Ground Operations Safety Course Branson West, MO / St. Robert, MO /Bolivar, MO Joplin, MO /Rogers, AR
Mercy Health System
Mercy Hospital - Springfield, MO Mercy Hospital Springfield, MO Mercy Hospital Aurora, MO Mercy Hospital Cassville, MO Mercy Hospital Berryville, AR Mercy Hospital Lebanon, MO Mercy St. Francis Hospital Mountain View, MO Mercy Hospital Joplin, MO Mercy Hospital Rogers, AR
Mercy Springfield 1,016 bed tertiary care facility Level 1 Trauma Center Burn Center Stroke Center Cardiac Center Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Neonatal Transport Team
Emergency Trauma Center 50 bed Emergency Trauma Center Treating 95,000 patients per year In-house Trauma Surgeon available 24hrs each day Trauma Research, Education, and Prevention
Mercy Children s Hospital Pediatric ICU 35 Bed level 3 NICU Neonate transport team St. Jude affiliate hospital
Mercy EMS 50,000 calls per year 57 Ambulances 10 Support Vehicles 24 Stations 12 counties 11 in Missouri 1 in Arkansas
Scope of Service Provide safe and rapid transport of patients from pre-hospital scenes and health care facilities Transport all age groups, Neonate to Geriatric Staff of experienced Registered Nurses and Paramedics who function under the direction of a physician medical director
Excellence Began operating in 1984 in cooperation with Mr. John Q. Hammons First rotor wing air medical service in Southwest Missouri Mercy Life Line has been accident free since its inception
Excellence Initial mission was to aid in the care and rapid transport of heart attack victims Have now flown over 24,000 patients Had 2,900 + requests for service with over 1600 missions flown last year
Service In July 1984, Mercy introduced Mercy Life Line 1 Based at Branson West, MO
Service In January of 2001, Mercy introduced Mercy Life Line 2 Based at St. Robert, MO
Service In March of 2004, Mercy introduced Mercy Life Line 3 Based at Citizens Memorial Hospital - Bolivar, MO
Service In November of 2013, Mercy introduced Mercy Life Line 4 BASED AT MERCY HOSPITAL - JOPLIN, MO
Service In February of 2014, Mercy introduced Mercy Life Line 5 Based at Mercy Hospital - Rogers, AR
Service All five helicopters provide air medical services to:
Service Can fly to any scene or hospital within a 120 mile radius Will transport to an appropriate facility of patient / family choice, unless a specialty resource center is required Arkansas Licensed Kansas Licensed
Team Work Registered Nurse 3 years of critical care or E.R. experience CEN, CCRN, or CFRN ACLS, BTLS or PHTLS, NRP, PALS, Haz-Mat Paramedic 3 years experience with busy ALS service CCEMT-P or FP-C is preferred ACLS, BTLS or PHTLS, NRP, PALS, Haz-Mat
Team Work Pilot Commercial Instrument Rating Minimum 2,000 flight hours with an average of 20 years experience Annual check ride and exam in EC -135 and BO-105 Annual medical physical Simulator training Mechanic FAA Licensure Minimum 3 years experience with EC-135 and BO-105 American Eurocopter factory school Pratt & Whitney / Allison Engine training FAA inspections
Mercy Life Line EC-135 B0-105
Aviation Services Operational Control All flights are conducted by, and operational control over all aircraft is exercised solely by Metro Aviation, Inc
EC-135 - Mercy Life Line Twin Pratt & Whitney engines Maximum fuel capacity - 180 gals. Jet A Maximum gross weight - 6,250 pounds Average cruise speed of 150 mph
EC-135 - Mercy Life Line Length - 39ft 10 in Height - 11 feet Fenestron tail rotor 3 feet off the ground The rotor is enclosed but is still very DANGEROUS!!!!
EC-135 - Mercy Life Line Pilot plus up to three crew members Two patient capable at crew discretion
EC-135 - Mercy Life Line Rear loading Ambulance style cot (450) weight limit
EC-135 IFR Equipped Autopilot Onboard radar Satellite radar Traffic avoidance Terrain avoidance
BO 105 - Mercy Life Line Twin Allison turbine engines Maximum fuel capacity - 150 gals. Jet A Maximum gross weight - 5,512 pounds Fly average speed of 135 mph
BO 105 - Mercy Life Line Rear loading aircraft Can carry 2 patients - Patient severity - Crew discretion
BO-105- Mercy Life Line MBB BO-105 Length - 38 ft 11 in Main rotor height 9 f TAIL ROTOR Height - 5 ft 10 in STAY CLEAR AT ALL TIMES!!
MD 902 - Cox Air Care Staff for Life Twin Engine Side Loading Length 38 ft Main rotor ht 12 ft NOTAR No tail rotor system
BK- 117 - MedFlight Stl, Children s Cardinal Glennon- ARCH Twin Engine Rear loading with an ambulance cot Length 32 1/2 ft Main rotor height 11 ft
BK- 117 MedFlight Stl, Children s Cardinal Glennon- ARCH TAIL ROTOR Height - 5 ft 10 in STAY CLEAR AT ALL TIMES!!
AS-350 /A-Star - Staff for Life / ARCH EagleMed Single engine Side loading Single patient capacity Length 35.8 ft Main rotor height 10 ft
AS-350 /A-Star - Staff for Life / ARCH EagleMed TAIL ROTOR Height - ONLY 4 FEET!! STAY CLEAR AT ALL TIMES!!
EC-130 - ARCH Single engine Side loading Single patient capacity Length 35 ft Main rotor height 10 ft Tail Rotor height 2 feet
Bell 407 - Life Flight Eagle Single engine Single patient Side Load
Bell 407 - Life Flight Eagle TAIL ROTOR Height - 3.25 FEET STAY CLEAR AT ALL TIMES!!!
Bell 206 - Air Evac Life Team Single engine Side loading-1 patient Main rotor height 12 ft
Bell 206 - Air Evac Life Team TAIL ROTOR Height - ONLY 4 FEET!! STAY CLEAR AT ALL TIMES!!
Air Transport Guidelines Motor Vehicle Collision (MVC) - High speed, rollover, ejected - Extrication greater than 20 min - Fatality in same vehicle Motorcycle Accident (MCA) Car vs. pedestrian Falls greater than 15 feet
Air Transport Guidelines Pelvic fractures Penetrating injury to head, neck, chest Amputations proximal to wrist or ankle Burns with associated trauma Burns > than 30% BSA - any degree
Air Transport Guidelines Chest pain / Heart attack Stroke symptoms
Dispatch & Communications CALL 1-800-433-5433 - Give your name, agency and phone number - Give the communication specialist who the local Fire/Rescue unit will be - Give the ambulance name, unit number and radio frequency with PL tone - Give patient info. & destination, if known
Dispatch & Communications Give Landing Zone (LZ) location using city, county, or major roadway with mileage and distance from major landmarks (i.e. 4 miles North of I-44 & County Rd. 1010)
Dispatch & Communications Life Line Dispatch will use computer mapping to obtain the exact coordinates of your scene Give major landmarks (i.e. schools, lakes, towers, silos, etc.)
Dispatch & Communications Please do not use local names of sites (i.e. Jones' corner or Miller s farm) Use geographic descriptions - Top of hill, west of the river, etc.
Dispatch & Communications Location is given in latitude / longitude - Aviation sectional maps - Topography map - Global Positioning System (GPS) - No guessing on location, can always find you, expedites patient care Physical location is requested
LZ Requirements 100 ft x 100 ft Level Surface 2 to 1 ratio of object height from LZ i.e. an object 35 feet tall needs to be 70 feet from the edge of the LZ 100 X x 100
Landing Zone Avoid strobes near the LZ DO NOT spot light the aircraft Wet down a gravel or dirt area to reduce brown out Select an LZ away from all livestock Position vehicles at the corners of the LZ with lights pointed toward the center
Landing Zone Pilots may or may NOT land under NVG s Be prepared to turn off lights if asked by the pilot Pilot preference and surrounding light will affect pilot lighting decisions
Scene Considerations Keep LZ clear of: Trees Poles Wires Stumps Posts Brush Large rocks
Weather Minimums Weather is the pilot s decision If you can not see, neither can we Local (<30 NM) Day - 800 ft ceiling - 2 mile visibility Night - 800 ft ceiling - 3 miles visibility Cross Country Day - 1000 ft ceiling - 3 miles visibility Night - 1,200 ft ceiling - 5 miles visibility
Helicopter Shopping You MUST inform a service if another service has turned the mission down for weather Our communications center will ask if any other service has been requested for the mission
WEATHERTURNDOWN.COM
Air to Ground Communications Prefer to use interoperability channels (8Call90D, VCall10, UCall90D, VFire21 etc.) Provides a traffic free frequency Life Line will contact LZ Coordinator
Law Enforcement Prefer to use Police Mutual Aid or Missouri Sheriffs when possible Provides a traffic free frequency Life Line will contact LZ Coordinator Police Mutual Aid / VLAW 31: 155.475 (No PL) Missouri Sheriffs: 155.730 (No PL)
LZ Coordinator Responsible for aircraft safety from approach to lift off Can often be the scene commander Use a good radio - vehicle radio is preferred
LZ Coordinator Communicate ALL obstacles i.e. wires on west side, light poles to the north, etc. Our view from the air is different than yours.
SGF
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Roadway LZ Traffic must be stopped in all directions Traffic control must remain in place until aircraft departs Communicate exact landing location
Scene Considerations Once the aircraft has verified the LZ and has you in sight clear the LZ Never approach the aircraft unless motioned to do so by the crew
Hot and Cold Loading During most scene flights the aircraft will remain HOT Pilot will reduce to idle speed Ground crew must maintain safe LZ ALWAYS watch for directions from the medical crew and pilot
Tail Rotor Guard Life Line pilots will remain in the aircraft The medical crew will need one person to guard the tail rotor Stay in place until given the signal to move Stay visible to the pilot DO NOT allow ANYONE near the tail
HAZ-MAT Incidents Advise as early as possible Never assume that we already know LZ must be at least 1 mile upwind Never select an LZ in a low lying area Do not allow aircraft to fly through gases All patients must be fully decontaminated
Multiple Victim Incidents LZ coordinator Needs to be experienced and consistent Prepare for multiple aircraft Locate LZ with access to treatment areas
Assisting With Patient Care First Responders & Fire Rescue Personnel are a Valuable Resource to the Flight Crew, even prior to the arrival of the aircraft
Initial Patient Contact Personal Safety FIRST!! Address Patient Needs (ABC s) Determine need for Air Transport Inform patient of helicopter transport (reduces patient anxiety levels) Protect patient from weather (heat, cold, etc) Provide detailed information about patient and the scene to incoming flight crew
Patient Care
Patient Care LZ coordinator can advise crew of: How many patients Need for airway care Medical status Level of consciousness Head chest and abdominal injuries Any special considerations
Patient Care Assist with general patient care and transfer of patient to Life Line cot Assist in keeping IVs and monitor cables out from under blankets Watch and listen to flight crew for instructions. One person on each corner for transport to aircraft
Patient Care Watch for direction from Flight Crew Lift the cot up enough to clear the rear deck Flight crew will secure equipment and doors Depart towards the front of the aircraft WALK, DO NOT RUN!!!!
Patient Care TWO PATIENT FLIGHTS Pilot or medical crew will bring second cot Most critical patient in number 1 position Pilot will secure soft equipment
After We Lift the Scene Leave a radio on the selected air to ground frequency Enables us to re-contact you if we need to return to LZ
Downed Aircraft Can occur during any mission Mechanical, crew or weather related Precautionary, not always an accident Running landing on one engine Forced, find the best landing spot fast
Downed Aircraft All aircraft are satellite tracked Emergency Location Transmitter On board cellular phone Contact local dispatch center Utilize other helicopter operations for search
Emergency Access Remove red cover Pull the cord Push a red dot Window will fall out
Aircraft Shut Down 1. Extend engine main switch guards 2. Place engine main switch in down position
Aircraft Shut Down 3. Press both fuel valve buttons (found under red cover) 4. Place master battery switch in the down position
Fuel Tank Located in the floor of the aircraft
Aircraft Oxygen 1. Main shut off located on instrument panel 2. Lift guard and switch to turn off 3. Can also be shut off at the regulator on the medical wall.
Aircraft Battery Located on right side of aircraft in front of tail boom. Do NOT unhook or cut battery cables.
Emergency Procedures
Aircraft Oxygen 1. Main shut off located behind pilot seat 2. Push down to turn off 3. Can also be shut off at the regulator on the medical wall.
Aircraft Battery Located on right side of aircraft in front of tail boom. Do NOT unhook or cut battery cables.
Aircraft Shut Down 1. Move throttles to full rear position while pushing in on the detents
Aircraft Shut Down 1. Lift red covers and turn off fuel switches Fuel shut off 2. Turn off the battery Battery
Emergency Access Pull the red lever Push door out
Fuel Tank Located in the floor of the aircraft
Tying it All Together Determine need for air transport Call Life Line Communications Center Provide care to the patient Establish L Z per Life Line guidelines Communicate L Z info to aircraft Identify & post Tail Rotor Guard Secure LZ at all times - SAFETY FIRST Follow directions of the flight crew
General Safety Recap Eliminate all loose objects Identify and advise of overhead hazards DO NOT approach aircraft unless signaled by the crew NEVER allow anyone to approach from the rear
General Safety Recap Flight crew directs all loading of patients and equipment Only minimum number of people to assist with loading DO NOT allow any family or spectators to assist with loading
SOAR Student Observation and Ride Along Open to all emergency services personnel 200 pounds and under Must attend SOAR class presentation Provides opportunity for persons to obtain experience in all aspects of air medical transport
Life Line Night Out Free educational outreach program Brought to your facility Offering CEU s on a variety of topics Catered to your needs
Mercy Life Line Air ambulance programs are only one component of the EMS system The most important part of the system is YOU and your commitment to serve your patient and community!!!
Thank You We thank you for your dedication and express our appreciation for the valuable assistance you provide to us. TOGETHER, WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!