NO-FEAR Workshop on Scene Security & Personal Protective Equipment

24 Jun NO-FEAR Workshop on Scene Security & Personal Protective Equipment

Posted at 14:34h in Events by

The EU Funded NO-FEAR project works towards bringing together two networks: 1) a practitioners, decision and policy makers network, and 2) a supplier and academia network –  so as to enhance the response to security-related incidents. Furthermore, NO-FEAR works to facilitate collaboration between the network members, hosting networking events every six months. 

In April 2019, over 55 stakeholders from across Europe and beyond (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, and the UK) were brought together for the NO-FEAR workshop on scene security and Ballistic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The workshop was held 26th-27thApril 2019 alongside the EMS2019 conference in Madrid and included representatives from first responder organisations (ambulance, police, fire), medical services, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), government agencies, research and academia, and industry.  

The workshop kicked off on 26thApril with a welcome from the NO-FEAR partners hosting the event – SAMUR Proteccion Civil and Magen David Adom (MDA). Held as part of the NO-FEAR project’s Work Package 4 focusing on acute care operations in security incidents, the first day focused on scene security and the second on Ballistic PPE. During the sessions dedicated to scene security, participants had the opportunity to watch presentations from practitioners working in the field on their responses to terrorist attacks. Thought provoking presentations were given by representatives from: 

  • London Ambulance Service: presenting on the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP) and the response to terrorist attacks in London 
  • Berlin Fire and Police Departments: presenting on the 2016 Christmas market terror attack in Berlin
  • Servei d ’ Emergències Mèdiques de Catalunya: presenting on the 2017 Las Ramblas terror attacks in Barcelona 
  • MDA: presenting on scene security – the Israeli concept

The sessions focusing on Ballistic PPE on 27thApril started with a presentation from NO-FEAR partner Health Service Executive, Ireland. The informative presentation provided participants with information on different types of PPE and the considerations in making decisions on purchasing PPE. Important questions were raised by participants including on the impact of gender. In a session hosted by SAMUR Proteccion Civil, the workshop participants had the opportunity to both see and wear different types of PPE that are used to respond to different types of event.  

The two-day workshop was brought to an end by participating in the EMS2019 closing keynote speeches which provided attendees with insights into the response to the 2019 New Zealand terrorist attacks, 2016 Berlin terror attack and 2015 Paris terror attacks. Attendees not only heard the experiences of practitioners involved in the response to these attacks but also got to experience the response to an attack first-hand in the form of a surprise exercise. The NO-FEAR workshop participants were actively involved in this exercise by treating the “casualties”. 

The value of holding the workshop was highlighted by the two event hosts SAMUR-Protección Civil and MDA:

 “After having had the honour of hosting the WP4 meeting in Madrid, SAMUR-Protección Civil, especially the organizers of the event, would like to thank the participants of NO-FEAR project for their assistance and valuable contributions. We are satisfied with the cooperation between practitioners, academia and industry in order to achieve the objectives of the WP4 Workshop and with the obtained conclusions that for sure, will serve to contribute to the proper progress of the project”. 

“MDA as the leader of WP4 in NO FEAR would like to greatly thank SAMUR P.C for organizing this workshop, with the frame of EMS EUROPE 2019 congress. We would like to thank our guests and consortium members for their active participation and substantial contributions to the work of NO-FEAR. We are certain that the outcomes of this workshop will lead to better capacity building of our response procedures to security related incidents”.  

To access the results of the NO-FEAR workshop on scene security and PPE, please join one of our networks by e-mailing info@no-fearproject.eu. Members of the NO-FEAR networks, will have the opportunity to: 

  • Network with other practitioners, decision and policy makers, suppliers and researchers through participation in the NO-FEAR workshops, trials, and demonstrations. The next NO-FEAR event will take place in Rome, 21-22 November 2019.
  • Access the NO-FEAR platform featuring a dynamic catalogue of highly relevant products, services, prototypes, projects and innovations, and an interactive discussion portal, and
  • Receive updates on the NO-FEAR activities through our project newsletter. 

For more information, please subscribe to our mailing list here.

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