e. As the litter is being hoisted, ground personnel use the tag line to keep the
litter steady. Once the litter is at the opening, the ground personnel use the tag line to
turn the litter so the casualty's head is toward the opening.
f. The hoist operator lowers and guides the litter into the helicopter, secures the
casualty inside the helicopter, and recovers the tag line.
5-14. SEMIRIGID LITTER
The semirigid litter discussed in paragraph 3-4 can be used to lift a casualty. A
spine board must be used if the casualty has a suspected spinal injury or a shoulder
injury. If the casualty is in the water, a flotation device is attached to the litter.
a. The hoist operator in the helicopter attaches the hoist hook to the ring at the
top of the litter and a tag line to the ring at the bottom of the litter.
b. The operator lowers the tag line and the litter to ground personnel below.
c. After the litter and hook touches the ground and the accumulated static
electricity is discharged, the personnel on the ground disconnect the litter from the hook,
place the casualty into the litter, secure the casualty to the litter, reconnect the hoist
hook, and notify the hoist operator that the casualty is ready to be lifted.
NOTE:
The helicopter pilot usually repositions the helicopter so he can see ground
personnel while the litter is unhooked.)
d. The casualty is raised in a vertical position. As the litter is being hoisted,
ground personnel use the tag line to keep the litter steady.
e. Once the litter is at the opening, the hoist operator lowers and guides the litter
into the helicopter, secures the casualty inside the helicopter, and recovers the tag line.
5-15. SURVIVOR'S SLING
The survivor's sling (figure 5-18) is also call the horse collar. It is a buoyant
device that can be used over land or water. The device can also be used to lower the
helicopter's medic to the ground or water when necessary.
a. The hoist operator in the helicopter attaches the V rings at the ends of the
webbing strap running through the cover of the sling to the hoist hook.
b. The operator lowers the sling to ground personnel below.
MD0001
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