Why Helicopters Are Great for First Responders

Helicopters are widely used in a variety of industries and fields. News stations, for example, almost always have an “eye in the sky” to keep an eye on traffic or developing news situations in their areas. They are a staple of multiple branches of the military, are often used in work in stringing up new power lines and are frequently used for tourism. Helicopters are also ideal tools for first responders, for a variety of reasons.

The movie San Andreas, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, provided what was a bit of an over-dramatized look at the kind of work first responders perform with helicopters. While it posed many unrealistic situations, it gives an idea of just how important helicopters are to search and rescue scenarios.

Here’s some information from a helicopter company in Montana about what makes helicopters ideal for first responders.

They can quickly get to where you need them

Obviously, helicopters are capable of traveling much faster than vehicles to their rescue destination. You don’t have to worry about traffic, or taking the most direct route—you’ll be able to travel as the bird flies (that being in a straight line). The combination of faster miles per hour with more direct routes cuts down on a lot of crucial time that is imperative in making sure first responders are able to get to a site in a timely manner while the person being rescued is still alive.

The “where you need them” part of this statement is also important. Even if you have special all-terrain vehicles, there are some areas that you simply will not be able to get to with a land or water vehicle. Think, for example, of areas that have been heavily flooded, areas without road access or areas in the mountains that are dangerous to reach by land. These are all situations in which a helicopter is potentially the only viable option to perform a rescue.

In disaster situations, helicopters provide a quick and effective means of getting into the area and rescuing as many people as possible, as fast as possible. Again, consider areas that have undergone a great deal of flooding in storms, or areas that are being ravaged by wildfires. If the conditions make operating a helicopter a feasible possibility, these are scenarios in which they can be crucial in saving as many lives as possible.

Finally, in accidents on busy freeways and highways, helicopters are often necessary to come in and get victims to hospitals as quickly as possible. This is a more efficient means of transportation than ambulances, both because of their speed and directness, as well as because they allow first responders to avoid having to weave in and out of backed-up traffic with an emergency vehicle.

To learn more about how first responders use helicopters in their jobs and why these machines are so beneficial to paramedics, we encourage you to contact Rocky Mountain Rotors. Our helicopter company in Montana has been serving the area for over a decade, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Categorised in: Helicopter Company