Helipad Operations UH-60 Blackhawk 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