JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

Speed and ability to sustain survivor life during transport are the
major considerations when selecting RUs. Whenever possible, the RU
should carry medical personnel and necessary life-sustaining equipment.
The OSC should recommend the need for an RU to the SMC, who will arrange
for suitable aircraft, vessels, or other units to respond. Occasionally
the recommended craft are not available and the OSC will need to use on
scene resources or request aid from passing vessels or other craft or
vehicles, without SMC direction or assistance.
A. Helicopters are ideal transport RUs because of their capability
to recover survivors from inaccessible or hard-to-reach sites and
deliver them at high speed directly to emergency care centers.
Helicopter capabilities normally will be limited by radius of action,
weather, and load-carrying capacity. Adequate planning will minimize
these limitations.
1. The radius of action of some helicopters can be extended by
air-to-air refueling. When this is not possible, fuel may be
cached or delivered in freefall "blivit" bags or palletted
fuel drums that are parachute-dropped by other aircraft along
the route to and from the incident site.
2. A shuttle may be necessary if the number of survivors exceeds
the capacity of the helicopter. Triage should be conducted to
determine the order of evacuation. A medical evaluation
should be conducted by a doctor whenever possible. An on site
evaluation is ideal but communication with a physician in an
aircraft in the vicinity of the survivor (SURCAP) or a medical
ground facility is acceptable.
3. Fixed-wing escort of helicopters may be desirable to help with
communications and navigation, or to provide a SAR safety
backup
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