South Central Ambulance Service HART celebrates its 3rd anniversary

The South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) is celebrating its third year of operation.

The HART has attended over 680 incidents since 1 April 2013, while continuing to train and strengthen its staff.

HARTs are groups of paramedics and technicians who have been trained to deal with a wider range of possible scenarios than normal. The programme was started to allow ambulance workers to perform their duties in ‘hot zones’ (areas where danger is still present, e.g. a building collapse or a natural disaster) and bring patients into safe areas where they can be more effectively treated.

John Dyer, head of resilience and specialist operations at the SCAS HART, said:

‘Taking care to patients, wherever they might be is very important. SCAS HART have proved that a close knit team working in partnership with other emergency services can ensure high quality care is given to patients as soon as possible.’

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 17 February 2014.