[DaleMN]

Wife and I were walking at Polo Grounds this afternoon. Noticed a helicopter above and as we rounded the corner an ambulance and fire rescue truck. They did land on the polo field and place a person on the helicopter. Doesn't the Villages Hospital have a heliport? Or perhaps the person was transported directly to the polo field? Would be interested in peoples take on this.

[EXYZEE40]

Today, Thursday, at about 2:30 pm (estimate) I saw the small fire department vehicle enter the Bonnie Brook gate and head west on Belvedere. A while later I also saw an ambulance followed by the regular fire truck leave the Bonnie Brook gate, with siren on, head north on Buena Vista.
Also saw a helicopter overhead shortly after that to me looked headed north.

Don't know if this is the what you saw, but my guess is something happened and the ambulance met the helicopter at the Polo Field and transported the person to either The Villages hospital or a medical facility outside of The Villages. Yes, there is an area near the hospital where helicopters can land.

[DaleMN]

I'm sure what you saw is what we witnessed the conclusion of. The helicoptor had Tampa printed on it so I'm guessing that is where they were headed. Thank you.

[logdog]

There are a number of helipad designated locations in TV for medical emergencies. I know there's one near the Colony rec center. Nice to know that rapid medical response is so well thought out here in TV. As I recall from a recent survey, TV has a medical response rate that is something like 3 times quicker than the national average.

[Jane52]

This is when I have to stop and thank God for the nation we have....when I see a medical helicopter zoom in at a terrible accident site, or at a place where ambulances would be slow getting thru traffic and minutes/seconds count.

For all the complaints and true faults our medical systems have with financing them, there is care for everyone in a real emergency or life/death situation. Other countries could only dream of having good ambulance services/personnel, much less helicopter transport regardless of ability to pay.

[eremite06]

The patient probably met trauma criteria and was flown to the nearest trauma center.

[pooh]

This was taken from the Sumter County incident report today at:
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?ctid=375
MAJOR ACCIDENT
01/06/11 14:36
(THE VILLAGES - 800 TRS PS 2) TRUCK 51 ON SCENE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH EJECTION REQUEST AIR SUPPORT AEROMED 3 RESPONDING [FLA074]

[Hancle704]

I'm just guessing here, but ejection from MV, may have been from a golf cart.

I think protocol requires a fire truck to be located at the medevac landing zone. The choice of what landing zone to be used appears to be based on several factors, including distance from accident scene, availablity of equipment, arrival time of helicopter, traffic conditions and probably others.

I guess we have to get used to seeing more of this as folks just don't understand the need to be extra cautious. Golf carts don't have airbags and seat belts and drivers and passengers riding with arms and legs hanging out of cart or, feet resting on the dash board are all accidents waiting to happen.

[Jane52]

Originally Posted by Hancle704

I'm just guessing here, but ejection from MV, may have been from a golf cart......
I guess we have to get used to seeing more of this as folks just don't understand the need to be extra cautious. Golf carts don't have airbags and seat belts and drivers and passengers riding with arms and legs hanging out of cart or, feet resting on the dash board are all accidents waiting to happen.

Many people, including some golf car sales people, think it is absurd to get seat belts on the golf car. But almost all of our TV neighbors have gotten them because they know somebody (various victims) who has been thrown from the cart when the driver braked/dodged something suddenly or other such thing the rider didn't know was coming. These victims have either died or have brain damage and their spouse/caretaker is NOT "living the dream" in TV.

Just as SUV suspensions are made for off-road conditions and they do more upsets than cars in similar wrecks on pavement, golf cars are made for off-road driving on golf courses. They can be scary on pavement at 20 mph in the lane next to big trucks, cars and SUV's speeding by, as you might have to avoid or drop into/over a big recessed grate in the gutter......

... OR as you try to avoid hitting an obnoxious walker strutting straight at you in the lane and they refuse to step up onto the curb when you can't swerve out and round them because a car or truck is coming up beside you.

It's easy to get thrown from a cart with a sudden, unexpected jerk (jerk of the steering wheel, or jerk strutting straight into a head-on crash like they have something to prove).

[Snowbirdtobe]

Originally Posted by Jane52

... OR as you try to avoid hitting an obnoxious walker strutting straight at you in the lane and they refuse to step up onto the curb when you can't swerve out and round them because a car or truck is coming up beside you.

It's easy to get thrown from a cart with a sudden, unexpected jerk (jerk of the steering wheel, or jerk strutting straight into a head-on crash like they have something to prove).

Why should a walker step out of the way? Is there a law that requires them to do so?
An automobile would be required to stop and avoid hitting the walker. Do carts have different rules? What about those jerks with slow carts?

[ceejay]

Originally Posted by Snowbirdtobe

Why should a walker step out of the way? Is there a law that requires them to do so?
An automobile would be required to stop and avoid hitting the walker. Do carts have different rules? What about those jerks with slow carts?

Yesterday, we were traveling in the golf cart lane on Odell, heading toward LSL. A "pedestrian" was crossing the street from the mailboxes...no crosswalk, no redlight, taking his own special time. We saw him and slowed down to a crawl. Geeze, he did the exact same thing. We came to almost a complete stop to avoid hitting him. He finally stepped up on the curb and yelled at the top of his lungs "Pedestrians have the right-of-way". What a jerk!!

I would like to add that this man was not handicapped in any outward physical form.

Was that you?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Snowbirdtobe

Why should a walker step out of the way? Is there a law that requires them to do so?
An automobile would be required to stop and avoid hitting the walker. Do carts have different rules? What about those jerks with slow carts?

I am just guessing that a walker would step out of the way if a much larger, heavier object was coming at them. I just got up and don't know what the issue is here, so as everyone knows my big mouth has to say something.

I did hear a very credible account on here and if I remember the source was law enforcement or safety .... that said it is MORE dangerous to have seat belts in golf carts.

BUT...the street legal carts have seat belts.

Someone like Villages 07 or il2rdhd is going to clarify this. Jane makes a very valid point. I know I am gonna like that girl.

Good morning everyone. Need coffee.

[cabo35]

On Powell Rd. south of 466A and a short distance behind the new Sumter County offices and library, there's a heliport. Probably in Wildwood. I usually see a big, beautiful medical chopper based there. Blue and gold if I recall. Watched him take off once while riding our Harley. I believe it is affiliated with a hospital in Tampa. Anyone have the full story?

[ladylake1]

I thought the pedestrian always had the right of way. In some areas the land next to the curb is on an incline and difficult to jump out of the way on. I try to get out of the lane but if there are no cars coming along side the cart, I don't think it is unreasonable to have them scoot over.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by Jane52

... OR as you try to avoid hitting an obnoxious walker strutting straight at you in the lane and they refuse to step up onto the curb when you can't swerve out and round them because a car or truck is coming up beside you.

It's easy to get thrown from a cart with a sudden, unexpected jerk (jerk of the steering wheel, or jerk strutting straight into a head-on crash like they have something to prove).

I know many walkers and none are obnoxious, jerks, nor do they strut. However, some of them are unable to step up on the curb every time a golf cart approaches. I walk on occasion. I may be obnoxious, a jerk (someone else will be the judge of that) but I am physically unable to strut or jump up on the curb. Fortunately I do not find it a problem. Almost all of the carts I meet give me a wide berth and a friendly wave as they pass.

When driving a cart and approaching a pedestrian (s) I check my mirrors for traffic. If all clear I pull into the car lane and pass. If not clear I either slow or stop to avoid the traffic and the pedestrian. It is not difficult and I get a nice wave from the pedestrian.