‘Communications & Dispatch’ Getting on the Same Page

Goals & Objectives -Familiarization with LF Flight Operations -Be able to recognize the need for air medical transport. -Understand Life Force Activation -Understand Navigation and tools for locating an LZ

Goals & Objectives -Understanding air to ground radio communications. -Understanding Aviation Weather and how weather affects your flight request. -Ability to understand hazardous conditions that might affect the safety of the aircraft, flight crew and the landing zone personnel.

FIRST FLIGHT December 20 th, 1988

Service Areas

-Based not only on patient’s condition -Accessibility of the site or hospital facilities -Time saved verses ground transport -The patient’s exposure time to the transport environment -Level of advanced care needed -Follow local protocols DECISION TO ACTIVATE AIR MEDICAL

(423) (423) NUMBERS TO LIFE FORCE FLIGHT OPERATIONS

Communications “The Flight Operations Center” “The Flight Operations Center”

Communications Center Responsibilities:  LIFE FORCE Flight Operations  Chattanooga MedComm (Southeast Tennessee Regional Medical Communications Center)  CISM Communications

Flight following is our PRIMARY responsibility Flight Following

ACTIVATION OF LIFE FORCE

Information Gathering Be prepared to provide the following information. Name / agency of caller Callback number Nature of emergency Number of patients Patient weight *Are other aircraft responding* *Did any other service turn-down for weather?*

911 Address Highway name and number Nearest crossroad(s) Nearest community/town Landmarks Terrain reference HELPFUL INFORMATION

Although Flight Ops can plot most locations, GPS receivers may be used in sparsely populated areas that lack adequate landmarks.

Most Common used format for our aircraft: DEGREES, MINUTES, SECONDS N W SAMPLE GPS COORDINATES

Anything that can be seen easily from the air Churches Water towers Golf courses Radio towers Schools Railroad Tracks High tension power lines Ponds, Creeks, etc.., Landmarks

Pre-Designated LZ’s - Helpful tools in some situations - Considered when no suitable LZ site can be located closer to the scene.

Hazard Information The dispatcher should understand the importance of any hazard information and relay to Flight Operations

Unsecured LZ's Other Aircraft Livestock Trees, Signs, etc..,

Cellular Towers Can be erected virtually overnight !! Towers < 200ft in height do not require lighting.

WIRES GREATEST HAZARD!

Based upon information gathered by dispatch, LIFE FORCE may be placed on Stand-by to shorten response times. If you need us to launch based on the information, we will launch. Life Force will not perform flying standbys unless requested. “Stand-by”

Standby VS. Launch  Standby  Crew Alert Status  Location Plotted  Weather Check  Launch  LZ Confirmed  Radio Contact  Radio Frequency  Patient information  Departments and Physicians Notified

Placing the aircraft on standby is a PREPARATION, not a RESERVATION. Launches take priority

WEATHER CHECK

Weather Status  Red – Pilot will not take a flight request.  Yellow – Pilot must check the weather on a case by case basis.  Green – Weather OK to fly.

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)

IFR Operations If conditions warrant IFR Operations, The Pilot must file an IFR FLIGHT PLAN to the Hospital, Airport, or other IFR Approach closest to the location of the patient. A short delay is necessary for the pilot to file the flight plan and take on extra fuel.

E.T.A. Estimated Time of Arrival Flight time + Lift-off Time Weather and wind factors not considered IFR vs. VFR

Flight Operations will ascertain the unit number and frequency of the LZ Commander on scene. The crew will attempt to contact that individual when the aircraft comes within range. RADIO OPERATIONS

AIRCRAFT RADIO CAPABILITIES VHFUHFAM 800 MHZ All freqs are pre-selected channels, we can No longer free enter a frequency. State EMS or HEAR is a Universal Channel

Life Force covers a four-state area, with several counties and agencies and many different “ten codes.” Using plain English is best when describing to communications information about the call. RADIO INTEROPERABILITY

NARROW-BANDING Life Force aircraft are in compliance with FCC Narrow-band regulations. Those services that have not completed this narrow-banding upgrade may have problems communicating to the Life Force Med Crew.

HAZ-MAT LIFE FORCE can respond to HAZMAT incidents. Although, due to the various types of materials which may be involved, requests are considered on a case-by- case basis.

Multi-Aircraft / Multi-Agency Consider number and type of aircraft involved. Remain familiar with all air medical aircraft types within your service area. Different type of aircraft require specific considerations.

SEARCH MISSIONS LIFE FORCE can be activated for search missions, although key factors require consideration. Limiting Factors: - Does the subject want to be found? - Excessive foliage - Low visibility at night - Affects of rotor wash on ground personnel

DANGEROUS PRACTICES

WEATHER SHOPPING Calling multiple air medical programs after being turned down for weather without informing subsequently called operators of the weather turndown. IF A SERVICE GIVES YOU A WEATHER TURNDOWN PLEASE LET US KNOW ANOTHER AIR SERVICE HAS DECLINED FOR WEATHER. THIS ALLOWS OUR PILOT TO MAKE AN INFORMED SAFE DECISION DANGEROUS PRACTICES

WHO CAN GET HERE FIRST??? Calling two air medical providers for one patient to Transport, to see who gets there first. This is a true safety hazard and a recipe for disaster. Several helicopters could arrive on scene at the same Times unaware of each other. Worst of all and most commonly, this practice takes Assets away from other agencies in the region that may Desperately need air medical transport. DANGEROUS PRACTICES

Misconceptions Life Force will only transport to Erlanger Medical Center. False: Life Force will transport to other appropriate hospitals based on request, distance and patient condition. Life Force will not launch unless EMS is on the scene and patient is assessed. False: Life Force will launch based on dispatch information to reduce response time and can be cancelled with no consequence to requesting agency.

Misconceptions - continued Life Force is an “all-weather” program and will fly when others can’t. False: Even though Life Force is an IFR program, there are still minimum weather requirements before a pilot will take a mission. Life Force pilots will not compromise safety to fly when others can’t Life Force “stacks” calls, committing to more flights that they have helicopters. False: Life Force will notify the caller placing the helicopter on standby if they are currently on standby. In most situations a launch request will take priority over a standby. If there is not an aircraft available, the communicator will assist with an alternate program of the agency’s choice.

Misconceptions - continued Life Force Communicators scan frequencies and “jump” calls. False: It is against Life Force’s policy to “jump” calls.

“ Safety Is Our Goal” “Complacency Is Our Enemy” Summary

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