As an Honor Flight Guardian you are responsible for the safety and well-being of one of America’s greatest treasures - Our WWII Veterans. Thank you for choosing to honor The Greatest Generation!

1. Honor Flight Austin
Guardian Orientation

2. Contents of Training
•Guardian Training Video
•General Itinerary of Friday and Saturday
•Wheelchair Safety
•Bus Transportation / Loading and
Unloading
•Veteran Care
•Do’s and Don’ts
•Questions

3. You Are A Guardian
You are responsible for the safety and
wellbeing of one of America’s greatest
treasures -
Our WWII Veterans
Guardian Video

4. Guardian Training
•Thank you for participating
•SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY are paramount
•One-to-one ratio—one Guardian for every
Veteran
•Honor and protect your Veteran at all times
•Stay on schedule— be aware of the time
•Communicate any problems
•Contact Staff member (Dark Blue shirt) if you
have any questions

5. Wheelchair Use
•We use wheelchairs for two main reasons:
• Speed—We have a lot to see in a short time
• Safety—Falls happen while moving
• There will be Veterans who don’t wish to use a
wheelchair
• Make it a ‘non-issue’; relate to them how easy it will
be to be chauffer-driven; highlight all the ‘good’
things
•Remind them of our safety and speed issues, and ask
for their compliance if they object
• If it becomes a real issue, bring it to the attention of
a staff member
• No matter what, keep the chair with you

6. Wheelchair Safety
•ALWAYS apply wheelchair brakes, every time you
stop
•Always help your Veteran in or out of wheelchair
•DO NOT allow your Veteran to get up or sit down
unless the wheel brakes are set
•Always clear the foot/leg rest when assisting the
Veteran in and out of the wheelchair
• Hold all canes, bags, water bottles, or coats when
Veteran is moving in or out of the chair
• If ‘catching’ an off balance or falling Veteran, be
aware that grabbing clothes or belts might be safer
than grabbing their arms

7. Wheelchair Safety
•NEVER leave your Veteran in wheelchair
unattended
•Maintain a high sense of awareness
•Even small elevation changes (bumps) can
topple veterans if you are pushing the chair; if
in doubt, turn the chair around and back up
over the questionable spot
•Watch for soft, uneven ground. Choose the
smoothest, most solid path
•Wheelchairs are mandatory at the Marine
Corps War Memorial

8. Bus Transportation
•Bus assignments remain the same for both
days…make sure you get on the right bus!
•Headcount will taken by a staff member prior
to each departure; make sure they have your
Veteran’s name
•If Veteran is tired, they are welcome to stay
on the bus during stops. However, if they
stay, SO DO YOU!

9. Bus Transportation
•At each stop, Guardians will exit first and
begin to stage the wheelchairs
•First 6 Guardians off the bus unload the
chairs
•Veterans remain seated until called forward
•100% wheelchair-bound Veterans will be
unloaded first (lift at the back of the bus)

10. Bus Safety
•A staff member will be at the top of the stairs
for all loading and unloading operations
•The bus Paramedic will be at the bottom of
the stairs for all loading and unloading
•As each Veteran moves to exit, their name
will be called out; their Guardian moves with
a chair to the base of the stairs
•Set brakes, clear footrests, and prepare to
receive your Vet.

11. Bus Safety
•The Veteran’s hands will be clear of all
objects, and will use handrails
•Bring the chair close to the base of the stairs,
but not too close; leave the Veteran some
room to maneuver
•When Veterans are going up the stairs, keep
a hand just behind them to easily counter
any loss of balance

12. Veteran Care
•Stay with your Veteran, at ALL TIMES
•If you need to leave your veteran, ensure
another Guardian or staff member replaces you
•Know your Veteran’s issues (sight, hearing,
balance)
•Be aware of any medication needs
•Encourage hydration / Open the bottles!
•Subsequently, encourage and plan bathroom
stops!

13. Veteran Care
•Ask questions; get to know them!
•Where they served, in what service, what they
did, for how long
•Ask about the food during the war, the
clothing, the heat or the cold
•Get them talking, but understand if there are
things they don’t want to discuss
•Encourage photographs; offer to take them
•Be their eyes and ears
•Echo announcements that are made, or make
sure your Veteran understood what was said

14. Veteran Care
•Help keep up with their belongings; when
leaving buses or airplanes, make a quick sweep
for bags, wallets, eyeglass cases, cameras, etc.
•If they drop something, YOU pick it up
•Watch and see if they need assistance while
eating
•Continually be on guard for signs of tiredness
or any developing medical issues
•Notify a Paramedic or a staff member if you
notice a change or think there might be a
problem

15. Do’s and Don’ts
• 100% of the time, your focus is on the Veterans
• Answering phone calls, texts, or emails should be delayed
until you and the Veteran are on the bus in transit, or until
after they have gone to bed for the evening
• At no time do you leave the group or your Veteran to smoke
or have an alcoholic beverage
• You are welcome to smoke in designated areas after your
veteran goes to sleep—roughly after 10:00 p.m. or before
6:00 a.m.
• Drinking is not encouraged. If you do, drink responsibly and
very moderately after all Veterans are asleep
• Do not encourage your Veteran to drink
•We want them and you to stay hydrated with water

16. Invite Your Friends and
Family
It means a lot to the Veterans to have members
from the community at the airport to see them
off and welcome them home!
Help give them the reception
they deserve!

17. Questions?