SOP 207.12 HELICOPTERS
Several public and private helicopter
services are available to the Ennis Fire Department for various purposes,
including emergency medical transportation, rescue from inaccessible locations,
aerial reconnaissance of emergency scenes and
emergency transportation of manpower and/or equipment.
The agencies involved in
these services and available for emergencies are:
CAREFLITE
SKYMED
CRITICAL
Each agency's operating procedures and
equipment limitations present different constraints on their use.
Helicopters may be requested through Alarm
for a variety of situations. The unit
requesting helicopter support should indicate either a particular 'Unit
requested or a particular type of mission, and give any details of the
situation to Alarm. The most suitable unit for a particular mission will depend
on availability and the details of the situation.
EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION
Hospital helicopters are particularly suited
to specialized patient transportation and should be utilized for these missions
when available. Helicopters belonging
to other agencies may be suitable for transportation, but do not have medical
equipment or treatment-space.
Helicopter transportation may be indicated
for patients within city areas when distance or delay factors effect ground
ambulance transportation, when sufficient ambulances are unavailable or when
patients are in locations inaccessible to ground units.
While hospital helicopters are capable of
carrying two litter patients, only one critical patient can be treated with
adequate space. If necessary use additional helicopters for multiple patient
incidents.
Helicopter transportation
should be considered for:
Priority 1 or 2 patients.
Trauma patients requiring
urgent surgery.
Patients requiring specialized treatment (
The request for a helicopter should include
the number and condition of patients, the need for specialized care, the
destination hospital and the location of the landing area. (
RESCUE
Helicopters are
particularly suited to physical rescue of persons stranded in inaccessible
locations, whether injured or not. Depending on the location of the victim, a
helicopter may be useful in removing the victim or placing rescue personnel in
a position to reach the victim.
Since helicopters with hoists are not
available, the helicopter must be able to land or hover to complete a rescue.
Hospital helicopters are not suitable for most forms of physical rescue, but
may be useful in transporting personnel and equipment to a location close to a
patient.
Small helicopters are generally more
maneuverable and able to work in close quarters, but have limited lifting
capacity and limited patient carrying space.
The pilot is the best judge of the ability to perform a rescue. When requesting a helicopter for a
rescue-mission, a description of the victim's location and condition should be
given.
AERIAL
RECONNAISSANCE
Aerial observation may be desirable to assist
Command in complex situations. This has
proven extremely effective in brush fire fighting and complex structural fires involving
difficult access Helicopters may be requested to place a Fire Department
observer overhead with communications to Command or to actually Command from
above.
A television station or Police helicopter
will often be available in the vicinity of a major incident. Command should try
to establish direct communication with the helicopter to arrange a pick-up
location.
TRANSPORTATION
OF MANPOWER AND /OR EQUIPMENT
Helicopter transportation may be requested
for transportation of manpower and/or equipment urgently needed at the scene of
an emergency, particularly when distance is a factor. The request for assistance should include the
number of personnel and the size and weight of equipment that needs to be
transported.
Helicopters may also be used to transport men
and equipment to the top of a high-rise building or across difficult terrain
for fire fighting purposes. In these
situations a large landing area is needed in proximity to the staging area.
Small helicopters have very limited lifting capacity in hot weather; National Guard helicopters should be employed if heavy lifts are needed and time permits.
LANDING
ZONES
The selection of an appropriate landing zone
is of critical importance in a field situation.
A suitable landing area must be located and identified for the pilot.
Command will assign personnel to. select and
identify a landing zone. The assigned
personnel must have a portable radio and eye protection.
The Landing Zone must be free of obstructions for an
area approximately 60 feet by 60 feet.
Check for overhead wires, poles, towers and similar obstructions.
Do not land a helicopter within 150 feet of a
Treatment Area, Command Post or any similar activity. The noise and dust will
cause serious problems with these areas.
Area must be free of small objects
that can be blown around by rotor wash.
Check-for metal objects, loose clothing or blankets. Avoid dusty locations if possible.
If the landing area is very dusty, consider wetting
it with a hose line before landing.
Keep all personnel out of the landing area. Spectators must be kept at least 100 feet
from the helicopter at al times.
Approach and take-off are normally made into the wind.
This path must be free of obstructions and should avoid flying over treatment
area.
Landing zone personnel should communicate with the
pilot by radio, if possible, or by hand signals. Mark the upwind end of the landing zone as
shown.
Any nearby obstructions must be indicated to pilot.
Use spotlight at night to show wires, poles, etc. The pilot is the best judge of the ability
to land in a given location, but personnel on the ground must identify all obstructions
and hazards.
Mark upwind end and corners of Landing Zone with
lights or flares. (Secure or hold
flares to prevent fires)
Shine Spotlights on ground in Landing Zone, and mark
upwind with light or flare.
SAFETY FACTORS
Do not approach helicopter until pilot signals after
landing.
Always approach from front.
Keep all personnel away from tail rotor.
Aircraft crew will direct patient loading and door
opening/closing.
Keep spectators away.
Remove any light objects or debris from landing
area.
Landing Zone personnel must use eye protection or
helmet face shields.
Stage patients waiting to be
loaded at least 100 feet away.
Secure sheets and blankets and cover eyes during
landing.
Beware rotor wash from large helicopters is very
strong, and small objects and clothing (caps, jackets, etc.) can
be blown around easily.