BERT

The Bicycle Emergency Response Team (BERT) is a program that utilizes paramedics on medically equipped bikes.  This team operates during public events in which traditional ambulance response may be delayed.  Because of their mobility, the bike team has proven to be highly effective in reducing time to treatment for patients in a crowd or area of limited accessibility.  BERT is capable of providing both Basic and Advanced Life Support.

In addition to the improved patient care, this program promotes good community relations.  Because of the team's high visibility and close proximity to the crowds, they're able to talk to people about the NHR EMS system.  The events covered include the North Carolina Azalea Festival, 4th of July Fireworks Celebration, and the Wrightsville Beach Triathlon.

The above picture shows the bike team with GATOR1, a John Deere, 4x4 utility vehicle that is outfitted with a stretcher.  GATOR1 is the team's resource for extracting patients from a congested event site to a waiting ambulance.