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Helipad Safety

Objectives

• To provide initial and recurrent helipad safety training for hospital staff.
• To familiarize all staff with helicopter operations on the helipad.
• To review helipad safety systems.
• To insure that patient loading and off-loading are performed safely and efficiently.

Who should receive helipad safety training?
All hospital staff with a responsibility to respond to the helipad:

• Patient care staff
• Hospital security officers
• Plant operations/maintenance staff
• All staff should receive initial and annual refresher training. Track training on rosters.

Basics of helipad safety

• Remain alert at all times.
• Restrict access to those with current helipad safety training.
• Be aware of any changes in helipad surroundings.
• Wait for signal from flight crew to approach the aircraft.
• Always remain in view of the crew.
• Daily helipad inspection
• Clear or secure all loose objects.
• Remove snow / ice
• Use only non-corrosive ice melter.
• Check all navigational aids:
• Windsock, beacon, perimeter and flood lights.
• Inspect surrounding area for new hazards:
• Cranes, new construction, birds, etc.
• Check fire suppression systems and escapes.
• Before the aircraft arrives
• Insure helipad is clear:
• Rocks, trash, carts, cords.
• Debris can injure staff or damage aircraft.

Keep all staff in protected area:

• Inside building or behind structures.
• Rotor wash can be hazardous.
• Secure all loose clothing, caps, scarves, etc.
• Implement universal precautions, as appropriate.
• On ground level helipads, restrict pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic.

Aircraft arrival

• At night, keep flood lights off until aircraft has landed.
• Remain in protected location until helicopter rotor blades have stopped.
• Watch for signal from the flight crew to approach.
• Always walk while on the helipad.
• Use caution when surface is slippery.
• Allow flight crew to open and close doors.
• Follow flight crew's instructions during off-loading.

"Hot" off-loading

• Comm Center will advise you if Flight For Life has requested a hot offload (with rotor blades turning).
• Secure all loose clothing, caps, scarves, stethoscopes.
• Use eye and ear protection.
• Remain in protected area until signaled to approach by flight crew.
• Allow flight crew to operate all doors.
• "Approach from within view of pilot.
• Keep head low when walking under rotor blades, especially when windy.
• Keep hands at shoulder level.
• Avoid lifting anything into rotor blades.
• Never go behind cabin area or rear of skids!
• Extreme danger from spinning tail rotor.

Patient off-loading

• Allow flight crew to operate stretcher system.
• Position cart in proper position, setting brake.
• Wait for signal from flight crew to remove stretcher.
• Watch for tension on IV lines, oxygen tubing, monitoring cables.
• Assist flight crew with patient care, as needed.

Be familiar with your helipad systems:

• Fire suppression and escape
• Communications
• Lighting
• Request specific training with helicopter services that frequent your facility.
• Flight For Life Colorado
• Eurocopter AS-350 B3 "A-Star"
• Single patient, loaded into left side of cabin.
• Shut down requires approximately 30-60 sec.
• Tail rotor on right side of tail boom