ACTIVATION & LANDING ZONE GUIDELINES

Objective• To ensure safe operations around the

helicopter on scene responses

Scene Activation Criteria based on the NAEMSP (National Association for Emergency Physicians) Guidelines

Discussion topics• Locations and Aircraft• When and how to call for a helicopter• What information is necessary• What information is helpful• Choose and preparing a landing area• Landing aircraft, loading patients• Membership Program

Aircraft Crews• Pilots

• Highly trained experienced professionals• Exceed minimum hour requirements (most former military)• Currently conducting NVG OPS

• Nurse/Paramedics Staff• Certified ACLS, PALS, NALS (NRP), TNATC/ATLS, FPC,

CCEMTP, CEN, CFRN, CCRN• Critical care trained• Minimum five years field/ER/ICU experience

Aircraft Locations• Clovis NM-Rotor

• Lubbock, TX-Rotor

• Lubbock, TX-Fixed Wing

• Seminole, TX-Rotor

• Odessa, TX-Rotor

• Fort Stockton, TX-Rotor

AeroCare’s Fleet

When and How to Call• Always Call 911• Early Activation…Sooner is Better• Any public service/safety person can call

• EMS/Fire personnel• Law enforcement• Safety officers

IndicationsMedical Emergencies• Heart Attack• Stroke• Diabetic Emergencies

Time-Distance factors• Transport to trauma center greater than 15 minutes• Transport time to local hospital by ground greater than transport time to

trauma center by helicopter.

IndicationsTrauma• Burns• Paralysis• Partial or total amputation of any extremity (including digits).• Penetrating or Crushing injuries to head, chest or abdomen.• Heat Related Emergencies• Snake Bite

Mechanism of Injury• Unrestrained rollover• Vehicle vs. pedestrian• Falls > 15 feet• Vehicle ejection > 20 mph• Multiple trauma victims

Dispatch Information• Name and return contact information of caller• Scene type

• Medical or trauma• Motor Vehicle Collision, fire, hazmat, etc

• Where scene is located (GPS Coordinates)

Helpful Information• Landmarks close to scene• Any medical information available• Number of patients on scene

• Injuries• Treatment provided• Preferred facility (on arrival)

Choose a Landing Zone• 100x100ft for daytime/nighttime• No trees or tall grasses• Downwind of scene• Hard and flat

• Concrete• Asphalt• Gravel• Grass• Dirt• Brush

Preparing a Landing Zone

• Walk the area and clear any loose debris• Make note of possible hazards:

• Power poles/lines• Fences• Guide Wires

• Remain a sufficient distance from the patient area….200-300 feet is recommended.

• Make note of wind direction• Helicopters like their nose into the wind

DO NOT APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT

Preparing a Landing Zone

100 x 100

WIND

Preparing a Landing ZoneWIND

Landing AircraftBe aware of brown out and white out situations.

Approach

Set up LZ at a distance 2X the tallest obstacle

ALL WEATHER OPERATOR• Helicopter operates in Visual

Flight Rules• NVG Equipped

(100% of RW fleet)• Airplane operates in Visual

and Instrument Flight Rules• All aircraft operate 24/7 - 365

days/year

Image as seen through NVG’s

Loading the Patient• NEVER go past the side doors towards the

rear TAIL ROTOR IS DEADLY

• Assist the medical crew as directed to load the patient

• When the patient is loaded move toward the front of the aircraft and wait for the medical crew to escort you away from the aircraft

Patient Transport• Transport to most appropriate facility

• Patient request depends on necessity• Can provide update upon arrival

Membership Program

AeroCare Membership ProgramAs a member of AeroCare, you are automatically

a member of the

The largest membership network of its kind in the USA

• Peace of Mind. • Members enjoy the security of No-out-of-

pocket expenses for medically necessary air transport by AeroCare or any one of our AMCN service partners.

• Covers all members of Household• AeroCare household memberships cover

everyone residing in home. And Kids away at college!

• No Health Insurance required!• AeroCare does not ask for insurance or

health information. No pre-existing condition exclusion

• Largest Air Medical Network in the US• 200+ bases• 30 states• 1,400,000+ members and growing• Medical Helicopters and Airplanes• Modern fleet and state of art equipment

Membership Availability • Households covered for only $65 a YEAR• Group Discounts are available for

employers, associations, and affinity groups• Discounts increase as enrollment

increases• Low cost employee benefit

• Event/Ranch/Workplace/Etc. Site plans • Fundraisers• MUNICIPAL SITE PLANS

Municipal Site Plans• Texas Counties: Andrews, Crane,

Crockett, Lipscomb, McMullen, Kennedy, Kinney, Pecos, Reagan, Schleicher, Throckmorton, Upton, Ward, Yoakum.

• Texas Cities: Farwell• New Mexico Cities: Jal, Eunice• North Dakota County: Billings• In Progress: West Virginia, Tennessee,

Kentucky, Georgia, California

REMEMBER…AS A PATIENT, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO

CHOOSE YOUR PROVIDERS!!!!

Thank You!• A big Thank You to everyone for their

help and safety awareness• None of this would be possible without

you• We appreciate your continued support

throughout the region!• Everyone Be Safe Out There!