Often traumatic injuries result from motor vehicle collisions where multiple victims
are present and two or more EMS agencies (ground or air) may respond to the scene. Collaboration
between these providers in a team approach is essential to provide emergency treatment that does
not compromise patient care or cause delays in patient transport to a trauma facility. All prehospital
providers based in Hillsborough County must follow the Uniform
Trauma Transport Protocol (UTTP) ( PDF, 389KB ) . This legal document outlines the actual procedures that
each EMS provider follows for the dispatch of vehicles, assessment of the extent and severity
of injuries of trauma patients and determination of the destination (facility) to which trauma
alert patients are transported. There are four advanced life support ground EMS providers, four
basic life support EMS agencies and two helicopter services providing transport services within
Hillsborough County.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Medevac No Fly Policy
After comparing ground and air trauma transport times for well over 200 trauma
calls, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has identified two areas within the County where helicopter
transports of patients should not be routinely deployed. These two zones have been historically
demonstrated to be within 20 minutes of transport time to a trauma center by ground. A twenty-minute
time frame is the suggested guideline in the Hillsborough County Uniform Trauma Transport Protocol
for the deployment of a helicopter.
EMS personnel electing to use a helicopter within one of these zones are required to fully justify,
in writing, their reasons for doing so. Acceptable grounds may include prolonged extrication,
spinal cord injuries, or other situations causing transport delays, or those necessitating transport
to a further trauma center.
Fire Rescue No Fly Policy
Map ( PDF, 7086KB ) .
In order to adequately view the no-fly zones, click on the zoom-in tool to emphasize the brown
shading.
Description of zone boundaries:
Central zone
Northern border: Bearss Avenue east to Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, then Fletcher Avenue east to
56th Street
Southern border: Madison Avenue west to Hillsborough Bay
Eastern border: 56th Street south to Sligh Avenue, then east to US 301 and south to I-4. At I-4
the border is extended east to I-75
Western border: Veterans’ Expressway
East zone (adult patients only – Lakeland Regional Medical Center)
Northern border: Knights Griffin Road
Southern border: Coronet Road to Medulla Road
Eastern border: County line
Western border: Park Road and Wilder Road
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