Find out more about fire, rescue and paramedic cover for the UK film and television industry.
Film and TV production has become faster, more complex and risk intensive than ever. From large scale stunts and pyrotechnics to confined studio sets and remote on location shoots, each environment carries unique health and safety demands.
Under UK law, producers and production companies are responsible for ensuring safe systems of work on set, including competent medical, fire and rescue arrangements. Rescue2 provides comprehensive, professional support across every stage of filming, including on set paramedic and medical cover, fire and rescue teams, in vision emergency services, rope and confined space rescue, and risk assessment expertise.
Our people bring frontline emergency service experience, national coverage, and 24/7 availability, ensuring your production runs safely, smoothly and on schedule.
Why Specialist Safety Cover Matters on Set
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirms that the same health and safety legislation that governs factories and construction sites also applies to the film, television, and broadcasting industries. Producers and production companies hold the legal duty of care to protect everyone working on or affected by their productions.
That means risk assessments, safe systems of work, and competent people in charge of high risk activities are not optional; they are enforceable requirements.
Today’s productions face a wide range of hazards, including stunt coordination, pyrotechnics, wire work, heavy lighting rigs, remote shoots in extreme environments, and temporary sets built at heights or below ground level. Without experienced safety and medical support, even a minor issue can escalate fast, putting lives, equipment and reputations at risk.
Medical and Paramedic Support for Productions
When medical emergencies happen on set, speed and competence save lives.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) may regulate certain types of medical provision depending on the level of care delivered. Production companies are expected to ensure that anyone providing medical or paramedic services is appropriately qualified, insured and clinically competent.
At Rescue2, our medical and paramedic teams are comprised of individuals with backgrounds in frontline emergency services and the military. Each team member holds advanced clinical qualifications and is currently registered as a professional. We provide:
- On set and location paramedic cover, including full frontline specification ambulances
- Rapid response medical units for stunt or remote sequences
- Hydration, heat stress and welfare management for crew during high intensity shoots
- In vision ambulance and paramedic services for film continuity and realism
Our teams integrate seamlessly with production schedules and unit bases, ensuring discreet, professional support throughout filming.
Fire and Rescue Expertise for High Risk Scenes
Special effects, explosions, artificial smoke and pyrotechnics create unforgettable visual moments, but they also create significant fire and rescue hazards.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to temporary film sets, studios, and outdoor locations. A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment must be completed for every site, covering special effects, flammable materials, lighting, and electrical load.
Rescue2’s on set fire and rescue crews deliver:
- Dedicated fire and rescue cover for live filming and rehearsals
- Rapid response fire appliances and suppression systems
- Fire safety management for pyrotechnics, stunts and smoke effects
- On set standby teams during build, filming and strike phases
- In vision fire service personnel and vehicles for realism and continuity
Every team member is emergency service trained, experienced in film environments, and equipped with the latest PPE, breathing apparatus, and communication systems.
Rope, Confined Space and Technical Rescue
Modern film production often involves challenging environments: ships’ holds, tunnels, silos, rooftops, cliff edges and purpose built sets designed to replicate extreme conditions. These are confined spaces, as defined by HSE, meaning rescue planning is legally required.
Rescue2 provides comprehensive technical rescue capability, including:
- Confined space entry and rescue teams
- Rope access and high angle rescue for elevated camera and stunt rigs
- Hazardous atmosphere monitoring
- Rescue planning, standby and emergency extraction
Our technicians work closely alongside stunt coordinators, production managers, and safety advisors to design realistic, compliant, and efficient systems of work.
Risk Assessment and Compliance Support
A robust risk assessment is the foundation of safe filming. The HSE’s entertainment industry guidance requires risk assessments to be:
- Specific to the activity and location
- Reviewed whenever conditions change
- Recorded and communicated to all affected people
Rescue2 provides detailed, production specific risk assessments and method statements that meet HSE standards. Our consultancy team can support:
- Pre production risk analysis and planning
- Location safety reconnaissance
- Liaison with local fire, ambulance and emergency authorities
- On set safety coordination and monitoring
By embedding professional rescue planning early in production, you minimise risk, simplify compliance and avoid costly downtime.
In Vision Services: Realism Backed by Real Expertise
When realism matters, using authentic emergency professionals makes the difference. Rescue2 provides in vision ambulance and fire crews with genuine equipment, vehicles, and uniforms, ensuring your production meets both creative and compliance needs simultaneously.
Our teams have appeared in major television dramas, feature films and documentaries, bringing authenticity while maintaining absolute control of safety and compliance behind the scenes.
Experience That Keeps Your Production Moving
With decades of combined operational experience, our team understands how film sets operate. We know the pace, pressure, and unpredictability that come with live filming.
- Average experience: over 20 years across fire, rescue and medical services
- Availability: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Coverage: UK wide, from studios to remote locations
- Integration: flexible deployment that fits seamlessly with production schedules
We plan around your unit’s needs, ensuring continuous coverage and a rapid response without disrupting the filming flow.
Why Productions Choose Rescue2
- Proven track record supporting major television and feature film productions
- Fully qualified paramedics, rescue technicians and fire officers
- Comprehensive insurance and medical governance
- Fleet of front line specification vehicles and appliances
- In vision emergency service options for production realism
- One trusted partner for fire, rescue, medical, rope and confined space safety
We are the only UK provider offering such a broad, integrated safety solution, combining technical rescue, paramedic care and fire response in one coordinated service.
A Safer Set Starts With Planning
Every production is different, but the principle is the same: the safer the set, the smoother the shoot. Engaging professional cover early in the process ensures compliance with HSE and CQC expectations, protects your people, and keeps your schedule on track.
When you bring Rescue2 on board, you gain a team that understands both film operations and emergency response, a partnership that allows creativity to flourish safely.
Contact Rescue2 today
For tailored advice and competitive quotations for film and TV fire, rescue or medical cover, speak to our specialist team:
📞 01903 871 105
✉️ info@rescue2.co.uk
📍 Rescue2 Ltd, The Old Stables, Decoy Lane, Arundel Road, Poling, West Sussex BN18 9QA
Start safe. Film safe. Go home safe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire, Rescue and Paramedic Cover for the UK Film and Television Industry
Do film and TV productions legally need fire or medical cover on set?
Yes. Under UK health and safety law, the producer or production company is legally responsible for ensuring that everyone working on set is protected. This includes arranging suitable medical, fire, and rescue cover for higher risk activities, such as stunts, pyrotechnics, or confined space scenes.
What type of medical support is usually required for filming?
Most productions require at least one qualified medic or paramedic on site. For high-risk shoots, it is recommended to have full paramedic teams with frontline ambulances on site. This ensures immediate response to injuries or illness and compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) expectations for clinical care standards.
Why should I use a specialist provider instead of regular first aiders?
Film sets can involve complex, high pressure environments. A standard first aider is not equipped for stunt injuries, confined space incidents, or chemical smoke inhalation. Rescue2 teams are composed of front line emergency service professionals with decades of experience in paramedic, fire, and rescue operations, providing competence that meets professional and legal standards.
What risks make rescue and fire cover essential during production?
Filming often involves pyrotechnics, smoke, confined sets, temporary electrics, stunt work, and elevated camera rigs. Each introduces potential hazards such as burns, oxygen depletion, or falls from height. Rescue2 provides fire suppression, breathing apparatus, rope access, and medical response for exactly these conditions.
Can Rescue2 provide in vision fire and ambulance services?
Yes. We offer fully equipped in vision emergency crews, fire appliances and ambulances for on camera use. Our personnel are real emergency service professionals, ensuring your scenes look authentic while maintaining complete safety and compliance off camera.
How does Rescue2 support confined or high risk filming environments?
Many productions use tunnels, vessels, or elevated structures that meet the HSE’s definition of confined spaces. Rescue2 provides comprehensive confined space and rope rescue teams, along with gas monitoring, ventilation, and standby extraction plans, to ensure everyone remains safe and compliant.
How do you integrate with film production schedules?
We understand the demands of live filming. Our teams work 24/7 across the UK, adjusting their shift patterns to accommodate your call sheet. Whether you’re shooting in studios, quarries or remote landscapes, we deliver continuous cover without slowing production.
Are Rescue2’s teams qualified and insured?
Yes. Every operative holds nationally recognised qualifications and is fully insured for medical, fire and rescue work. Our medical teams include registered paramedics, EMTs, and technicians; our rescue teams are City & Guilds confined space qualified and trained to emergency service standards.
What’s included in a Rescue2 on set safety package?
9. A typical package can include:
Paramedic and first aid cover
Fire and rescue appliances
Rope and confined space rescue
Risk assessments and safety consultancy
In vision emergency service options
Each plan is customised to your production’s scale, location and risk profile.
How can I arrange cover for my next production?
Simply contact our coordination team on 01903 871 105 or email info@rescue2.co.uk. We’ll assess your schedule, risks, and compliance requirements, then design a tailored fire, rescue, and medical cover plan that keeps your production safe, legal, and running on time.
