Establishing helicopter landing zones (LZ) is an essential skill that firefighters/EMTs need to know to safely operate on the scene of a call. Helicopter transports are not common practice for emergency responders and typically involve a patient(s) suffering from severe trauma. Several factors need to be considered prior to setting a LZ, such as open space, topography, overhead wires, and traffic flow. Once the LZ is established, a coordinated effort of multiple resources is required to provide a secure perimeter and maintain adequate blocking and safety zones. In this week’s featured firefighter near-miss report, the incident commander does a valid and thorough size-up in order to best serve the needs of the patient. The location of the incident and the severity of the patient mandated that the LZ be established on a busy roadway. This report illustrates how a unique call, no matter how well the initial action plan is, can still be compromised.
“Prior to the arrival of the helicopter, the engine, ambulance, and battalion chief arrived at the fire station. The battalion chief positioned to block traffic at the intersection to the south. Traffic from the north was blocked by private security from the community to the north. When the helicopter announced that they were two minutes out, the engine moved and parked perpendicular to traffic and next to the battalion chief’s car. The two units blocked all of the northbound lane, the southbound left turn lane, and part of the southbound through lane. Approximately one and half lanes of southbound roadway were not protected by a vehicle…As the helicopter was touching down…two privately owned vehicles entered the intersection and proceeded north…The first car drove under the rotor “disc” of the helicopter and the second car was stopped by the crew of the engine.”
Life safety and incident stabilization are priorities that need to be multi-tiered and addressed for firefighters/EMTs and civilians. In this report, the basic components of these priorities were addressed and available resources were deployed. The incident commander made the decision to set the LZ on a busy roadway, in order to best serve the patient and the on-scene personnel. The perimeter was not 100 percent secure and oncoming traffic failed to recognize the LZ and breached the perimeter. This report is a great demonstration of the need to call for as many resources as you need to safely establish a LZ.
- Does your department have policies and procedures for establishing a LZ?
- What is the difference between a helicopter stand-by and establishing a LZ?
- If faced with this same type of call, during peak traffic flow in your jurisdiction, what would you need to completely secure the LZ?
- Does your department have a working policy with law enforcement in regards to establishing a LZ?
Helicopter operations are not a common practice for all emergency responders. It is important to realize that a call of this nature requires a coordinated effort between fire and emergency departments, Advanced Life Support units, and law enforcement in order to be safe. Pl
Have you avoided a near-miss event while performing helicopter operations? Submit your report to www.firefighternearmiss.com today to pass on your experience. For more on the value of firefighter near-miss reporting, CLICK HERE.
Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting firefighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.
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