Island first responders partner with HealthNet for helicopter training

SOUTH HERO – First responders from the South Hero, Grand Isle, and North Hero Departments recently participated in a valuable joint training exercise with the HealthNet air medical team, providing first responders with an up-close look at the life-saving capabilities of Vermont’s medical helicopter program.

The training, held Thursday, gave first responders the opportunity to tour the aircraft, learn about flight operations, and speak directly with the crew about the challenges and responsibilities involved in providing critical care by air. First responders practiced establishing a safe helicopter landing zone during the training exercise. Participants reviewed proper landing zone selection, scene safety, communication procedures, and hazard identification to ensure the area was secure for the safe arrival and departure of the HealthNet helicopter.

The HealthNet crew for the training included Pilot Paul Austin, Flight Nurse Orla Walsh, CFRN, Flight Paramedic Shelby Evans, FP-C, Flight Paramedic Jeff Patterson, FP-C, and Flight Nurse Daniel Eng, CFRN.

During the discussion, the crew explained that although the helicopter is only about a seven- to eight-minute flight from the training location to South Hero, total response time includes several additional minutes. Before every launch, the crew must complete weather checks, pre-flight inspections, and safety procedures before lifting off.

The HealthNet team covers a wide service area throughout Vermont and neighboring states. While longer transports occasionally take patients to Boston or even New York City, those flights are relatively uncommon.

The crew also works closely with DART, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team based in New Hampshire. Through a mutual aid partnership, the two programs regularly assist one another by covering calls outside their normal service areas whenever necessary, ensuring patients continue to receive rapid access to critical care.

First responders also learned about patient transport limitations. The helicopter’s stretcher is rated to safely carry patients weighing up to 159 kilograms (approximately 350 pounds), a limit determined by the aircraft’s structural design. The crew also pointed out the aircraft’s external storage compartment, commonly referred to as the storage tunnel, which carries specialized medical and rescue equipment needed during missions.

The training highlighted the importance of cooperation between local fire departments and air medical providers. By strengthening relationships and improving understanding of each agency’s role, first responders are better prepared to work alongside HealthNet crews during emergencies where every second counts.