OBJECTIVES
Activation Guidelines
Communications
Weather
Landing Zone
Air
Medical
Flight
Crew
Based at Medical Center Hospital
in Odessa, Texas
Highly Trained Flight Crew
Pilot
Registered Nurse
EMT Paramedic
Rotorcraft – Bell 407
Length (rotor turning)…...41.8 ft
Width (rotor turning)…..…35 ft
Max Cruise Speed…………160 mph
Maximum Range……………350 miles
RESPONSE TIME
AUTO-LAUNCH
In Air In Less Than 5 Minutes From
Dispatch
Patient Is Definitely In Need Of Air
Transport
Ground Crew May Cancel Flight At Any
Time If Patient Is Not In Need Of Air
Transport
Service Area 150 Miles
COST
$ Please Inform Com.
Center If Helicopter
Is Not Needed, ASAP
$ Lean On Side of
“Just in Case”
Rather Than “Wait
To Be Sure”
$ Requesting Party
Will Never Be
Charged for Flight or
Requesting
Helicopter
$ Patient Care is
Priority
$ Medical Necessity Is
Key
$ Carestar Will Never
Make Payment
Arrangements or
Ask for Proof of
Insurance Before
Accepting Patient
Activation & Landing
Zone Guidelines
ACTIVATION CRITERIA
Trauma relating to oil field accidents
– Severe Head Injuries
– Chest Injuries
– Major Extremity Injuries and Fractures
– Falls from over 20ft
– Burns (Thermal, Electrical, Chemical)
– All Other Medical Conditions
(Heart Attack, Stroke, or Diabetic Emergencies)
ACTIVATION
Scene Trauma
– Situational factors
• Mass Casualty Incidents
• Rural or Isolated Areas
• Limited Ground Ambulance Access or
Egress
• Limited Access to Medical Care
• Scenes Involving Long Extrication Times
Taking Time Away From The Golden
Hour
CONTRAINDICATIONS
• Mission
– To Provide Safe and Rapid Transport of
Critically Ill or Injured Patients to the Most
Appropriate Facility
• Contraindicated Transports
– Traumatic Arrest
Prior to the Arrival of Carestar
– Recurrent Cardiac Arrest
ALS Support
Transport Post-Resuscitation
– HAZMAT Patients
COMMUNICATIONS
1-877-730-0009
Initial Information

Who, What, When and Where
 Has EMS and Law Enforcement
Been Contacted?
 Specific Location of Scene or Patient
 How Many Patients Do You Have?
 How Dispatch / Flight Crew Contact
personnel at scene?
GPS Coordinates
 Helpful - Use Degrees and Minutes
 Should Always Be Used in Conjunction
with Other Directions
Dispatch Information
 Provides Flight Crew
Communications with LZ
Coordinator
 Minimize Radio Traffic
 Must Have Clear and
Concise Directions
 Communication Priorities

(Be Specific)




Scene Location
Landing Zone Description
Landing Zone Hazards
Patient Information
WEATHER CONDITIONS

Always Call
 Pilots Responsibility to Make Final
Decision
 Do Not Assume Anything
 Storms Can Be Localized
 Weather Minimums
 Vary depending on location,
terrain, etc.
 Ceiling and visibility
WEATHER
CANCELATIONS
Rendezvous Is An Option
If Forced to Abort Mission for Weather
You Will Always be Notified
Immediately by Dispatch
Night Considerations
If EMS On Scene
Scene Strobes Visible for Miles
– Easier for Ground Units to See Aircraft
Coming
Please - No Lights Shining Toward Cockpit
Small Amount of Light Dissipates Across
Large Area of Windshield
– Be sure to communicate every hazard in
area even if you think the crew saw them
LANDING ZONE
• 100 x 100’ At Nighttime Hours
• 80 x 80’ During Daylight Hours
• Slope <10°
• Approach / Depart INTO Wind
• Treat LZ (Helicopter) as “HAZMAT”
– Scene Should Be UPWIND of LZ
– LZ Should Be DOWNWIND of
Scene/Patient Location to Prevent
Blowing Debris on Scene
LANDING ZONE
SURFACE
•
•
•
•
•
Grass
Concrete
Gravel
Pavement
Dusty ground
– Recommended To Wet,
If Possible
LANDING ZONE
HAZARDS
Wires
Invisible From the Air
Advise Dispatch / Flight Crew
of Location
Shine Spotlights on Poles
Park Vehicles Underneath,
if possible
Landing Zone
Preparation
Perimeter Security / Safety Team
– ALL ACCESS to LZ Must Be Secure
– All Traffic Needs To Be Blocked With
Vehicles, If Possible
– Keep All Bystanders and Personnel
At Least 100’ Away From LZ
– Protect The Patient
GROUND OPERATIONS
LZ Coordinator
At End of LZ In Front of Helicopter
Landing Site
Maintains Communication With Both
Scene Personnel and Helicopter
Communicates With Flight Crew, If
Possible
Provide Scene Safety Around Aircraft
GROUND OPERATIONS
Always Approach And Depart As A Group
(Follow The Instructions Of The Flight Crew Members)
 Stay Within Full View Of The Pilot
 Keep In Front Of The Aircraft
 Keep Away From The Tail Rotor
 Never Go Behind Tail Guard or Vertical
Stabilizer
 Controlled Slow, Purposeful Movement
 No Running
SUMMARY
 Call 1-877-730-0009 To Activate CareStar
 Setup LZ While CareStar Is En Route
 Call Coordinates To Dispatcher
 Radio Description, Cell Phone Number,
Winds, Contact Person Name, And Hazards
To Helicopter, If Possible
 CareStar Treats, Packages and Transports
Patient To The Nearest Appropriate
Facility