k Helicopters in Law Enforcement k
Hosted by NRLO Director of Training, Captain Chuck Mantkus

"The Golden Hour"
Early Activation - A Life Saving Tool
(Click link above to go directly to the article)
Written by Gerry A. Stanford
EMS Helicopter Pilot / LZ Coordinator Instructor
Reserve Police Officer
Eufaula Police Department, OK

"Helicopters in Law Enforcement" is an exciting and informational addition to NRLO's "eTraining" pages. The staff and Members of NRLO salute you, Officer Stanford, for sharing your expertise with your fellow "Ultimate Volunteers" across the country.  We also congratulate you on being invited to join Oklahoma McIntosh County's "Multi-Task Drug Force" and on your one-year anniversary with the Eufaula Police Department.  See " About Officer Gerry A. Stanford."

Q & A: Officer Stanford:  Do you fly any rescue missions or strictly medevac and law enforcement? We fly about 90% rescue and 10% law enforcement.  We currently operate one (1) modified "H" model Huey and one (1) "P" model Huges 500.  See complete question and answer - click here.

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k The "Golden Hour" Early Activation - a Life Saving Tool - "Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS and even concerned citizens can activate most helicopter services ....."   "..... all it takes is a phone call to turn the helicopter and additional units around." 

The "Golden Hour"
Early Activation - A Life Saving Tool

By EMS Helicopter Pilot
Gerry A. Stanford
Reserve Police Officer, Eufaula Police Department, Oklahoma"
....all it takes is a phone call to turn the helicopter and additional units around."

My first topic is going to be about the "Golden Hour."  Helicopters are great tools for Law Enforcement and EMS providing a quick, effective transport to a soul in need. 

The "Golden Hour" starts from the moment the accident happens to when the patient can receive definitive care.  Definitive care is never in the back of any ambulance, whether it be on the ground or in the air.

Statistics prove that if a trauma victim can receive definitive care within that "Golden Hour," both mortality (death)and morbidity (wishing you were dead) can be reduced and possibly even eliminated compared to the alternative of delayed definitive care.  

I have seen trauma victims walk out of a hospital inside a week with definitive care.  I have also witnessed rather minor injuries by others who didn't make it because they were delayed by several hours. 

While I am not medically trained, I have been flying EMS for enough years to realize how amazing and true the "Golden Hour" can be.  It is understood that different hospitals and agencies have a wide array of guidelines each of us must follow; but here in Oklahoma, and within any of the service areas of the company with which I am employed, Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, and even concerned citizens can activate most helicopter services.  Personally, I would rather error on the side of the patient than worry about politics.

Please remember, as Police Officers, it is our first duty to the public in the event of an accident to render aid.  I suggest we "get help rolling" to the "nightmare scene" as you go, and arrive there together.  If the "mechanisms of injury" are in place, but the accident turns out not to be as bad as it sounded, then all it takes is a phone call to turn the helicopter and additional units around.  This is called early activation and is a life saving tool that costs us very little, especially when compared to what it may cost the trauma victim and their family. 

The "Golden Hour"  - a simple truth wrapped around a not-so-simple task to perform.  But we can do it.   Be safe out there...
Gerry Stanford

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 ABOUT OFFICER GERRY A. STANFORD

NRLO is proud to introduce helicopter pilot, Reserve Police Officer Gerry A. Stanford.  Officer Stanford is presently with the Eufaula Police Department in Oklahoma.  He has been a Reserve Law Enforcement Officer since 1996.  Officer Stanford's full-time career (and first love) is flying which is why he flies as an EMS Helicopter Pilot with a great company based out of West Plains, MO.

Officer Stanford's first exposure to Law Enforcement was with the Carter County Sheriff's Department in Ardmore, Oklahoma, under Sheriff Don Waters and Undersheriff Earl Russell.  He said, "These are two men I admire enormously; and while they both have since retired, we maintain a close friendship."

"I then moved over to the Ardmore Police Department," continued Officer Stanford, "for one year under Chief Tony Garrett where I completed two FTO programs.  I have since moved to Eufaula, Oklahoma; and immediately became involved with the Eufaula Police Department under Chief of Police Larry Osmond.  I am celebrating my first year anniversary with the EPD  (July, 2003)."

Officer Stanford told NRLO: "I love the detailed oriented service Law Enforcement encompasses and would consider doing it full-time if it would not mean declaring bankruptcy, so... as the saying goes; I will just have to enjoy my cake and eat it too."

He continued:  "My 7 days on - 7 days off schedule affords me the opportunity to average between 35-75 hours per month over and above the 20-50 hours additional training I receive each year.  I have been invited to join our Multi-Task Drug Force for our county (McIntosh) and look forward in participating in a small role throughout the rest of this year.  Considering this is usually comprised of full-time "Top Cops," I consider this a great honor."

Officer Stanford is a CLEET Certified LZ (Landing Zone) Coordinator Instructor throughout the State of Oklahoma; and frequently, through his duties with Air Evac Lifeteam, he gives LZ training classes for Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, and other emergency response agencies within the service area.

Web Author Note:  Please check back for more from Officer Gerry Stanford.  "Helicopters in Law Enforcement" is an exciting and informational addition to NRLO's eTraining pages. The staff and Members of NRLO salute you, Officer Stanford, for sharing your expertise with your fellow "Ultimate Volunteers" across the country.  We also congratulate you on being invited to join McIntosh County's "Multi-Task Drug Force" and on your one-year anniversary with the Eufaula Police Department.

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 Q & A

August, 2003
From:  Deputy K. C. McAuliffe
Helicopter Response Team Coordinator
Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, Snohomish, Washington

Q:  Officer Stanford:  Do you fly any rescue missions or strictly medevac and law enforcement? We fly about 90% rescue and 10% law enforcement.  We currently operate one (1) modified "H" model Huey and one (1) "P" model Huges 500.
A:  Thank you for your inquiry, Deputy McAuliffe.  I am an air ambulance pilot, and the company I fly for has strict rules against performing search-oriented missions outside the framework of our FAR 135 ops manual specifications.  We are also restricted from flying rescue missions.  We don't have a single crew member who wouldn't - under the right circumstances - want to participate in a rescue-oriented mission.  However, I must agree with our company policy for the simple reason that we don't have the right equipment; and we certainly don't have crew rescue training.  The lack of those two factors are most certainly a catalyst for failure.  We never fly law enforcement missions with the exception of these two factors.  Ground and/or flying standbys with the helicopter are permitted for law enforcement agencies who are about to perform a hazardous mission and who may need a quick response by a medical team.  Within that framework, we are permitted to relocate the aircraft at a safe distance from the occurrence working in concert with local EMS agencies.  Then, in the event we are needed, we will transport the fallen Officer to the nearest, appropriate facility at no cost.  However, the bad guy pays for the transport.  Company policy allows us to provide these services at no charge to any EMS, Police, or Fire who are injured in-the-line-of-duty.  Sorry, no rappelling or otherwise exciting ops like that here; but we sure wish we could.  The only aviation police ops I do are in my personal airplane at my own expense.  I would love to "gig" for aviation law enforcement; but unfortunately, that opportunity has not presented itself.  Thank you for your questions, Deputy McAuliffe.

(nrlo.net web author note: click here to go to the Airborne Law Enforcement Association web site)

This page originated 2003/07 Updated 2003/11/03
NATIONAL RESERVE LAW OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 6505   SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78209
(210) 805-8917