(4) Line 4: Special equipment required. This includes a hoist or emergency
medical supplies such as whole blood, plasma, respirator or rigid litter basket.
(5) Line 5: Number of patients by type (litter and ambulatory). Number of
litter and ambulatory patients.
(6) Line 6: Security of pickup site. The pilot needs in relation to the
information on location of the enemy and enemy weapons pickup site.
(7) Line 7: Method of marking pickup site. The pilot should have
information on how the site is marked, such as by smoke, panels, flares, flashlight, or
other means as directed by the pilot. The minimum site requirement for a single utility
helicopter is generally an area 100 feet in diameter and clear of any obstruction.
(8) Line 8: Patients nationality and status. This information is necessary in
combined operations to arrange for evacuation of the patient to the hospital that treats
his nationality.
7-15. PATIENT PRECEDENCE CATEGORIES
a. Urgent. URGENT is used for emergency cases that must be evacuated
immediately to save life or limb or to prevent serious complications that could endanger
life or limb if delayed. Psychiatric cases are not considered to be in this category.
b. Priority. PRIORITY is used for patients requiring prompt medical care not
available locally. Such a patient must be evacuated within 4 hours or his medical
condition will deteriorate to the degree that he will become an urgent case. Psychiatric
patients are not considered in this category.
c. Routine. ROUTINE is used for patients that require evacuation, but whose
condition is not expected to deteriorate significantly during the first several hours or
longer. Psychiatric cases are considered in this category.
Section III. AIR EVACUATION BY THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
7-16. RESPONSIBILITY
a. The Department of Defense policy on aeromedical evacuation of patients is
that in both peace and in war the movement of patients of the USAF shall be
accomplished by airlift when airlift is available and conditions are suitable for
aeromedical evacuation, unless medically contraindicated. The Army is assigned the
responsibility for providing forward aeromedical evacuation in the Army combat zone
using aircraft organic to US Army units. The USN is given the responsibility for USN
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