MEDEVAC 101

Helipad Operations

UH-60 Blackhawk

By SGT Mark Urquhart

Today's flight crew..

• Pilot in command:

• Co-pilot:

• Crew chief:

• Flight medic:

References

• FM 8-10-6: Medical Evacuation in the Theatre of Operations

• 112th MEDCO (AA): SOP’s

Outline..

• Terminology• Safety on the helipad.• Approaching the helicopter.• Moving around the helicopter.• Unloading the helicopter.• Preparing for outbound transfers.• Loading the helicopter.• Re-supply.

Questions ?

Safety on the helipad..

• Establish a team leader.• Maintain light discipline towards aircraft.• Wear PPE =goggles + medical gloves +

hearing protection for all personnel. • Secure all uniform items.• Ensure NOTHING extends above eye level at

any time.• Await guidance from flight crew.• Walk orderly. • Work as a team.

Terminology

• Clock position from center of the main rotor; nose=12, right=3,tail = 6, left=9.

• Rotor arc ; anyplace inside of the turning blades.

• Carousel ; structure inside the cabin that supports the litter pans.

• Litter pan ; structures attached to the carousel that hold the patient litters.

Approaching the helicopter..

• Only after guidance from the flight crew.• TO and FROM = 9 o’clock or 3 o’clock.

Moving around the helicopter..

• Only after guidance from the flight crew.• NEVER GO REAR OF THE CABIN DOORS.• Remain as a team.• Remain within an arms length of the nose while

moving from side to side.

Questions ?

Unloading the helicopter..

• Ambulatory personnel off first.

• The flight crew will rotate the carousel.

• The flight crew will tilt the litter pan if needed.

• Team leader should confirm team assignments = ie.the tallest and strongest get the head end of the litter.

• Work as a team.

Unloading continued..

• Flight crew must move transition equipment ie. (O2, IV’s, BVM, Ventilator, Pleuravac, Propaq, External pacer) with the patient as the litter team unloads the patient.

• Unload inline of the litter pan, then assemble within an arms reach of the nose of the aircraft as a team if exiting the rotor arc from the opposite side if the aircraft.

• Depart at the 9 o’clock or 3 o’clock as directed by the flight crew.

Preparing for outbound transfers..

• Ensure patient is on a NATO litter as a secure package ie.(bandages, blankets, transition equipment, documentation/ records,).

• Nothing wider than the litter nor much higher than the patient.

• Hearing protection in place.

Loading the helicopter..

• Wait for the flight crew to come outside of the rotor arc to receive a patient transfer brief and documentation/ records from the team leader.

• Reciprocal of unloading.

Re-supply..

• Important that the helicopter be able to respond to the next medevac mission ASAP.

• Requested supplies improve our readiness.• NBC litters with retractable handles make a big

difference in the flight crews ability to perform in-flight treatments.

• NBC litters allow the carousel to rotate more efficiently.

Review..

• Terminology• Safety on the helipad.• Approaching the helicopter.• Moving around the helicopter.• Unloading the helicopter.• Preparing for outbound transfers.• Loading the helicopter.• Re-supply