text: External Loads
  Other Equipment
  5-74. Use smoke grenades to mark the location of the landing site or to indicate wind direction. Use
  flashlights with wands to give arm-and-hand signals at night.
  SAFETY
  5-75. In addition to using the proper equipment, Soldiers must also follow these other safety measures:
  y Wear long-sleeved shirts with the sleeves rolled down and fastened. Button your shirt collar.
  Tuck shirttails or jacket bottoms into your trousers.
  y Police the operational area thoroughly before conducting slingload operations. This cuts down
  on the amount of debris thrown about by rotor wash.
  5-76. Stay alert during hookup and release operations; sound judgment and common sense hold the keys
  to success. Stay ready to get clear of the load. Soldiers have been crushed between the aircraft and loads.
  Some have had loads dragged over them; others took an unwanted ride when they somehow entangled
  themselves with the load. Whenever you have to make the hookup, take special care. Slings under tension
  can easily crush an arm or leg against the load. Some of the particular hazards associated with loads
  include—
  Cargo Extensions or Projections
  5-77. Gun tubes, landing gear, missile launchers, bridge planks, and so forth can interfere with or injure
  you by striking or tripping you. Stand clear of such projections or position yourself so you can clear the
  load at once.
  Sharp Projections, Hooks, Handles, Racks
  5-78. If possible, avoid these. Examples include protruding handles or levers such as tarpaulin tie-down
  hooks, door handles, spare-tire racks, and similar projections. Sharp edges can cause serious injury. You
  can quickly get hooked to the load if your clothing or equipment catches on something. Keep alert and
  ready to move out of danger immediately.
  Top-Heavy or Narrow-Based Loads
  5-79. Treat with caution any top-heavy or narrow-based loads that the rotor wash could blow over. If
  possible, lay this kind of load on its side before starting the hookup. If you cannot do this, position the
  crew on the side or end of the load that is least likely to tip. Again, stay ready to move away from the
  danger quickly.
  High Loads
  5-80. High loads can seriously injure you if you climb up on them to hook them up. Rotor wash can
  sweep you off, or you might have to jump to avoid a dangerous situation. Pay attention to where you stand.
  Try to stand on a lower projection or step rather than on top of the load. This way, if the aircraft makes
  contact with the load, it does not catch you in between. Also, try to work from a crouched position or from
  your hands and knees. Keep solid footholds and handholds, and stay ready to move quickly out of the way
  if you need to. If possible, back a vehicle up to the load and use it as a working platform. (Move it out of
  the way before the aircraft starts to lift the load.)
  GROUND CREW EMERGENCY CONDUCT
  5-81. When an aircraft hovering over a slingload suffers an emergency severe enough for the pilot to
  have to set the aircraft down, he will do so. This can happen all at once such as in a controlled crash. For