RickInOz

Welcome to the next installment in this series of posts about working for the Mediflight Retrieval Service. Last time I covered the organisational processes behind team deployment. This posting will be about going out by rotary-wing aka helicopter. We use this platform for 2 main purposes. Firstly to go to hospitals within 200km of Adelaide, and secondly for rapid response direct to the road-side to attend road accidents.

Interhospital Retrievals:

In this scenario we will have had a referral from one of the country GPs. It is up to us to then summon a helicopter to fetch us from the RAH helipad. The scramble time is usually in the order of 15 – 20 minutes which doesn’t give us much time to get up to the helipad with our gear. Fortunately we always have equipment ready to go so can make a quick getaway to the lifts. One of the added perks is having keys that override normal lift activity and I’ve had to boot a few people off so we can go up to the helipad which is usually restricted.

Other pictures here.

Once up there we will meet the Helicopter Landing Officer, usually one of the security guards, whose job is to ensure it is safe for the chopper to land on the deck. They radio through the helicopter as it makes the approach reporting wind speed and direction to assist the pilot with landing. Their job is also to help load our gear onto the aircraft so we aren’t delayed on the roof.

While the helicopter is coming in we have to get ready by donning safety equipment. This includes a helmet with built-in communications equipment, an inflatable vest and gloves. All of this garb, including our flight suits, are fireproof and our boots have steel toecaps in case of accidental equipment drops. All in all we are protected from harsh conditions allowing us to deploy even into fire zones. We also carry an EPIRB each to summon help if the helicopter crashes.

Then it’s just a matter of waiting till the helicopter lands and the crewman signals we can approach. We typically load “hot” – this means the engines are running and the rotors spinning as we get on. In reality the blades are way above our heads, but we still always duck instinctively!

Once on board the first order of business is to plug in to the internal communications system on the helicopter. This enables us to talk to the pilot while in transit and not be deafened by the noise of the engines. Next we strap in with a 4-point harness, so that we aren’t thrown out of our seats by turbulence and to make survival prospects higher in the event of a crash. The pilot asks us if we’re ready and then it’s time to take off.

The helicopter is a strange vehicle and there is little sense of acceleration to signify our rapid departure from the helideck. Then we head off in the direction of the referring centre and sit back to enjoy the trip. There’s little we can do apart from enjoy the ride and take a few snaps. I often take a little reading material, as it’s a good opportunity to get some revision done. Sleep is difficult due to the vibration from the engines and wearing a heavy flight helmet.

Before long the get the call over the radio to check we’re all strapped in and ready to land at the destination. The pilot usually makes one pass over the helipad before landing. We have to stay in our seats until the engines and rotors stop so unload “cold”. Then it’s time to meet the patient, but more about that in a future posting!

Primary Response Missions:

On these, we get the call straight from SAAS Communications and again have very little time to make it up to the helideck before the helicopter arrives. We are joined on these trips by a paramedic who assists with scene management and triage, leaving us to concentrate on the task of looking after the sickest accident victim. Otherwise the trip out there is much the same as for an inter-hospital trip.

Stay posted for the next installment – going by fixed-wing aka plane.