Gallery

Steel City Downhill: For the second time in a week, we found ourselves working with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which landed in a field close to the exit from the venue in order to evacuate an injured spectator. As part of our preparation for the event, we had already identified the landing site in case it was needed. Image courtesy of Amy P.

Steel City Downhill: High speed action at the 'Gap Jump', where riders generally end up airborne at high speed. We had a section stationed alongside this tricky part of the course so that we could quickly respond to any incidents in this area of the track. Image courtesy of Amy P.

Steel City Downhill: Rider 408 looking focused as he negotiates one of the many bends at high speed. Conditions on the track were made quite tricky on the day due to the rain and snow that had fallen the night before. The riders demonstrated great skill and awareness dealing with this challenging track. Image courtesy of Amy P.

Team members taking some time out for a quick photo opportunity and chat with the pilot while the casualty was being transferred to the aircraft. As you can see from this image, the viable landing site for the aircraft was about the same diameter as the rotor disc and was slightly off horizontal. The Air Ambulance can land on a slope of up to 10 degrees.

If we need to evacuate a casualty in the Air Ambulance, then we have to provide assistance to the pilot in safely landing the helicopter as close as possible to the casualty site. We have radio contact with the aircraft and so can communicate throughout the operation. Additionally, team members will find a suitable flat and solid piece of ground for the landing, and then guide the helicopter in using smoke, to indicate wind direction and hand signals to provide additional information.

We train extensively in using rope rescue techniques so that we can access a casualty in any situation and quickly and effectively recover them to safety.

All our team members have now undergone type familiarization training with the new Sikorsky S.92 rescue helicopters. The new HM Coastguard Rescue service became active in April 2015.

Carrying an injured mountain biker to a nearby ambulance from Greno Woods near Sheffield.