PCMH offers tips for being safe when a helicopter lands at the hospital | News

PERRYVILLE, MO (KFVS) - Perry County Memorial Hospital is reminding visitors that if you are arriving or leaving, to keep safety these safety tips in mind during the landing or departing operation of the helicopter.

According to PCMH, the helipad, or helicopter landing pad, is located in the center of the lot near the emergency room entrance as well as Medical Office Buildings A and B. In the event you are arriving at any of these locations and a helicopter is scheduled to arrive or has already arrived, you will see the lot blocked by the Perry County Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service crew or hospital employees. The lot will be blocked at all times to vehicular traffic as well as pedestrian traffic when the helicopter is landing or lifting off and while the helicopter is running on the helipad.

PCMH says these actions are taken because helicopter landings and departures can be very dangerous to the untrained individual. Rotor wash or flying debris can cause eye injuries. This flying debris can even be thrown as far as the surrounding buildings. Further, someone walking into the rear rotor as the helicopter is running could suffer life threatening injuries or death.

Due to this, the Emergency Room/Outpatient entrances will be locked; therefore if you have an emergency please inform the staff securing the helipad and you will be escorted into the ER safely.

As emphasized, your safety is of utmost importance at PCMH. Therefore, during this time please do not exit the hospital or medical office buildings and enter into the secured area. Also, do not bypass any hospital or ambulance personnel when entering the PCMH campus without their knowledge so they can assist you and get you where you are going safely.

However, if you need to access the campus for non-emergent reasons, PCMH says the new lobby entrance remains open during this time and is accessible from the main entrance and parking lot.

PCMH will continue to make every effort to ensure your safety is not being compromised during times of helicopter operation on campus.

“With your help practicing these tips, we can be assured that no one is at risk and the emergency responders can focus on helping the patient being transported as quickly as possible,” said Mary Chappius, PCMH Ambulance Director.

If you have any questions about the safety plan outlined above, please contact PCMH Ambulance Service at 573-768-3210.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.