HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 502.02 NEW 5-2013_Deploy Med HeloSII f4 11 ZEi `
502.02 — Deployment of Medical Helicopters
Effective: 5/5/2013
Revised:
Replaces:
I. Guiding Philosophy
With specially trained staff, equipment, and transport capability, medical helicopters
offer a dimension of emergency medical care that is unequaled in the field. In contrast, statistics
have indicated that more than 50% of line -of -duty fatalities for EMS workers occur during air
ambulance accidents. We recognize the unique capabilities of air ambulances, along with the
need to safely manage and coordinate their use, so that they are successfully integrated into our
emergency response system.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish performance expectations relative to the request
for deployment, and safe and effective utilization of medical helicopters.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to:
A. Detail the dispatcher's role and responsibilities related to deployment of medical
helicopters.
IV. Definitions
A. Extra -Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) — Unincorporated land within five miles of
the City of Beaumont's full purpose city limits that is not within the city limits or
ETJ of another jurisdiction.
B. Helispot — NIMS/ICS term for landing zone.
C. Helispot Manager — Officer assigned by Command to establish the helispot
(landing zone) and manage helispot operations.
V. Helispot Deployment and Communications
A. Dispatchers will adhere to Section V of SOG 203.02 Medical Helispot
Operations concerning the department's general policy and criteria for medical
helicopter deployment.
B. When a standby or Right request for a medical helicopter is received, the
Dispatcher will report the incident to the appropriate Air Rescue agency.
C. For incidents occurring inside the City limits, the Dispatcher will deploy the
following additional resources to the scene emergency traffic to coordinate
ground support for Air Operations:
1. One Chief s Car
2. One Engine Company
3. One EMS Supervisor
4. Two Police units
5. Additional resources as requested by Command.
D. For Priority 1 incidents occurring within the ETJ:
1. Dispatch 501 + med unit
2. Notify Air Rescue to be placed on standby
3. Alert the appropriate jurisdictional public safety agencies (i.e. law
enforcement and First Responder).
4. For areas just outside the city limits having no jurisdictional First
Responder, dispatch a Chief s Car + Engine Company to assist with
rescue and helispot.
E. Dispatcher will:
1. Establish communications with the air ambulance.
2. Assign and communicate the tactical radio channel being used for Air
Operations.
a. BFR 5 should be the tactical channel utilized.
b. If BFR 5 is being used for another event, the dispatcher will
assign an alternate talk group.
c. The dispatcher may be required to patch a talk group or
frequency if the helicopter does not have BFR talk groups.
3. Coordinate ongoing communications between the medical helicopter and
Helispot Manager.
SOG 502.02 — Deployment of Medical Helicopters Page 2 of 2