Emergency at the Field
If someone is seriously hurt at Marlow Anderson Field, the next few minutes matter. This page tells you exactly what to do, what to say to 911, and how to get help through the gate.
For any life-threatening injury, fire, or medical emergency — call first, before anything else. On a cell phone, tap the number above.
Marlow Anderson R/C Airfield
24041 SE 276th Street, Hobart WA 98038
GPS: 47.38791, -121.97650
The 4 Steps — In This Order
With two or more people at the field, split these jobs. Say it out loud: “You — call 911. You — go to the gate.” People freeze unless someone assigns the task.
Call 911
Stay calm and speak clearly. Give the field name, street address, and GPS coordinates (all printed above and on the dispatcher card below). Say what happened, how many people are hurt, and whether they're conscious and breathing. Don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you to.
Send someone to the gate
Aid crews can lose precious minutes finding a field down a gravel road. Send a person to the gate to open it wide and wave the ambulance in. If you have a vehicle at the gate, turn on its hazard lights so responders can spot the entrance.
Care for the injured person
Don't move them unless they're in immediate danger (fire, vehicle path). Follow the dispatcher's instructions — they will talk you through CPR or bleeding control if needed. Use the club first aid kit. Stop all flying immediately and land or clear all aircraft.
Guide EMS to the patient
When responders arrive, have someone lead them directly to the injured person. Clear vehicles, chairs, and equipment from their path. One person who saw what happened should stay available to answer questions.
First aid kit: located at the field shelter near the pilot stations. Familiarize yourself with it before you need it.
What to Tell the 911 Dispatcher
Our field is rural and not obvious from the road. Give the dispatcher everything below — including the gate code — so responders can get in even if no one is free to meet them.
- “We're at the Marlow Anderson R/C Airfield, a model airplane field at 24041 SE 276th Street, Hobart, Washington 98038. ”
- “GPS coordinates are 47.38791 north, -121.97650 west. ”
- “The field is down a gravel road off SE 276th Street, behind a locked gate. “The gate code is [give the current gate code]. Someone will try to meet you at the gate.”
- Then describe: what happened, how many people are hurt, and whether they're awake and breathing.
Give 911 the gate code
Yes — give the code to the dispatcher. Getting an aid crew to a patient always outweighs gate security. The code can be changed later; minutes can't be recovered. After the emergency, contact a club officer so the code can be rotated if needed.
The current code is shown on your member profile (log in to view it). Memorize it — in an emergency you may not have time to look it up.
Access notes for responders
- Entrance is a gravel drive off SE 276th Street — easy to miss at speed.
- The gate may be closed even when members are flying. Open it fully and prop or hold it.
- Park a vehicle at the road with hazard lights on if you can spare a person.
- Cell coverage at the field can be spotty — if a call fails, text 911 or move toward the road and retry.
If You're Alone at the Field
Someone else is hurt and you're the only helper
- 1 Call 911 first and put your phone on speaker so your hands are free.
- 2 Tell the dispatcher you are alone and cannot meet responders — then give the address, GPS, gravel-road description, and gate code.
- 3 Stay with the injured person and follow the dispatcher's instructions. Do not leave them to wait at the gate unless the dispatcher tells you to.
- 4 If the gate is closed and the patient is stable, ask the dispatcher whether you should open the gate — and leave it wide open if you do.
You are the one who's hurt
- 1 Call 911 immediately — don't wait to see if it gets better, and don't try to drive yourself out.
- 2 Put the phone on speaker and stay on the line. If the call drops, text 911.
- 3 Give the address, GPS, and gate code right away, in case you lose consciousness.
- 4 If you can, move somewhere visible from the driveway and unlock/open the gate only if it's safe to do so.
Good habit: when flying alone, tell someone where you are and when you'll be back — and keep your phone on you, not in the car.
Fire (LiPo or Brush)
- Call 911 for any fire you can't put out in seconds — dry grass spreads fast in summer.
- A burning LiPo can't be "put out" mid-reaction. Get people away, let the pack burn out on dirt or gravel, and watch for re-ignition.
- Never use water on a burning LiPo battery. Smother with sand or dirt if it's safe to approach.
- Crashed but not burning? Treat a damaged, swollen, or hot pack as a fire about to happen — move it away from everything flammable.
Not Sure It's an Emergency?
- When in doubt, call 911. Dispatchers would rather take an unnecessary call than a late one.
- Call 911 for: chest pain, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, head injuries, loss of consciousness, suspected broken bones in the neck/back/hip, heat stroke, or anything involving an aircraft striking a person.
- For cuts, sprains, and minor prop nicks: use the first aid kit, and have someone drive the injured person to urgent care — don't let them drive alone.
- Anyone struck by a spinning prop or an aircraft should be checked by a medical professional, even if it "looks okay."
After the Emergency
Notify a club officer
Report any incident requiring medical attention to a club officer as soon as practical — same day if possible. They'll handle follow-up and any needed gate code change.
Write down what happened
While it's fresh: time, who was involved, what aircraft, what happened, who witnessed it. Photos of the scene and aircraft help.
AMA incident report
If a model aircraft injured a person or damaged property, an AMA incident report may be required for insurance. A club officer can help you file it.
Always contact one of the club officers after any emergency or serious incident at the field — find their contact information on the Club Officers page.
Where We Are
Marlow Anderson R/C Airfield
24041 SE 276th Street, Hobart WA 98038 · GPS 47.38791, -121.97650