Recently an air ambulance was coming in to land, when a sheet on a stretcher below was sucked up and made contact with the aircraft. While no one was injured, or any lasting damage made, this could have been potentially serious incident.
The below safety measures set out what ground crews should do when an air ambulance lands and takes off:
Landing site preparations
- Landing sites need to be free of people, obstacles, trees and overhead wires
- Remove as much litter as possible
- Do not cordon off with tape.
Landing on roads
- Both carriageways must be closed to traffic
- Emergency vehicles should not be within 30 metres of any landing site.
Approaching
- You must not approach without receiving a visual instruction from the pilot - if in doubt, do not approach until the rotors have fully stopped.
Safety zones
- There are safety zones for approaching and leaving the helicopter - stay where the pilot can see you at all times.
Sloping grounds
- On sloping ground, approach and depart the helicopter on the downslope side.
Departure
- In an emergency, the aircraft may need to land back onto the site, so make sure you keep all people and vehicles clear of the area.
Helping the crew
- Please only assist the air crew if you’re asked to do so, including helping to load or unload the patient, and opening or closing the aircraft doors
- Be prepared to control access to the landing site under direction from the crew in preparation for helicopter departure.
Please keep in mind:
- Downwash from the helicopter can be damaging; keeping the area clear is vital to your safety
- Do not attempt to attract the crew’s attention with bright lights or lasers
- When landing on or departing from roads - including dual-carriageways and motorways - both carriageways must be closed to all vehicles.
If you have any queries about this guidance, please leave a comment below!
Published 13th December, 2016
