Transcript 5.09 Medical Evacuation by Helicopter

MEDICAL EVACUATION BY
HELICOPTER
January 2012
CANADIAN
CANADIANCOAST
COASTGUARD
GUARDAUXILIARY
AUXILIARY- -PACIFIC
PACIFIC
Introduction
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Introduction
• This presentation describes generic medical
evacuation procedures.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Introduction
• When a vessel at sea requires a medical
evacuation, lives depend on knowing the right
procedure and on advance planning.
• An oversight or poor planning can endanger
the helicopter, its crew, the patient, and the
crew of the vessel.
• Knowing the right way makes everyone
safer.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Introduction
• Open or T Top rescue vessels are not to
participate in helicopter medical evacuations,
and should proceed to nearest area where
the helicopter can safely land, and where the
vessel can safely land the patient to the
helicopter.
• This landing site will be specified by the
helicopter.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
When Requesting Assistance
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
When Requesting Assistance
1.Give accurate position, time, speed, course,
weather conditions (ceiling, visibility, wind
direction and speed, and sea state).
2. If not already provided, give complete
medical information, including whether or not
the patient can walk.
3. Be prepared to change your course toward
the helicopter if you are told to do so by the
SAR mission coordinator.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Preparations Before Helicopter
Arrives
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Preparations Before Helicopter
Arrives
1. Keep radio watch on 156.8 MHz (CH 16
VHF-FM or other frequency specified by the
SAR mission coordinator.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Preparations Before Helicopter
Arrives
2. Select and clear the hoist area, preferably aft
in the stern. This includes securing loose
gear, awnings, rigging and booms.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Preparations Before Helicopter
Arrives
3. If the hoist is at night, illuminate the hoist
area as well as possible. Do not shine any
lights toward the helicopter that may blind the
pilot. If there are obstructions in the vicinity,
put a light on them so the pilot will be aware
of their locations.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Preparations Before Helicopter
Arrives
4. Point searchlights vertically to help the
helicopter locate the ship, and extinguish
them when the helicopter is on scene.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Preparations Before Helicopter
Arrives
5. Advise SAR mission coordinator of location of
hoist area before the helicopter arrives so the
pilot can make the necessary approach.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Preparations Before Helicopter
Arrives
6. There will be a high noise level under the
helicopter, making voice communications
almost impossible. Arrange a set of hand
signals among the vessel crew who will
assist.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Preparations Before Helicopter
Arrives
7. Helmets with face shields or goggles are
recommended due to the noise and spray
generated by the helicopter.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
1. Be sure patient is tagged to indicate what
medications, if any, were administered and
when.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
2. Have patient's necessary papers in an
envelope or package ready to transfer with
them.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
3. Have the patient ready to move as their
condition permits. Time is important.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
4. It will be necessary to hoist the patient in the
rescue device, which will be lowered by the
helicopter. Be prepared to do this as quickly
as possible. Be sure the patient is strapped
in, face up, with a life jacket if their condition
permits.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
5. Establish the procedure that if either rescue
vessel or helicopter had to break off the
manoeuvre for any reason, then one word
would be called" Break”.
Rescue vessel goes to starboard and
helicopter goes to port .
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
6. Change course so the vessel rides as easily
as possible with the wind on the bow,
preferably the port bow. Reduce speed if
necessary to ease the vessel's movement,
but maintain steerageway.
As the helicopter craft starts to hover above
you there is a slight drop in speed in our
vessel - compensate for that to maintain
steerage but no sudden increase in speed
without telling the helicopter.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
Once the hoist begins, maintain course and
speed, and follow instructions from the
helicopter.
The vessel will be severely buffeted by the
downwash of the helicopter so complete
concentration is needed.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
7. If you do not have radio contact with the
helicopter when you are in all respects ready
for the hoist signal the helicopter in with a
“thumbs up" by hand, or at night by flashlight.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
8. Allow the rescue device to touch the deck
before handling it to avoid static discharge.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
9. If the helicopter drops a trail line, guide the
rescue device to the deck with the trail line.
Do not tie the trail line or hoist cable to the
vessel.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
10. If necessary to take rescue device away
from hoist point, unhook the hoist cable and
keep free for helicopter to haul in. Do not
attempt to move rescue device without
unhooking it. Do not secure the cable to the
vessel.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
11. Place patient in rescue device, sitting with
hands clear of sides or strapped in face up.
Signal hoist operator when ready for hoist.
Patient signals by nodding head if he is able.
Deck personnel give "thumbs up" to hoist
operator. Steady the rescue device to prevent
turning or swinging.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
12. If a trail line is attached to the rescue device
use it to steady the rescue device during the
hoist. Keep feet clear of the line.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Hoist Operations
13. The helicopter may elect to lower their
crewman to your vessel to evaluate the
patient and assist in the hoist evolution.
Please assist the crewman and follow his
instructions.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
Where the vessel may not be appropriate to
take the direct landing of a crewman from a
helicopter, the high line transfer technique
may be used.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
1. As before make sure everything is tied down
and secure.
The down wash from a Sea King is 130 knots,
the Cormorant more.
Vessel heading and speed will be at the
direction of the helicopter pilot, but generally
with wind and sea on the port bow.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
2. The helicopter will be lowering a light weight
line with a bag of lead shot on the end, down
to the vessel.
The weight on the end of this line can be
increased with the speed of the wind.
On board the vessel it is useful to have a
bucket into which the weighted line can be
coiled. The line must must not be secured.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
3. The high line is lowered to just above the
water.
The helicopter will then fly in, to allow the
vessel crew to catch the bag.
Avoid getting hit by the bag.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
4. The crew man starts being lowered on the
winch of the helicopter.
The high line is attached to the crewman by a
light piece of line which is designed to break
in case the pilot needs to make a sudden
manoeuvre and break away.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
5. The high line is
used by the
vessel crew to
guide the
crewman onto
the vessel.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
6. Once on board the crewman will unclip
himself, to allow the helicopter to fly clear and
await further instructions.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
High Line Transfer Operations
7. Once on board the crewman will unclip
himself, to allow the helicopter to fly clear and
await further instructions.
Video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5bKb2jJ_N0
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
The End
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC