Since Saturday, 21 March, the CERN Fire and Rescue Service has been helping Geneva’s cantonal hospital (HUG) by transporting patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to support the HUG ambulance service, which is already very busy. So far, the CERN Fire and Rescue Service has already transported 12 people to hospital and the team is expecting to reach an average of 10 transports by ambulance a day very soon.

The CERN Fire and Rescue Service is part of the HUG emergency service “Urgences santé 144”, as well as part of the Geneva Fire Brigade. So far, only the HUG has requested the help of CERN.

On the French side, the CERN Fire and Rescue Service is referenced in the shifts for the ambulance service and fire engines and to provide firefighters for any other kind of intervention. So far, they have not been called but are available if needed.

The CERN Fire and Rescue Service cooperates with their French and Swiss colleagues per the Tripartite Agreement signed in December 2016, which ensures mutual assistance between the emergency services.