HART welcomes French delegation
Thursday, 23 June, 2011
A delegation from the French emergency services visited South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust's (SECAmb) Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) yesterday, (Wednesday 22 June).
The visit to the team's base in Ashford aimed to provide the French with a better understanding of how SECAmb's HART can provide support to incidents particularly in and around the Channel Tunnel and how the team would work in conjunction with the French emergency services should an incident occur.
Clinicians from the team, who have all received specialist training to deliver life-saving treatment in hazardous environments, demonstrated equipment including breathing apparatus, gas tight suits and respirators.
Members of the Trust's Emergency Preparedness Team also be attended to discuss emergency planning developments and how both countries can work together to provide the best possible care to patients on both sides of the tunnel.
The French delegation also delivered a presentation to SECAmb describing how they deal with incident and the equipment they use.
SECAmb HART Manager, Neil Harrison said: "We're hoping this will be the start of a positive working relationship with our colleagues in France.
"We are very keen to share best practice and to ensure that should we need to work together at an incident all our equipment and procedures are compatible and provides the highest level of protection to all staff and patients."
