Hoist Training - Rescheduled - November 4, 2010

After our near miss with Hoist Training last week, I kept tabs on the potential for a reschedule.  And today, James took the day off work and we spent the afternoon (a beautiful, warm afternoon) up at Little Dell Reservoir as hoist patients.  Did you notice the rope (in the bottom left corner of the above picture) attached to the bag?  It is called a tag-line.

Video of James in the seat.

Waiting for the helicopter. Curtis Andersen, James and Cathy Cooper

Curtis and James near the helicopter.

James and Curtis near the ground.

James in the bag - like a big red burrito!

Jessi in the bag.  Cory Christensen and Cathy Cooper

James took the camera during his 'bag' experience.  Here are some Point-of-View photos from inside the bag. Jessi

POV. Paris Napoli

POV. bag straps and Little Dell Reservoir.

POV. Paris waving down the cable.

POV. helicopter, cable and Paris

POV. bottom of the helicopter.

POV moving back away from helicopter -  love to see the helmets peering out through the door!

While James was being a patient in the bag, I got to do something new.  A new-to-me part of hoist training is the tag-line.  It is a long rope attached with easy-release clips to the bag. 

Someone on the ground (me!) feeds out the rope and keeps enough tension on the rope to prevent the bag and paramedic from spinning around.  But not enough tension to release the rope (the paramedic will do that once they reach the helicopter).  Don't forget to step on the bag handle to keep it from blowing away.  Don't step on the rope. Afterward, gather up the rope and put it back into it's bag.  Chase the bag down the hill - you forgot to step on the bag handle and rotor wash from the returning helicopter blew it away.  Gather up the rope (again) and put it back into it's bag (again).