1

Trauma Hawk Helicopter Orientation

2012

2

Flight Team

• Health Care District:

– Pilots – One or two pilots depending on the shift

• Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

– Paramedics – Full Time and Relief

– Nurse/Paramedics – Full Time and Relief

Support Team

• Health Care District

– Director/Chief Pilot

– Instructor Pilot

– Maintenance Director, Avionics Technician and 2 Mechanics

– Billing Coordinator

– Administrative Assistant

– Facility Maintenance Technician

• Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

– PBFR Special Operations

– Medical Director

3

Pilot Credentials and Training

• Pilots –

– Airline Transport and Commercial Rating

– Certified Flight Instructor/Instrument Instructor rating

– Bi-annual FAA flight checks

– Bi annual flight training in full-motion simulators

– Annual FAA medical exams

4

Medical Crew Credentials

• Florida Certified Paramedics

• Florida Licensed Registered Nurses

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

• Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum (TNCC)

• Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN)

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

• International Trauma Life Support (ITLS)

• Advanced Airway Management

• Clinical Rotation at Trauma Center

• Minimum 4100 hours of Critical Care or Emergency Room Nursing

Experience

5

Aircraft Service Hours & Schedule

• 24/7 - 365 days per year

• 12 hour shifts

• 1st Aircraft 24 hours a day (2 shifts 7am & 7pm)

• 2nd Aircraft 12 hours per day (12 noon to 12

midnight)

6

Area of Service

7

Additional Responsibilities

• Train Ground Crew Providers

• Educate the Community

• Support other District Departments

• Participate in numerous Aeromedical organizations, advisory

Groups and Advisory Councils

8

9

Minimum Landing Zone Size:

120 Feet x 120 Feet

Tree

Powerlines

Note: Look around LZ forobstacles outside of thesurface area.

LZ Prep Considerations

• Identifying obstacles

• Notify flight crew of all obstacles

• Stopping traffic including emergency & law enforcement vehicles

• Remove all loose debris from site (i.e. construction material)

10

11

Stopping traffic

Single direction

12

Stopping traffic

Single direction

13

Construction zone

Removing debris

14

Stopping traffic

Both directions

15

Communication limitations

• Proprietary systems that are not integrated (different terminology

or data dictionary).

• Typically, most agencies purchase communication systems to

serve their internal communication needs.

• Frequently, the systems are proprietary and not readily integrate

with other agencies.

16

Communications

• Trauma Hawk Tactical Communications

– Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

– State Mutual Aid 800mhz

– LE Common & FR Common 800mhz

• Multi agency LZ support (State Police, Sheriff, Fire Rescue)

Trauma Hawk has limited communications beyond Fire

Rescue

Communications

• Maintain two-way communications with the aircraft during

the entire operation.

• Notify flight crew of any pertinent information related to

the LZ.

• Expect the pilot to notify you if he intends to land or

reposition the aircraft in a location other than what was

designated.

• Be prepared to give the abort command should the LZ

become unsafe during final approach.

• Keep all communications brief and concise.

18

Looking forward

• Future Emergency Helistops

• Integrated Landing Zone training (law enforcement & TIM)

• Integrate and Improve radio communications

• Stats