Helicopter Safety Guidelines for Hospital Staff

REQUESTING CARE FLIGHT

1. Call 800-648-4888, direct line to the Care Flight Air Communications Specialist.
2. Be prepared to give the following information:
   1. Hospital Name
   2. Hospital / Department Call Back Number / Person Coordinating Transfer
   3. Location of the Patient: Emergency Department, ICU, CCU, PICU, Peds, etc.
   4. Patient Information: Patient complaint or diagnosed problem, age, sex, and ESTIMATED WEIGHT.  
      Equipment needed / MD orders for flight staff- medication infusions, ventilator, etc.
   5. Transferring MD name. Used if we need permission to divert to closer scene request while enroute.
   6. Destination facility and patient accepted by MD.
      In compliance with federal EMTALA laws, Care Flight may not transfer any patient between facilities without prior acceptance of a receiving physician.
   7. Has this request been turned down by other air medical programs due to weather, etc?

PREPARING FOR CARE FLIGHT ARRIVAL

1. Whenever possible, use the Care Flight Transport envelope checklist for all transfer paperwork, CD’s, etc.
   
2. Have all patient belongings together and ready to transport with your patient.
   
3. Security personnel notified and prepared for aircraft arrival, if applicable.
   
4. Family riders are not permitted routinely. All requests will be discussed on an individual basis with the Care Flight medical staff and pilot once at the hospital.
   
5. Family members may accompany patients to the helipad when approved by Care Flight staff.

BEGIN AT THE HOSPITAL DOORS

1. All responding personnel should wait within the secure area of each facility while the aircraft is landing and until all rotor motion has stopped. Minimum 100’ distance from landing aircraft.
2. Only those individuals who have received Care Flight safety training should be on the helipad to assist.
   At Renown Regional Medical Center and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center, only security and ED/ICU/CCU personnel permitted on the helipad. At Northern Nevada Medical Center, engineering and ED staff will respond. Only those who can assist with lifting should come to the helipad. No one with back problems should assist. Wear gloves and be prepared to lift. Any REMSA personnel may assist with unloading. Students are not permitted to help unload.

APPROACHING THE AIRCRAFT

1. Only after blades and tail rotor have stopped completely. Never approach the aircraft until permission received from the flight crew. Always approach from the front. Never approach from the rear or tail of the aircraft. Maintain control of the hospital gurney at all times.

ROTOR WASH

1. Maintain a safe distance from the running aircraft unless assisting with a “Hot” offload. Protect face and eyes from flying debris. Safety glasses are advised during “Hot” offload.
   1. At Renown Regional Medical Center, remain indoors (rooftop) or at edge of ED awning (ground level) until rotors come to a complete stop.
   2. At St. Mary's Regional Medical Center, remain in the building behind helipad door until rotors come to a complete stop.
   3. For Northern Nevada Medical Center remain at top of walkway with gurney locked until rotors come to a complete stop.
   4. Other hospitals need to follow specific helipad policies they have in place.

WALKWAY / HELIPAD SURFACES

1. All hospital walkways and helipad surfaces cleaned of snow as needed by facility staff.
   BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY SURFACES.
   1. Renown Regional Medical Center
      Roof helipad and walkways heated, lit and have skid resistant surfaces.
      Rooftop light switches are located at pilot table and charge nurse desk in ED.
      Roof helipads are bright, windy and cold. BE PREPARED.
      Roof helipads inspected daily by facilities staff. Activity logbook is at pilot table.
      Roof helipadpads identified as “South” and “North”. They are scanned 24/7 by Care Flight ACS.
      Air traffic coordination maintained by REMSA Communications.
      Identify EMERGENCY EGRESS routes off roof (north & south tower stairwells)
      Ground helipad is unheated / textured concrete and may get slippery.
      Entrance and exit are through the rolling front gate.
      LOX tanks are stored on ground helipad. 200#  p.s.i. May be heard “venting”.
      Alternative egress is through east swinging gate.
   2. St. Mary's Regional Medical Center
      The walkway is clearly defined. There are sections that are heated and may be slick.
      Roof helipad area is bright, cold and windy. Have all items secured. Be Prepared.
   3. Northern Nevada Medical Center
      Walkway is unheated and may be slippery in winter.
      Helipad is unheated concrete.

EMERGENCY FUEL SHUT-OFF

1. Renown Regional Medical Center            
   Ground helipad has (2) emergency fuel shut-off locations:
   • On outside north wall outside of swinging gate (Paramedic room side of helipad).
   • On panel positioned 200’west of helipad between sidewalk and parked vehicles.
2. Renown Regional Medical Center Roof / St. Mary's Regional Medical Center / Northern Nevada Medical Center
   There is no fuel at these locations.

STRETCHERS

1. Oxygen and tubing connectors are the responsibility of the Emergency Department.
2. All IV poles fully retracted before entering the helipad.
3. Pads and sheets removed from gurneys. All equipment (BVM) secured (rotor wash).
4. All hydraulics, wheel brakes, and side rails should be fully functional.

UNLOADING

1. The flight staff will direct all loading and unloading of patients.
2. Place the hospital gurney approximately 3 feet away from the aircraft. This allows room for flight staff to unlock sled from aircraft before positioning the gurney closer for unloading. Four people needed for unloading. Individuals of similar height placed across from one another. For heavy patients, Care Flight will ask for additional lifting help when giving the patient medical report. Assure gurney brakes are in locked position.
3. Move the patient when the medical crew is ready. Always lift the last 1/3 of the sled.

TURN AROUND FLIGHTS

1. If Care Flight has a turn around flight, the following will be requested:
   1. The flight crew will not accompany patient into ED.
   2. Hospital staff will need to respond with adequate personnel, a cardiac monitor or other equipment upon request.
2. If Care Flight doing a “Hot Unload” with patient, hospital RN is to stay at secure area with gurney. Care Flight medical staff will go to helipad entrance, give patient report to RN, then escort to helicopter, unload patient and escort RN back to doors or gate.
3. Care Flight staff or Air Communication Specialist (ACS) will notify you ASAP of a turn-around flight. Occasionally, the flight crew will receive a turn-around flight after giving you the medical report. When that occurs, a flight staff member will give you the “turn-around” signal. The aircraft will remain running and a staff member will escort you to and from the helipad.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

1. DO NOT FIGHT FIRE! IF THERE IS A FIRE, HARD LANDING OR OTHER INCIDENT INVOLVING ANY AIRCRAFT, MOVE TO A SAFE DISTANCE AND CALL 911.