge, there should be
a minimally equipped first aid kit in the wooden kiosk on the side of the
reserve’s access road near the entrance gate.
Life threatening or sever injuries: stabilize the victim,
making him/her as comfortable as possible (daytime can get hot, nighttime –
cold) and get help. Call 911.Note: If on the trail or in an isolated area, mark
your trail, or otherwise facilitate finding the victim.
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
1) Call 911 and ask for Lost Hills Sheriff Station
2) Call Lost Hills Sheriff Station (310) 456-6652 or (818) 878-1808
3) Call UCLA Police (310) 825-1491
POISON OAK:“Leaves of
three, let it be”. Shrub is found in chaparral, especially near streams. In
its dormant state without leaves, it can still cause a reaction. Bathe after
visiting the reserve and launder clothes. Reactions to poison oak can take 0-3
days to develop. If difficulty breathing after contact get prompt medical help.
RATTLESNAKES: Look where you step; avoid probing in
clumps of grass or around rocks. If you see a snake, avoid it. If you come
close, the snake may go away or coil in a defensive position. If
a member of your group is bitten, lay him/her down and keep him/her calm.
Carefully wipe venom away from puncture area. If water is available, wash with
soap/water, pat dry, do not rub. Apply a clean dressing. Carry person to
hospital ASAP, keeping the bitten area LOW.
Do NOT: apply tourniquet, cut into area, apply chemicals or suck wound
TICKS: Protect against ticks by wearing light-colored
clothing so ticks can be spotted before they attach, staying on trails, and if
wearing long pants tucking them into socks. Remove tick as soon as it is found.
To remove tick, it is generally recommended to hold it either with tweezers, a
piece of paper or a leaf, as you exert a straight steady pull until it releases
its hold; apply antiseptic. If tick is firmly attached and swelling up, a drop
of alcohol every minute for 10 minutes will cause it to relax for easy removal.
If you develop a rash around bite, the bite becomes infected,
or you feel ill, get medical attention.
ANIMALS: Avoid all contact with gophers, rabbits,
deermice, squirrels, etc. (alive or dead), their feces and their nests because
they may carry disease.
ALL BEES & STINGING INSECTS: First remove stinger by
scraping it off your body with fingernail or dull thin object. DO NOT use
tweezers of squeeze stinger or venom sack. Apply ice and/or calamine lotion on
area that was stung.
To minimize the attention of bees/insects, it is best NOT to
wear perfume or heavily scented cosmetics, to avoid patterned clothing, and to
dress in muted colors such as brown, green, white, gray, and blue. If a
bee/insect is circling or alights upon you, just hold still, remain calm, then
slow/y/gently wave it away, walk away and/or or wait for it to fly off on its
own.
If person has trouble breathing, extreme swelling or rash, go
to hospital immediately. If you know you are hypersensitive or allergic to bees,
don’t wait for symptoms to develop, got to hospital immediately.
AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES: These have not yet been
identified at the reserve but may someday be present. They are less predictable
and more defensive than native bees. They defend a greater area around their
nest and respond faster in greater numbers, though each been can sting only
once. They react to vibration/noise and motion, sense a threat from
people/animals 50 feet or more from the nest, and vibrations from 100 feet or
more. They will pursue an enemy ¼ mile or more, swarm frequently to establish
new nests and nest in small cavities and sheltered areas.
Do NOT go near a hive or swarm of bees.
If bees attack you: L.A. County Agricultural
Commissioner suggests:
- do not stay in one spot trying to remove bees with your hand
- leave area quickly..run in a fast zig/zag pattern away
- do not swat at bees as you are running - cover face; use clothes to protect
eyes and mouth from bees
- seek shelter inside enclosures where bees cannot enter such as a car or
building (lying down or huddling under clothing or partial protection generally
will not help)
· If you are stung and/or see a hive or swarm of
Africanized honey bees, notify: Africanized Honey Bee HOTLINE at 1-800-BEE-WARY
and the reserve office (310) 206-3887.
KEEP COOL TO AVOID HEAT ILLNESS: To avoid heat related
illness, wear light cotton clothing, stay out of the hot afternoon sun, and
drink plenty of water. If someone is experiencing heat exhaustion (headache,
nausea, slurred speech, confusion, sweating) cool down the body immediately with
cool towels and ice packs and receive immediate medical attention.
MOUNTAIN LIONS: Are extremely rare for the Santa
Monica Mountains. Potentially dangerous, particularly to small children. The
Department of Fish and Game recommends:
- do not leave children unattended by an adult (there
is evidence that children’s voices may attract a mountain lion’s interest)
- if you encounter a lion, slowly back away. Try to move confidently and
firmly. Do not run or crouch down. Raise your jacket or shirt above your head to
appear larger than you really are. If you are attacked, shout and defend
yourself by vigorously striking at the head with a stick or rock. Treat a
mountain lion kitten or a fresh animal carcass with extreme caution. Do not
approach. To avoid encountering lions make lots of noise and stay in a group.
