Thank you for your interest in the
Vanderbilt LifeFlight Ride-Along program.  Our Ride-Along program is now taking applications for October through April . Please read the eligibility requirements below before submitting your application. 

The Vanderbilt LifeFlight Ride-Along Program is designed to provide a learning experience for employees in Emergency Services-related fields. This program provides an opportunity for emergency service  providers to become knowledgeable about safe helicopter operations and appropriate flight criteria. It also provides a glimpse of quality patient care in the field.

Vanderbilt LifeFlight transports critically ill or injured patients through out Tennessee, southern Kentucky, and northern Alabama. While our goal is for ride-along participants to have an enjoyable experience, this should not be viewed solely as an opportunity for a “joy-ride." Rather, the ride-along experience should serve as an opportunity to view a larger portion of our local health care delivery system, appreciate the many entities that comprise that system, and offer insight that may eventually improve its overall efficiency.

If selected, you will be asked to complete a Ride-along safety briefing and quiz..  Click here to view the briefing.

Eligibility

• The Ride-Along program is open annually from October 1st through April 30th.
• Candidates must be at least 18 years of age.  Students must be at least 18 years of age and currently enrolled in an emergency services course with a university or college.
• Candidates must be currently employed in or enrolled as a student of a emergency services related discipline.  The agency or institution should be located within the LifeFlight service area.  Students will be given a lower priority than active practitioners.
• A completed Ride-Along form must be submitted by the candidate’s supervisor/instructor confirming the candidate is actively practicing in, or studying, a health care or emergency services related field. 
• A weight limit of no more than 250 pounds.  Ride-along participation for individuals weighing 200-250 pounds will be subject to pilot discretion on the actual day of the ride-along  once total crew weight can be considered.  Regardless of weight, a Ride-Along participant must be able to fit in the aircraft seatbelts.  This requires a waist size no larger than 44 inches.
• Candidates should be reasonably fit and agile.  The ability to swiftly exit the aircraft without assistance is expected.  The physical requirements are, at a minimum, what would be necessary to sit next to the emergency exit door on a commercial airliner.
• For Vanderbilt employees only-For worker’s compensation reasons, all Vanderbilt employees must be “on the clock” while participating in our Ride-Along program.  These hours are to be paid by the candidate’s home department budget.  Since these additional hours may create overtime, the candidate will need approval from their department manager.
• Individuals are only able to participate once every two years.

Appropriate Attire

Health Concerns

A busy day with LifeFlight may result in extended periods of time with little opportunity for nutrition and hydration. Ride-along participants will also be exposed to routine stressors of helicopter flying such as turbulence, vibration, noise, and extremes of hot and cold. If there is a physical or health concern that may prevent you from tolerating this type of environment, please indicate so in the comments section of the ride-along application. Vanderbilt LifeFlight reserves the right to request that ride-along candidates provide a physician letter granting medical clearance to participate in ride-along activities.