Hazardous area response team
A hazardous area response team (HART) is an NHS ambulance service in the United Kingdom devoted to providing medical care to patients in the "hot zone" of hazardous environments.
Teams are activated and sent to various incidents, such as CBRNe, hazmat, collapsed buildings, patients at height or in confined space, water rescue, and flooding, firearms incidents and explosions.
HART teams are made up of emergency medical personnel, such as paramedics who have undergone specialised training in the use of special procedures, skills and vehicles and equipment. Their specialised equipment includes personal protective equipment (such as breathing apparatus, hazmat suits, and climbing tethers for working at height), cutting equipment for extrication, and flotation devices and rafts for working on water.
Origins
Hazardous area response teams originated from a 2004 report on the feasibility of paramedics working in the hot zone or inner cordon of major incidents.[1]
Capabilities
All 16 HART teams within the ambulance services of England & Wales have the same capabilities.[2]
- IRU (Incident Response Unit) - CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) & HazMat response
- USAR - Urban Search and Rescue, including SWAH (safe work at height) and confined space operation
- IWO - Inland Water Operations, including water rescue, flood response and paramedic care to maritime incidents within 12 miles of the British coast
- TMO - Tactical Medical Operations, working alongside police and other agencies to provide paramedic care
Operational areas
A HART is operational in every NHS ambulance service in England and Wales.
- East of England Ambulance Service[3]
- East Midlands Ambulance Service[4]
- London Ambulance Service[5]
- North East Ambulance Service[6]
- North West Ambulance Service[7]
- South Central Ambulance Service[8]
- South East Coast Ambulance Service[9]
- South Western Ambulance Service[10]
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service[11]
- West Midlands Ambulance Service[12]
- Welsh Ambulance Service[13]
Similar capabilities exist within the Scottish Ambulance Service,[14] Northern Ireland Ambulance Service[15] and Isle of Man Ambulance Service.
References
- Leivesley, Sally (Winter 2003–2004). "Bank Station Chemical Attack Simulation Exercise: Issues for Emergency Planners and Local Authorities". Alert: 4–6. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- "About HART". Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- "Hazardous Area Response Team". eastamb.nhs.uk. East of England Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "HART". emas.nhs.uk. East Midlands Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Hazardous area response team". londonambulance.nhs.uk. London Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Hazardous Area Response Team". neas.nhs.uk. North East Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Handling major incidents". nwas.nhs.uk. North West Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Resilience and Specialist Operations". scas.nhs.uk. South Central Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Our Locations". secamb.nhs.uk. South East Coast Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Hazardous Area Response Team". swast.nhs.uk. South Western Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Ambulance service responses". yas.nhs.uk. Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Emergency Preparedness". wmas.nhs.uk. West Midlands Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response". ambulance.wales.nhs.uk. Welsh Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Dealing with Major Incidents". scottishambulance.com. Scottish Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "HART". nias.hscni.net. Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Retrieved 6 November 2020.