Specialist ambulance crews to respond to hazardous incidents

The Department of Health has announced that a new programme will see specialist teams of paramedics established to handle major incidents.

Under the Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart) initiative, designated ambulance crews will receive extensive training in order to provide fast response aid in the event of a terrorist attack or nuclear incident.

The project is part of the government’s response to recommendations made after inquiries into the 2005 London bombings and will also see emergency first aid packs installed in locations such as train and underground stations.

Health minister Rosie Winterton commented: “The new Hart response teams will not only deliver much-needed medical care, but they will also free up other ambulance crews to continue dealing with regular 999 call-outs.”

The teams are also expected to deal with more common events such as serious road traffic accidents, building collapses and fires where the surrounding area could be particularly hazardous to standard ambulance crews.

A government report setting out the lessons to be learned from the terrorist bomb attacks in the capital, which killed 52 people, states that “speed, flexibility and openness” are the vital elements needed in order to provide effective aid and support in the event of a major incident.