Is the disaster area safe? NO-FEAR & Scene Security

A guest blog article by Leanne Valom, NEN

A truck drives into a German Christmas market, Las Ramblas in Spain, the boulevard of a southern French resort. An accident? Or what appears to be ... a terrorist attack? Immediately labeling what is going on determines the scenario that the police, fire brigade and medical services will manage. What role each service plays varies per country.

These questions were the focus of a workshop held in Madrid 26-27 April during the European EMS Congress 2019. Respondents including firefighters and police officers who have worked during the terrorist attacks in London, Berlin, Nice, Barcelona, Madrid, and Israel, shared their experiences and how they work together. Each providing insights from their own perspective and profession.

Questions that arose during the two-day workshop included:

• Do medical workers have to wear helmets and ballistic vests when they enter a disaster area?
• When is a disaster area safe (enough) for medical services?
• Should the police (be able to) provide medical care?
• Who is ultimately responsible?
• What role can citizens play?
• What role can training play?

These questions were discussed within the context of the NO-FEAR project. A 5-year project, funded by the European Commission, to investigate what role standardization can play after safety incidents. This may include terrorism, earthquakes, floods or other "disruptive events". https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/216146/factsheet/en

The workshop included both "first responders" and researchers to share experiences and lessons, and seek solutions together.  At a certain point, the various standardization instruments could be examined. But that will come later. Standardization can be a good way to share and implement best practices. Not as an imposed way of working, but as a guide to arrive at the best approach for the national structure of a country. Whether it's about processes (crisis management), products (equipment, technology) or terminology

In this way we work towards a safer world, better equipped and coordinated police officers, ambulance services, firefighters and other professionals who help in the disaster area.

Share your expertise? Contact us or visit the NO-FEAR website: https://no-fearproject.eu/

# EMS2019 #standardization #normalization #security #terrorism # H2020 #EuropeanCommittee