Hospital Helicopter Landings Increase Significantly

The Laurelhurst Community Club published this information in a recent newsletter:

Helicopter Landings Increase Significantly 

Recently released data show that Seattle Children’s Hospital has relied more on direct helicopter landings onto the new rooftop helipad (84 percent), rather than helicopter landings at the UW field with transport by ambulance to the hospital.  

In 2015, there were 25 direct SCH landings, 30 percent of all emergency transports by helicopter. In 2016, 51 SCH landings represented 59 percent of total helicopter transport. In 2017, 65 SCH helipad landings comprised 84 percent of total landings between the UW field and the hospital.  

As this trend persists, and another helicopter operator now is authorized to land, LCC will continue to monitor that landings are consistent with the established SCH guidelines for the transportation of sick and injured children. The ground safety of those in the fly zone must be of concern as well.

In October of last year, the new helistop landing was activated. The new temporary
location, on the rooftop of Forest A, known as Friends of Costco Building, will be located there until Building Care is completed in 2022. In early 2022, the helipad will be permanently moved and located on top of the Forest B building, currently under construction.

The helicopter landing pad sits at 176 feet. The hospital advised that noise would likely be louder than it was with the former ground-based helipad location of the last 5 years, near the Emergency Room.