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