For rescue units

1. Start to communicate with the HEMS helicopter by the cooperation channel as soon as possible.
2. Every HEMS team has a unique codename, depending on the base they are stationed in.
3. During the radio communication, you should call the HEMS team by its codename.
4. Giving your accurate position will make the waiting time shorter. If you have a GPS on you, give the team your current position.
5. If the HEMS team doesn’t know the place you’re in, describe your position using clear, characteristic indicative marks (for example: a clearing around 200 m East from a church in village…).
6. When you see the flying helicopter, inform them about it through a radio, as simply as possible (for example: you’re flying straight at me). Remember to give the directions from the pilot’s point of view.
7. If you can’t see the helicopter, but you can hear it, inform the team about it through a radio, and if you can correctly tell the direction it’s in, inform them about it too (for example: I hear you South-East from here)
8. Inform through a radio about the place chosen for landing: ground characteristics, potential obstacles inside and outside landing zone, especially power or telephone lines. There can be no animals present. Inform about other threats, give the direction of wind on the ground.
9. If the landing place is decided on the road or its side, before the landing shut down the traffic going into both directions. The traffic has to be stopped until the helicopter takes off.
10. To make identification of the place of the accident easier for the helicopter team, turn on the lights of your police car or ambulance (during both day and night). 
    During the night, light the place of accident in a way that won’t blind the helicopter team (don’t use road lights, don’t point lights on the helicopter!!!).
11. If the helicopter is landing:
    • remember that the priority should be your safety, as well as that of other people in the landing zone
    • don’t let anybody get close to the expected landing zone (at least 30m from the helicopter), standing in the corner of the assigned place – look if nobody is approaching you
    • protect your eyes from the dust
    • keep radio contact
    • if you see the helicopter getting close to an obstacle or might hurt someone, inform them through a radio (for example: “stop, careful on your left”)
12. Don’t approad the helicopter and don’t let anybody close even after landing. Wait for the staff to call you. Always inform the helicopter team about other people approaching them, try not to let anybody in into the danger zones.
13.  Stay in place until the rotors stop.
14. After the helicopter takes off, stay in place until the helicopter team gives you a confirmation of finishing the starting phase.

1. Landing place should be large enough, the minimum during the day is a rectangle with sides of 25×25 m for the EC 135 helicopter, and at night it’s a rectangle with sides of 50×25 m.
2. A flat surface without bumps, protruding rocks, etc., with a compact surface (gravel, sharp sand or dust can hurt people and damage the helicopter), if the area is dusty, you can pour some water on it.
3. If the difference in land level at the landing site is more than 1m at a distance of 12m, the place is too skewed.
4. There should be no people, vehicles, obstacles such as poles, wires of power and telephone lines, stumps, stones, animals, etc. You should remember that the power lines are both the most dangerous and the least visible for the helicopter.
5. In case of landing on a road, it should be on a section visible for drivers from a distance, away from bends and turns and without any obstacles.
6. There should be an obstacle-free landing approach with a slope of 1:6, that is, at a distance of 60 meters from the edge of the landing, obstaclea can’t be higher than 10 meters.
7. Side obstacles should be kept away from the edge of the airfield in the ratio 1:2, that is, at a distance of 2 meters from the edge of the landing, obstacles can’t be higher than 1 meter.
8. The final decision on the landing site is taken by the helicopter pilot.

1. Check the dimensions of the landing site – depending on the time of day.
2. Check the selected place in terms of terrain and loose objects that can easily be undermined by the helicopter landing.
3. The maximum ground slope is 6 degrees.
4. Protect selected landing site from intrusion by third parties, during the night – by setting in the corners of the designated landing site one fireman (minimum bystanders from the helicopter – 30m) – Look if no one walks or drives in your direction.
5. Inform the HEMS helicopter crew by radio about all the obstacles in the terrain surrounding the landing site (poles, lines, trees, etc.).
6. Remember – the final decision to land is taken by the helicopter pilot.
7. Close the door of the combat vehicle or ambulance and other vehicles in the vicinity.
8. Protect your eyes from dust and dirt.
9. To make identification of the place of the accident easier for the helicopter team, turn on the lights of your police car or ambulance (during both day and night). 
10. In case of landing on a road, it should be on a section visible for drivers from a distance, away from bends and turns and without any obstacles.
11. Don’t smoke less than 50 meters away from the helicopter.

Because of the start of the night shift of the Helicopter Air Rescue Service we present operational “checklist” scheme of securing helicopter landing site. Presented “checklist” attached to the vehicle documentation will be a significant help to the commander of the TSO and PSP team carrying out the task and contribute to raising of security. see www.zosprp.pl

1. During the landing, engine shut down, starting and takeoff (in general: when the rotor is rotating) – it’s strictly forbidden to approach the helicopter, either on the designated HEMS helicopter landing or on the distance shorter than 30 meters.
2. A gust of wind created by the rotors might move loose items (for example, linen from the stretchers, foil, snow, dust). This can be a threat to the people in the close surrounings and to the helicopter.
3. Beware of rotating rotors.
4. Never pass in the vicinity of the helicopter tail propeller!
5. Never approach the helicopter from a rising slope! Watch out for the main rotor blades!
6. Approach the helicopter from the front or the side.
7. Only approach the helicopter after a clear signal from its crew, after the helicopter has stopped.
8. After the transfer of the patient, contact the crew only by radio or visually – don’t approach the helicopter!
   
   

1. People and vehicles not directly involved in the transfer of the patient, as well as the bystanders, have to stay at least 30m away from the helicopter.
2. Persons or vehicles transporting the victim can’t approach the helicopter without being called by the helicopter crew!
3. Wait until the crew member approaches you, or makes a clear gesture that you’re allowed to approach! Follow the instructions of crew.
4. Approach the helicopter from its side or front.
5. Approach the helicopter by car only along the side.
6. Approach the helicopter by an ambulance from the left side, only along the side, no closer than 2m away from any part of the helicopter (be aware of the rotors).

1. Help the HEMS team load the victim into the helicopter.
2. Check the area around the helicopter to remove any bystanders and dangerous items that can be raised during the take-off.
3. Protect the launch site from intrusion by third parties, in the night – set in the corners of the designated launch site one cone (nobody can approach the helicopter closer than 30m away) – Look if no one walks or drives in your direction.