Explosive launch for Emergency Strike Team

Paramedics, firefighters and scientific officers responded to a mock explosion scenario this morning as part of the official launch of Queensland’s Emergency Strike Team.

The team was launched today by Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell at the Department of Emergency Services’ headquarters in Brisbane.

The Emergency Strike Team is a specialist unit that consists of: Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) intensive care paramedics; Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) firefighters; and QFRS scientific officers.

The team will advise and lead the emergency service response to major incidents of a suspicious nature, Mr Purcell said.

“The Queensland Government is committed to ensuring that our counter terrorism arrangements and preparations are of the highest quality and consistent with wider national policy,” Mr Purcell said.

“The Beattie Government has committed $13.3 million to the Department of Emergency Services for counter terrorism, with $6 million of this funding allocated for training and providing equipment for the Emergency Strike Team, over five years.

“With terrorism and natural disasters an ever-present threat to our society, it is important that trained staff are ready to respond.

“The creation of a specialist strike team will help ensure Queenslanders are well covered in the event of an emergency.”

Mr Purcell said the team of highly-trained personnel provided expertise across a number of disciplines, including special operations response, mass casualty and major event planning, aeromedical support, technical rescue and HAZMAT (hazardous material) incidents.

“This team has access to some of the most advanced medical and detection equipment and techniques available,” he said.

QFRS Special Operations firefighters will provide advice on chemical, biological, radiological, incendiary and explosive incidents. They will also gather information, plan for operational use, gather samples and provide decontamination.

QAS Special Operations and Mass Casualty Planning Unit paramedics can establish two Emergency Support Units that can support up to 50 patients at each, and a Command Unit equipped with state-of-the-art communication facilities.

QFRS Scientific Unit personnel provide advice to all agencies on managing hazardous materials to enhance the safety of responders and the community.

“Furthermore, this team of experts maintains a capability to provide a rapid response to any incident, and can operate in the field fully self-sustained for a period of 10 days – statewide, nationally or internationally,” Mr Purcell concluded.

High-resolution jpeg images of the Strike Team launch are available, including of firefighters and paramedics dressed in fully-encapsulated protection suits assessing treating a patient and taking air samples. 
 
Media contacts: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571;
Daniel Landon 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976.