Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for California: Fire Department Paramedic Dies after Falling from Helicopter during a Retrieval Operation
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for California: Fire Department Paramedic Dies after Falling from Helicopter during a Retrieval Operation
A 28-year-old white male fire department paramedic died after falling approximately 50 to 75 feet from a helicopter during an attempt to retrieve medical equipment in a state park. The victim worked in the air operations division of the county fire department. The victim was using a tether strap harness and carabineers to secure himself to the helicopter. This was a routine operation procedure for personnel in the air operations division. The restraining system failed causing the victim to fall. Upon recovery, there were no emergency medical kits on board to begin first aid. The CaFACE investigator concluded that, in order to prevent similar future occurrences, employers should: (1) have a standard operating procedure (SOP) stating that coworkers double check each other's equipment before attempting rescue operations; (2) have a standard operating procedure (SOP) stating that a certain number of emergency medical kits and life support equipment items are kept on board all rescue helicopters.
Document information
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for California: Fire Department Paramedic Dies after Falling from Helicopter during a Retrieval Operation
1993
6 pages
Report
No indication
English
Public Health & Industrial Medicine , Industrial Safety Engineering , Police, Fire, & Emergency Services , Emergency Services & Planning , Environmental & Occupational Factors , Accident investigations , Occupational safety and health , Paramedics , Fatalities , California , Falls , Fire departments , Air operations , Helicopters , Carabiners , Hoists , Tethers , Harnesses , Males , CPR(Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) , NIOSH , Equipment failure , FACE Report 93CA00201