HVA
operates a number of specialized teams which support the activities of law enforcement
and fire
departments, as well as the internal mission of our ambulance service.
In each case, team members must apply to be considered for team membership and meet rigorous standards. They attend specialized training and continuing education so that they are able to respond quickly and perform all duties that the team requires on a moment's notice. Team members also are provided with uniforms, equipment and vehicles for each specialized function.
These teams include:
- Tactical EMS (TEMS)
- Hazardous Materials Response Team (HAZMAT)
- Confined Space Rescue Team
- HVA Honor Guard
- Bike Medic Team
HVA normally receives no reimbursement for the teams. They are funded by the HVA Board of Trustees as a part of our community responsibilities and mission.
Tactical EMS Team. Our Tactical EMS team provides medical support for special law enforcement teams which deal with emergencies such as a barricaded gunman, high risk warrant arrests, execution of search warrants and other emergencies. Our medics support teams operated by the Michigan State Police, as well as various county and local law enforcement agencies in our service area.
Hazardous Materials Response Team. HAZMAT teams respond to protect the public from exposure to dangerous chemicals and other life threatening hazards. This might include a highway accident involving chemical release, a railroad accident, an illicit chemical lab found in a home, or simply a storage barrel with an unknown substance found along the side of the road. Abatement of hazardous chemical situations are the responsibility of the local fire department and HVA provides medic support for their function.
Confined Space Rescue Team. HVA participates in the Washtenaw County Confined Space Rescue Team, which is one of a small number of regional teams in southeast Michigan. The team is trained and equipped to rescue individuals trapped in confined spaces such as a trench, building collapse, or even on a radio or electric transmission tower. Like a HAZMAT team, this is a fire department function and HVA provides medical support.
HVA Honor Guard. HVA's Honor Guard represents our organization and our employees at staff funerals as well as ceremonial events in the community. Our team was formed following the line-of-duty death of HVA/JCA medic Cheryl Kiefer in 2008.
Bike Medic Teams. HVA medics serve on bicycle teams which patrol special summer events such as Michigan International Speedway, the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival and numerous events in the City of Plymouth. Medics work in pairs and they carry much of the same equipment and medications as are carried on a full ALS ambulance (minus the stretcher, of course). Bike medics can quickly maneuver through crowds to get to emergencies quickly. They also provide community outreach, answering questions from the public when they are not busy on a call.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions:
Do HVA Tactical paramedics carry weapons?
No, our tactical medics are not armed but they are trained to use law enforcement weapons in case an officer is disabled. They are also trained to break-down a loaded weapon, if necessary. Our tactical medics are assigned to work in the "warm zone" of an incident, rather than the "hot zone".
Is the full Hazmat Team called out each time an unknown chemical or incident is identified?
It depends on the incident. The entire team can be activated quickly if the situation warrants it. In some cases, the Hazmat Team Director is consulted and a smaller group might be activated to investigate the incident before activating the entire team. As an example, the team director might respond alone with the local fire department to an unknown barrel dumped alongside of the road.
Why can confined spaces be dangerous?
Confined space rescue anticipates many, many challenging situations. A trench collapse, as one example, can be extremely dangerous. When a trench collapses and covers a victim, bystanders (and even some rescuers) might rush to go into the trench to try to dig the victim out. But these trenches can easily collapse further and claim additional victims. Trench walls must be stabilized from further collapse to protect others from similar harm. Another example might be a patient collapsed in a manhole or even inside a farm silo. Sewer manholes and silos can contain a build up of dangerous gases which can claim other victims. They must be ventilated and tested for safety before the initial victims can be removed.
HVA training with the Washtenaw County Confined Space Rescue Team:
One of HVA's bike medics at the Ann Arbor Art Fair:
HVA's Honor Guard:
