Large festivals, parades, along with bike and foot races can make reaching injured or ill persons a challenge. The New Hanover Regional EMS-Bicycle Emergency Response Team (B.E.R.T.) uses specially trained paramedics to reach patients when ambulance access is limited. Because of their mobility, the team is able to navigate through large crowds or off road areas with ease. Along with their quick response, the team members can provide life saving care. Advanced airways, defibrillation, IV’s, medications, and oxygen therapy can all be initiated by the team.
In addition to the obvious advantages the team gives patients, it is also a great community outreach tool. Members of the team are highly visible and are able to engage the public on EMS’s role in the community.
Often used as a transport arm of the B.E.R.T., EMS Gators are All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s) that are outfitted with stretchers. These Gators can safely transport patients out of a crowd to a designated triage/ transport site. Gators are also used to transport the team’s bicycles, as the B.E.R.T. members provide continuous care to the patient during transport. These Gators have proven to be invaluable assets to NHRMC EMS.
The Special Operations Paramedic (SOP) role was created to provide New Hanover Regional EMS with a wide range of technical rescue and response capabilities. These paramedics serve as subject matter experts (SMEs) in areas including:
- IAPs
- NIMC-ICS
- CBRNE/Hazardous Materials
- Mass casualty events
- Techincal extrication/extraction
- High/Low angle rescue
- Water-related incidents
SMAT (State Medical Assistance Team) is designed to respond locally, regionally or statewide in order to provide medical support for events and disasters.
The New Hanover Regional EMS Water Rescue Program is a seasonal response plan that corresponds with the local tourist season: May – September. The program's primary function is to supplement area lifeguards that protect the beaches and assist in water rescues when more assistance is required. Operating in New Hanover County and its beaches, the program consists of paramedics with specialized training in water rescue. Water Rescue team members staff a specially designed and equipped QRV that provides four-wheel drive access to patients on the beach.
New Hanover Regional EMS provides operational medical support to the New Hanover County Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (ERT). This team's mission is to safely resolve high-risk situations including:
- High risk warrants
- Barricaded subjects
- Hostage situations
- Dignitary protection
Our tactical medics are highly trained to perform advanced level care in adverse environments.
The NHRMC Community Paramedicine program is dedicated to keeping our community healthy and helping patients manage their medical needs at home. NHRMC Community Paramedics complete an additional 300 hours of specialized training and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary providers to fill resource gaps within the local community.