USCG Helicopter Assistance at Sea
Coast Guard at Sea Helicopter Evacuation Procedures
Helicopter evacuation is very effective in assisting with medical emergencies on a boat. Knowledge of helicopter procedures will prepare you for an event like this.
There are times were a mariner will need help from the Coast Guard for an at sea medical evacuation. These aren't common events and we don't often think of them. Helicopters are a very effective way to evacuate medical patients from a boat while at sea. It is important for boaters to have some background on Coast Guard practices in the use of helicopters and their procedures for evacuating a medical patient from moving vessel.
Remember to follow the directions given to you by the Coast Guard and the pilot on scene. This article is meant to improve your understanding of helicopter evacuation procedures, but conditions experienced in the field may change the instructions given to you.
Making Contact with the Coast Guard – Good communications with the Coast Guard are essential to securing assistance from them. Using the international hailing and distress frequency of 156.8 MHz or channel 16 on your marine VHF radio is a good first choice. Coast Guard helicopters can also communicate on high frequency single side band radio frequencies from 2,000 kHz to 30,000 kHz. Your conversations on the radio with the Coast Guard will be with a Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator who coordinates all the activities and resources needed to assist you. The SAR Coordinator will ask for extensive information on the condition of the patient. Other Coast Guard assets like fixed-wing C-130 aircraft and waterborne cutters may be involved in accomplishing your rescue.
Be prepared to give the SAR Coordinator information about your position, weather conditions, medical information on the patient and if they can walk. You may also be asked to change your course and speed to move closer to the helicopter
Preparing for the Helicopters Arrival – The rotor blade downwash from a helicopter reach hurricane force speeds. Any loose object on deck can fly into you, your crew or damage the helicopter. Clear the deck of loose objects and remove wires or cables that could be entangled in the helicopter hoist cable. The range of the helicopter is quite limited and you want to prevent any unnecessary delays. If the weather and sea conditions allow, the patient should be on deck and ready for evacuation. Every person working on deck must be wearing a personal floatation device. Focus lighting on the deck to assist the pilot's approach to the vessel, but be sure not to shine any light up into the helicopter. The pilot will provide detailed directions on what they will expect of you.
The Rescue Hoist - The helicopter pilot will be giving directions on what to expect during the hoist of the patient to their ship. Once the helicopter arrives, you will be asked to turn your boat until the wind is about 30 degrees off your bow. Maintain a steady speed of 10 to 15 knots and make no sudden turns. This will help the helicopter with its approach to your boat. A rescue swimmer might be lower by the helicopter to help with making the hoist.
A rescue device with an attached trail will be lowered by hoist to the deck of your boat. Static electricity builds up on the trail line and rescue device. Let the trail line or rescue device touch the deck before you touch them. You will receive a severe shock if the equipment is not grounded to your boat. Do not tie the trail line to any part of your vessel. Have one crew member tend the trail line as the rescue device is brought on board to prevent it from fouling. Load the patient into the rescue device and have them keep their hands inside it. A hand or arm outside of the basket can be trapped between the rescue device and helicopter.
Many marine safety organizations and the Coast Guard offer training in helicopter rescue operations. Take advantage of this training.
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