HART is deployed to various hazardous, complex or prolonged incidents. The national capabilities include: • CBRN/HazMat -
CBRNe and
hazmat incidents • High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) - caring for patients with highly contagious diseases including viral haemorrhagic fevers such as
Ebola and smallpox. • USAR
Urban Search and Rescue - responding to patients at height, in confined space or collapsed or unstable buildings) • Water operations - flood and swift water rescue • MTA - tactical medical operations in terrorist or firearms incidents • Security operations - supporting police officers during hazardous operations. All HART teams within the ambulance services of England & Wales have the same capabilities. allowing interoperable activities at large scale incidents or planned events such as the
Olympic Games or UN
2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (CoP26). The Northern Ireland team has additional capabilities covering mountain rescue taskings. Each HART unit consist of emergency medical personnel, primarily
paramedics, who have undergone specialised training at the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU) Education Centre in the use of safety critical procedures, skills, vehicles and equipment. Their specialised equipment includes
personal protective equipment (such as breathing apparatus,
hazmat suits, and safe work at height equipment, and
flotation devices for working in water. ==Origins==