Doing more with less

From oil refinery explosions to flooding and forest fires, the UK has dealt with a whole host of manmade incidents and natural disasters over the past year. With the 2012 Olympics fast approaching and the threat of terrorist attacks ever looming, these events place a tremendous strain on emergency responders. Whether natural or manmade, these disasters focus the spotlight on the role of emergency medical services who respond to these high pressure and often hostile emergency situations. The challenges faced by personnel looking to deliver efficient and effective clinical care in these situations places professionals under enormous strain, however this stress can be minimized.

While ambulance services in the UK are thankfully not faced with large-scale disasters and events on a regular basis, the ongoing professional development of front-line staff delivering emergency medical services and use of the latest equipment and services is pivotal to the safety and treatment of patients. Whether everyday incidents or large disasters, emergency medical professionals need the correct equipment and services to ensure public safety is not compromized. To ensure effective plans and procedures can be made to protect communities from threats, both natural and manmade, communication between the parties who play a critical part in emergency planning and response is vital; however, finding the time to facilitate this networking can be hard.