frequently asked questions

feel free to email or ring with any questions you have that aren't covered here - we're happy to help

do you do just basic "first aid" cover

No, we don't offer basic First Aid level care currently. Our personnel are qualified professionals and so our level of care starts at EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) level - otherwise known as a BLS (Basic Life Support) Ambulance Officer. Our focus is on being able to provide the necessary emergency pre-hospital medical care with the appropriate skills, medication and equipment immediately while awaiting transport to hospital.
See our "What's the Difference" section on the Homepage for details.

do you cover events outside the Hawke's Bay

For now we are focusing on servicing the Hawke's Bay area. If you're not far away from there and your event needs medical cover then get in touch - if we're available, we can work something out

how do i know if i need a paramedic, emt or first aiders

More often than not a sporting body will have determined what level of care is required at a particular sporting event as part of their Health and Safety assessments. Usually this will specify a "minimum" requirement.
If you're struggling to find out, please get in touch.
You can find out the differences between levels of care in our "what's the Difference" section on the homepage :
http://www.medicsonscene.org.nz/#tab4

how much notice do you need to attend an event

As much as possible to secure your booking!
Because our personnel work front-line ambulance to maintain their skills and rights of practice, we need time to ensure they are available.
We can't guarantee that we can cover everyone's request though, but if you've booked us, we will be there - we won't bail out on you.

do you leave the event to take a patient to hospital

No - you're paying us to provide medical cover at your event, not to leave it. Only front-line crews from St Johns and Wellington Free Ambulance can do emergency transport to hospitals (not event crews), so this publicly funded service is utilised to transport patients to hospital if a patient needs transportation.
We have the same level of equipment that a front-line ambulance has. The difference is that the patient is being treated immediately instead of waiting for that front-line ambulance to arrive.

How do I know I'm getting what I paid for

We will always check in with the Event Organisers prior to the event starting. We have H&S items to cover before starting like everyone else! You will meet the personnel and you can check their Identification which shows their credentials.
They will remain on site at all times - any Personnel changes during the day will be notified to the Event Organiser.
We won't send under-qualified personnel or volunteers to your event as medical cover - you will get the level of care you required or HIGHER, guaranteed.

Will you send volunteers

Some people have voiced concerns about other providers sending volunteers or under-qualified staff to cover an event and not providing the level of care that has been quoted.
That's a bit shocking, but you are assured that Medics On Scene will always provide the level of care quoted - or higher. The personnel providing medical care at your event are paid professionals, we won't send "vollys" instead.
We do however encourage volunteers to come out with us (for example, those who have been through one of our training courses) but in that situation they are getting work experience and will only ever assist the personnel you are paying for. They are there IN ADDITION to the medical team you have paid for.

Can I volunteer with Medics On Scene

Of course! We are Trainers in First Aid and firmly believe that everyone should have the skills to assist others in times of emergency.
We are happy to provide this training to Volunteers and offer our helpers work experience at the Sports Events we cover.
Contact the Operations Manager by emailing us for more details.

How much does it cost to have Medics On Scene at an event

The cost depends on a number of things like what level of care you need, how many medical staff are required, how long they need to be on site, do they need to be mobile, etc ... even the type of terrain or how remote a location is will determine what resources may be required.
Please contact us for a free quote, giving as much detail as you can. We won't bite! You can use the Booking Form by navigating the top menu.

Do you have a Facebook Page

Yes we do! Click on one of the Facebook icons

what are your payment terms

Please see our Terms and Conditions link right at the bottom of the page

what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow

What do you mean? An African swallow, or European?