Peek inside an emergency response unit

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is hosting an open morning at East Devon Operations Centre this Saturday, September 14.

The event, which is free of charge and welcome to all ages, offers people a special opportunity to glimpse the behind the scenes of an emergency operation.

East Devon Operations Centre is home to one of the trust’s specialist emergency response units, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), alongside ambulance operations.

Attendees will learn about HART’s role within the ambulance service and discover how they respond to emergencies in some extremely challenging and hazardous environments.

Other emergency services will join SWASFT to share their skills through interactive workshops and live demonstrations.

You can expect on the day:

• Devon & Cornwall Police Specialist Firearms Officer: Learn more with a weapons display and explore the vehicle capabilities of the police firearms team.
• Devon & Somerset Fire Rescue Service: Witness a showcase of their urban search and rescue capabilities, highlighting their essential role in major incidents.
• Retrieve - Adult Critical Care Transfer Service and the Devon Air Ambulance Trust: Discover the life-saving work of these critical care transfer teams.
• SWASFT Command Team: Experience cutting-edge technology with a virtual reality workshop and explore an operational ambulance.

Tom Pepler, HART Manager at SWASFT, said: “We are thrilled to open our doors to the community and share the incredible work of our team and colleagues from other emergency services. This event is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to see the unique skills and capabilities that our teams bring to some of the most challenging situations. We look forward to welcoming everyone on the day!”

The open morning will run between 9:30am and 12:30pm, and the Rapid Response team will provide hot food and drinks throughout.

East Devon Operations Centre’s address is Dakota Way, Skypark, Exeter, EX5 2FL.