MEDEVAC 101

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MEDEVAC 101

• Helipad Operations
• UH-60 Blackhawk

By SGT Mark Urquhart
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Today's flight crew..

• Pilot in command
• Co-pilot
• Crew chief
• Flight medic

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References

• FM 8-10-6 Medical Evacuation in the Theatre of
  Operations
• 112th MEDCO (AA) SOPs

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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.

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Questions ?
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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.

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Terminology

• Clock position from center of the main rotor
  nose12, right3,tail 6, left9.
• 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.

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Approaching the helicopter..

• Only after guidance from the flight crew.
• TO and FROM 9 oclock or 3 oclock.

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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.

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Questions ?
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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.

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Unloading continued..

• Flight crew must move transition equipment ie.
  (O2, IVs, 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 oclock or 3 oclock as directed
  by the flight crew.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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