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Snowmobiling: Clubs Asked to Clear Way for 'Copters

December 31, 2008 - Maine has some of the best and most remote snowmobile trails in the country. In an effort to get to injured or ill snowmobilers and others in need of emergency medical care, Lifeflight of Maine is asking snowmobile clubs around the state to establish and maintain landing zones for its medical helicopters.

Jon Roebuck, a communications specialist with Lifeflight of Maine, has been speaking with clubs about the plan for the landing zones. Roebuck came up with the idea about three years ago, when it took almost three hours to transport an injured snowmobiler from a trail in Kokadjo.

"It seemed to me that there had to be a better way to do it," Roebuck said. "Our helicopters land on roadways at car accidents, and in some cases, the snowmobile trail system is wider than some roads. It makes sense that we could land at remote places along the trail to pick up people who are hurt."

To land, the helicopter needs a level area at least 100 feet by 100 feet that is groomed and packed down, and clear of trees, large brush or collapsible vegetation such as alders. There also needs to be sufficient overhead clearance.

The footprint of the helicopter is about the size of a large SUV. An ideal spot would be a groomer turnaround or major trail intersection in cleared areas.

The first step for clubs that are interested in establishing a landing zone is to contact their local fire or EMS chief.

"I have more than 60 clubs in my region, and I am trying to get every club to contact their emergency chiefs in their areas," said Bob Lafountaine, coastal vice president of the Maine Snowmobile Association and organizer of the coastal Lifeflight project, whose district encompasses a third of the state.

"Each club could have as many landing zones as they want, and we are trying to encourage all of the clubs to have a landing zone. This has never been done before," Lafountaine said.

A helicopter can travel about 165 miles an hour directly from the scene of an accident to a hospital -- a fraction of the time it takes a rescue boggan to get the victim and transport him or her to an ambulance, which then transports the victim by road to the hospital.

Getting a person emergency medical help in a matter of minutes can make the difference between life and death in situations such as a severe accident on the trail, a heart attack or a logging accident.

Last winter, Lifeflight was able to land in an open area in Jackman not far from the trail.

"The pilot luckily found a place to land, and we swooped in, loaded the guy up and flew to Eastern Maine Medical Center," Roebuck said. "The beautiful thing about vertical flying is that we don't follow the same roadways and trail ways as everyone else. We are looking for access and trail coordinates for what may be a suitable place.

"That made me think, 'Wow! What we should do is to figure out a way to get some access on these trails.' "

That access is now in the hands of snowmobile clubs and private landowners. Clubs need to be willing to establish groom landing zones as well as provide coordinates of the sites to rescue personnel who would be calling Lifeflight.

"It is all about promoting communication between clubs and rescue personnel to develop a plan to assist those in need," Roebuck said.

The goal is to have some landing zones established within the next few months. It's a way for clubs to help fellow snowmobilers and others in remote areas who are in need of emergency medical help.

For more information, call Jon Roebuck of Lifeflight of Maine at (877) 262-2525 or e-mail jonr@medcommdispatch.org.

Cathy Genthner is a registered Maine Guide and is licensed to guide snowmobile trips.

CATHY GENTHNER, Portland Press Herald, December 25, 2008


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