Helicopter Safety Initiatives for COTS Partners
As part of our commitment to a culture of safety and inclusion, COTS coordinates a Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) Subcommittee. This diverse group is comprised of COTS member hospitals and public/private first responder agencies working together to ensure the safety of our patients and flight crews.
HAA Safety Request Infographic
Download and print this HAA Safety Request Infographic and use it to educate your staff on the required information needed to request an HAA. A copy of this infographic can be placed near the phone used to request an HAA.
A Guide to Interfacility Transport by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (April 2006)
Policy Statement: Appropriate Interfacility Transfer by the American College of Emergency Physicians (Ann Emerg. Med. 2016;67:690)
Interfacility Transfer for Emergency Care Patients: ENA Position Statement (ENA December 2019)
Interfacility helicopter transfers for critically ill patients: always the right choice? (2020)
Visit www.ACEP.org and search helicopter for the latest information
Please visit https://oacct.org/safety for helpful resources on helipad winter safety tips, NOTAMs, helicopter shopping, and landing zone best practices. We encourage you to review and share as appropriate.
Responsible “Helicopter Shopping” Through Selective Resource Management – a joint position statement by the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association, Emergency Nurses Association, and International Association of Flight and Critical Care Paramedics
COTS supports this joint position statement on helicopter shopping.
For more information on our HAA safety initiatives, contact Sherri Kovach