Emergency Services Lesson

Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:18
ThreadID: 43234 Views:3302 Replies:17 FollowUps:9
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Emergency Services Lesson

This is a short note about an incident at our club motocross racetrack a few weeks
ago when an emergency services helicopter caused a lot of pain
that will probably go un-noticed due to more serious nature of its visit.

Some people on this site are involved in such things and maybe can carry this message on.

Several times in the bush we have been around helicopters but I will take more care in future.

First as a track offical and witness I will make no comment on why the helicopter was required.

While standing on a high point at the end of a 100m straight with
track marshalling flags in hand, I noted a helicopter coming in low
appearing to check for a likely landing spot. It apparently decided
that the south end of the race track straight was the place to land and swung around to approach the landing spot from the north were I was and came in with a gentle glide beginning directly over my head at an altitude of maybe 10 metres causing such a huge downdraft that I dropped the flags.
It then cruised down the straight, loosing altitude until it landed.

Along the front of the straight was a line of cars, interspered with those temporay
free standing 4 pole Gazebo type shade covers and lots of people.

Within a few seconds the first Gazebo was hit by the downdraft, picked up and deposited some 20m away narrowly missing my car.

The next was not so lucky as the whole assembly lifted knocking over picnic tables.

The next lifted high into the air and came down pole first into the side of a car causing quite a dent.

The next did a sort of flip, spearing a pole thru a windscreen, and bouncing
off a teenager.

You have probably got the idea by now.

In a 30 second (filmed) run right down the main straight the helicopter blew away
at least a dozen of these temporay aluminium framed structures and caused mayhem in the car park, as it landed within 10m of cars.

There were already 3 ambulances present but I heard no reports of direct physical
injuries amongst the crowd (that were caused by the helicopter).

A couple of hacksaws came from somewhere and the owners cut there destroyed Gazebo's up enabling some room and means to get out of the cramped car park.

5 minutes later the helicopter left empty.

While the area away from the car park was clear I am no expert into landing
or training requirements and maybe this approach was necessary but it was not
without its cost.

Robin Miller
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Reply By: Member - Karl - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:27

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:27
Were the gazebos secured to the ground by pegs and guy ropes? - and I mean proper pegs, not those cheap thin aluminium style ones.

I often see people putting these things up and not securing down properly (if at all) and the slightest bit of win will lift them up.

Admittedly the down draft of the helicopter is strong and may have still lifted them, but it only lasts for a second or so, so if they were properly secured then they might not have blown away; however, they may have been blown out of shape etc.
AnswerID: 227341

Follow Up By: Robin - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 10:44

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 10:44
Hi Karl

No they are not normally tied down much.

These type have a low side profile and have never seen any real issues with them over the years.

It appears to me from reviewing the tape that the closeness (10m) of the helicopter caused downdraft which hits ground and goes sideways then gets sort of pushed up as it gets to the line of cars.

This seems to effectivily cause wind to go up into Gazebos from underneath and make them more suspectible to flying off.

Robin Miller

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FollowupID: 488144

Reply By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:35

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:35
IMO the chopper jockey must have been a bit of a cowboy. Every chopper pilot I've ever had anything to do with has been VERY conscious of what's on the deck as they make an approach run cause quite often something blown up off the ground like that gets sucked into the rotor and the result can be catastrophic. I'd be following up with the organization with an official complaint, also asking for an explanation of his (pilot's) actions.
Only makes it worse that the chopper wasn't actually needed!
AnswerID: 227345

Reply By: draff - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:46

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:46
Robin, I would be getting straight onto the operator of the helicopter, whether it be the police or someone else and putting in a formal complaint. They were obviously there to transport an injured person, not to injur other people or do damage to property. The pilot has to be accountable for their actions and they should be able to properely assess the area before landing. If the patient did need to be airlifted then they could have utilised the ambulances on scene to drive the patient out to a safe area for the helicopter to land, the same that happens everytime a person is airlifted from a car accident on normal roads. I would not be very happy!
Draff
AnswerID: 227348

Reply By: Member -Signman - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:50

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 09:50
There is a guide available produced by the Nissan 4WD Club of Victoria in co-operation with the Vic. Police Air Wing and the Vic. Ambulance Service.
It was originally published in the Autumn 2006 issue of Trackwatch. It has also been published in the VKS737 newsletter.
It would be handy for everyone to get a copy and keep in the glovebox, in case you are involved in a HeliVac situation. Covers details of:
Preparing a Landing/ Departure Zone
Landing Zone Do's & Dont's
Winch Insertion/ Extraction of Paramdeic
etc etc.

You never know where or when you're out & about that YOU might be responsible for setting up a MediVac situation. If it's done properly- it's far easier and safer for all concerned.
AnswerID: 227352

Follow Up By: Robin - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 12:40

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 12:40
Thanks Signman - you have triggered my memory , I read that in trackwatch and hopefully still have it and will re-read tonight.

Robin Miller
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Reply By: True Blue - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 11:38

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 11:38
That pilot definitely requires his arse kicked if there was an alternative cleared area next to the carpark.
Even if there wasn't an alternative no way should he have landed/passed over the top of portable structures such as these light gazebo type. People erecting these structures would never have intentioned them to withstand, and rightfully so, a full on helicopter downblast from 10m or so. Imagine say small children, babies asleep in the protection of such structures. I bet he wouldn't have done it if it involved an equally strong updraft. Without doubt, I would be furious and would immediately report this person and if it was videod would contact the media, TDT or Current Affair, and let them run it, and then watch the chit hit the fan (no pun intended).

Some years ago I was playing a game of cricket for a club at the Powelltown (Vic) oval and on this day the victorian based cycle race, the Herald Sun Cycling Tour (?)
was due to pass the oval along the adjacent highway. Next thing we knew a media helicopter (Channel 7) was passing over the town and began hovering. We then had to scatter of the pitch as the helicopter descended down directly over our game and landed on the very pitch we were trying to play on. We stood to the side and watched a photographer alight from the chopper which then took off again straight away with us all giving the pilot some stick. No warnings, no nothing, just landed on top of us (well almost). Amazing. We didn't report this but we definitely should have.

If I had have been there and this guy's action had seriously injured my child I seriously would have attempted to .... this person and too heck with the consequences.

Wayne.
AnswerID: 227368

Reply By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 12:37

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 12:37
Hi Robin,

While I can't comment on your incident, procedures in QLD would allow the Team Leader in an emergency services communications centre to make a judgement call based on the face value of the information they had received as to whether a helicopter is sent to a scene. In other words there are times the chopper is activated before an ambulance is on scene. There are a number of reasons for this. A good example may be that if you had reports of a serious accident on Stradbroke Island you may send the chopper as well as road units to attend. There are times when the chopper gets there that they will not be required but operationally it is better to have sent them just in case. To assist in the decision making process the communications centre is backed by pretty tight procedures for the use of helicopters.

As far as a landing area goes, it is a good idea to have that all prepared and there are a number of guides available to give people some advice on this. At the end of the day the pilot will make the decision on if he lands and where that will be. He will always try to approach into the wind for landing.

Not the first time I have heard of nearby structures being damaged. Some years ago we had a serious bus accident south of Brisbane in the bush. Even though we had prepared a landing site, the chopper picked up so much rubbish that it was unbelievable when it landed. In fact after the first chopper left we relocated the landing zone.

It would be interesting to know who was in command on the ground as they should have had direct voice contact with the pilot and between both of them it sounds like they may have been able to do better.

This is not alway s the case. Depending on the case we have landed helicopters on the beach for drownings etc and have blown people's beach umbrellas etc away, but this was done in an effort to get to the victim ASAP.

The race organistaion would be well within their rights to send a letter off to emergency services expresing their concern at the landing and the risks from flying materials. Usuallly you would get a good response from them over this as generally they are all very safety conscious.

Hope this helps a bit.

AnswerID: 227374

Follow Up By: Robin - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 19:37

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 19:37
Hi Brian

My understanding is that police took command and know one in club really knew what was happening until they saw helicopter.

Adding to this is that their was no where for helicopter to land without an evacuation of a large crowd from a confined space which would have taken a long time.

Robin Miller
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FollowupID: 488224

Reply By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 12:57

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 12:57
OH&S (Occupational Health and Safety)
Duty of Care...........

Now this reply may seem a bit harsh but I am now into my 20th hour straight working on what "WorkCover" call an "Improvement Notice" Even comes with it's own, unique number. WorkCover visited one of our sites on Friday and issued the Notice to the head Contractor on Monday.

I recieved a phone call yesterday at 11 to attend a meeting at 3.00pm. After being put through the ringer by the head contractor safety person about our workers not following correct "Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)" I was given a list of tasks that must be met by Friday morning.

Including reading "codes of Practices" and OH&S documents, Reviewing our 15 page SWMS and ammend it, explain the ammendments to all employees, write a memo to all employees, speak to the employees responsible for the notice, write warning letters to the employees responsible, plus, still have a new supervisors checklist to write, get approved and implement. And to top it off, package the whole lot up and have it in WorkCover's hands by Friday with proof of the actions I have taken........
Got home about 2 hours ago after repremanding the crew who recieved the notice to find some idiot has parked their car accross my drive and can not get the ute in??????? Not happy. Walked all the tools inside and thinking up words to put on the windscreen as I type.

Ok as far as I am concerned WorkCover is doing their job to protect the safety of all workers in NSW.
No Worries irrelivent of the justifications the blokes are making, there is a protocol that must be followed so accidents do not happen and we can all go home to our families at night. Yes I am dissapointed with the extra workload I did not need to do but it happens.

So going back to this cowboy. I believe there was more at risk than what I have been put through. And I am sure there are Protocols to be followed when flying a helicopter. Even more so than being on a construction site. I am sure he must have signed a SWMS to work for the rescue service he is with.

As for umbrellas going through a windsreen in my opinion that is not an "UNFORESEEN HAZARD" that is murder. It is no longer an umbrella, it is a missile, spear, call it what you will. But it had enough force to go through a windsreen then it has enough force to SPEAR the chest or do major damage.

This Emergency service as an employer has breached many OH&S Codes by not adhering to a SWMS and "Risk Management" has been neglected. I certainly would not like to be on the recieving end of that one if anything came to pass.

I say report it so as a possible accident can be averted........ It is called "PREVENTATIVE MAINTANANCE"

AnswerID: 227382

Follow Up By: Robin - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 16:25

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 16:25
Hi Extfilm

The helicopter landing came close to causing serious injury and this is what
makes this issue so hard.

I can appreciate a bit of your hassles !

Last year for our end of work Xmas lunch we all had to sign a form saying in essence -
"The company must stress that your attendance at this lunch is non compulsory
and you are not covered by workcover, and your behaviour is not our responsibility
etc etc"

Oh! and of course the company must file and keep this important document for 7 years"

Robin Miller
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FollowupID: 488182

Reply By: simple - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 13:05

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 13:05
robin, the careflight chopper that attended the scene at your motorcross track would most likely have been the HIRT (Head Injury Retrieval Trial) careflight.org/what_we_do/hirt/

the purpose of this chopper is to reduce the cost to the community of head injuries by providing the fastest possible medical response to the scenen and to the hospital.

if you check out the web site it explains better.

they use "aggresive landing techniques" often landing on roadways close to accident scenes.

they're good people and would probably appreciate constructive advice of what damage they caused.
they're a valuable community service and i don't think heading to a current affairs program and causing a bleep fight would do any good to anyone.
AnswerID: 227384

Follow Up By: Robin - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 18:02

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 18:02
Hi Simple

That is my first reaction - to try and get some constructive advice in without making a scene.

Robin Miller
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FollowupID: 488205

Reply By: Dirty Patrol - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 14:57

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 14:57
If this was the event down Victoria Frankston way,then the Police/Ambulance chopper would have been used not care flight(nsw), most Pilots would not land in such a place unless it was realy necessary to be that close, as has been stated on scene Ambulances can be used some times but not always, do by all means give the Police /Ambulance Air wing a ring/letter about your concerns, that said I have seen the gazebo things fly in wind gust's,and I think the should be secured as a mater of course just in case you get a willy willy,or big wind gust,why wait for a similar event with wind as the culprit that may injur some one,what's the old saying?
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound cure?
and for the young one's 1 gram of prevention is worth a kilo of cure?
Cheers
AnswerID: 227402

Reply By: TerraFirma - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 15:21

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 15:21
My take on all this would be ""Accident". Accidents do and will always happen. I'm sure the pilot didn't expect this outcome and I'm sure the gazebo could have been secured properley. File it under """Accident"" and move on.
AnswerID: 227408

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 20:29

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 20:29
I am very familiar with the aviation world and the events as posted show that someone, either on the ground, or the pilot needs to reminded about their responsibilities. The pilot may have been told a safe approach direction by a person on the ground but this does not absolve the pilot from seeing the potential danger to his aircraft and crew.

There is a lesson to be learnt here or, if there is a next time then there could be very different outcome with disastrous results !
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FollowupID: 488233

Reply By: whyallacookie - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 15:57

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 15:57
I agree with most of what has been said here.

I would think approaching the services concerned in a polite and constructive way, especially if you can take an extra copy of the video for their records would be the way to go.

As others have said the pilot, wth the information he had at hand may have decided, wrongly or rightly that that was the best place to land for retrieval speed/ bystander safety or helicopter safety concerns. (As it was the track it may be as simple as it was a controlled area with less risk of a vehicle/people moving near whilst landing)

Creating a **it fight and going to a current affair or however I think is just going silly. Nothing constructive would come from that sort of action, and lets not forget they came to HELP someone in need.

Perhaps your club needs to review what happened also. This could be done with the help of the applicable rescue organisation. Perhaps a visit to identify the best area or setting up a dedicated area if there is room. What procedures are in place for the club members to assist rescuers? Culd the structures ave been folded and moved away before the arrival of the helicopter?

The above isn't a dig at your club. I doubt many clubs have thought about these sorts of things. Being a motorcross club it is reasonable to expect it wont be the last time the helicopter is needed (although it would be good if it was), So why not be pro active and get the rescue organisation involved in setting up facilities and procedures to make it safer for everyone.
AnswerID: 227412

Follow Up By: Chris & Debbie - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 17:05

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 17:05
I would have to agree with you here, at the motocross club I am a member of, we have an area set aside for the helicopter when it is needed. This area is well away from the pits and spectators, I assume the ambulance driver is in contact with the pilot and directs the pilot in, the injured person is then taken to the landing area in the ambulance.
Chris
Coddiwomple (v.) To travel purposefully towards a vague destination.

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FollowupID: 488196

Reply By: Kevern - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 16:03

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 16:03
I work for emergency services and have done for ten years and l am sick to death of people complaining about everything and anything. do you know if they were directed to land there? do you know if the ambulance crews on the ground directed that these Gazebos be moved and where ignored as is often the case? if you don't want the service don't use it simple.
AnswerID: 227415

Follow Up By: PK Eildon (VIC) - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 17:31

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 17:31
It seems society now starts with the end result of an incident and then works back. 20-20 hindsight. If the situation was that someone required evacuation and was not, because the pilot refused to land, they would then scream he should have landed. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

The pilot may have misjudged the situation, however he was probably best to make the decision. Maybe the organisers failed to follow protocol, who knows? Let those involved debrief the situation and attempt to improve without those not involved slinging mud.

I feel better now.

PK
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FollowupID: 488198

Reply By: Member - Paul H (NSW) - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 21:04

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 21:04
I'm in agreeance with the last few replies. Lets not be too quick to slander the pilot or operator. I'm pretty certain it would be different if it was your son/daughter/relative whom the chopper was coming for to evacuate to proper medical services and possibly save their life. Granted this time they weren't needed but the crew wouldn't have known this. They would have just been told to go there ASAP. These crews often place themselves at great danger to rescue others and they do a fine job of it.
I see no problem into enquiring as to they way it all unfolded but certainly don't slander them till all facts are known.

Paul.
AnswerID: 227501

Reply By: Hairy - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 23:28

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007 at 23:28
DRABC!
Some forgot the first rule and should be reminded? (nicely) Its an accident.
Cheers
AnswerID: 227555

Reply By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 at 00:01

Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 at 00:01
I have called on the services of a chopper once, and helped on 4 other chopper evacs.
It sounds like this chopper was called for an emergency, and the given no assistance after.
Imagine your called to an emergency arrive and given no assistance, what do you do do you, do you do what most people do and say well its not my problem, or do you do what you can to achieve your mission?
If this chopper left without a victim was it there fault ? or perhaps bad organization,I think the latter.
These pilots are legends and ive seen this first hand, give him a break.
Think of this if a chopper could knock over a gazebo what could a big storm do, think outside the square.
Cheers Steve.
AnswerID: 227565

Reply By: Tim - Saturday, Mar 17, 2007 at 01:09

Saturday, Mar 17, 2007 at 01:09
I'm afraid I have to disagree also. I have had a bit of time and I currently work in the emergency services. Nothing is worse then busting ur but to help someone and having other people being critical of your every move.
I will acknowledge that I do not know what happened in this situation, I would suggest that you do not know exactly what happened either.
In a perfect world there would be emergency lanes on every road and landing sites everywhere but this is not the perfect world. Sometimes in an emergency some people have to deal with a bit of disscomfort in order for us to do our jobs which is saving lives.
Next time you have the inconveniance of being stuck in traffic becasue a road is closed because of an accident or you have some gear blown around from a helicopter think your self lucky that you have the services of the dedicated people that are working there.
Tim
AnswerID: 227930

Follow Up By: Robin - Saturday, Mar 17, 2007 at 15:08

Saturday, Mar 17, 2007 at 15:08
Hi Tim

You may have missed some of the points in the above.

It could be hard for you to know from my description , but not reasonable to suggest I don't know what happened. In reading thru the above theres probably know one who could know more. And its verified by my footage.

Down there again today , where there is still wreckage caused by helicopter and in trying to understand why it was so excessive we measured landing point to cars.

It was about 9m.

Not 9m from tip of rotor blades but from centre of machine, i.e. 3-4m from end of blades. Didn't know myself you could even do that.

This makes it easier to see how so much damage was done.

On reviewing film I noted that pilot hovered for a few seconds before final touchdown, and now I know why- as there was a 3m high P.A. Pole right there
which he would not have seen on initial approach. This extra few seconds can be seen in film as prolonging the downdraft

I wouldn't like myself to be second guessed in these situations either , but there is such a thing as poor training and judgement that goes beyond the particular circumstances.

Ask your self really , we each could probably swallow an $800 dent in the side of our cars if it was for a good cause, but a steel pole thru your windscreen with kids around ?
We aren't talking a couple of beach umbrella's here , this had the capacity to kill.

The approach I still feel best to take on this is to quietly get it into emergency services hands so that some lessons may be learnt.

Robin Miller



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FollowupID: 488771

Reply By: hoyks - Saturday, Mar 17, 2007 at 17:47

Saturday, Mar 17, 2007 at 17:47
I think the best course would be to contact the relevant service and make them aware of your concerns. What you had occur is relevant to air safety and had the potential to damage the aircraft and in turn people on the ground and should be raised so that it can be drawn to the attention of all pilots in the industry in the hope that it won’t happen again.

I would also suggest that the issue also be raised within your motor sport association to strongly encourage all race tracks to have a dedicated area set aside as a dedicated helicopter landing area clear of spectators, trees and other obstacles and marked as such.

An area within the race track would be good as the track marshals should have control of who enters the area and what tempora structures are put where. I’m sure the rescue organisations would be more than happy to help you with selecting a site as it will save them time finding somewhere, free of obstructions, to land in an emergency.
Setting up a yellow ribbon on a pole to give an indication wind speed and direction and some lime to mark an ‘H’ would take all of 15 minutes during set-up on race day. A marshal in goggles and a safety vest (a different colour to everyone else’s so he stands out more) and some knowledge of air to ground hand signals to control the landing area would also be of help. Helicopters prefer to land and takeoff into the wind, so good sized area is needed.

A primary and a secondary site are also good as you don't want to have to land on top of the patient.

It wasn’t the best way to have it highlighted as needing attention, but at least no one was injured and both sides can gain from it.
AnswerID: 228010

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