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When high-pressure emergencies occur, such as road traffic accidents, fires, or natural disasters, swift and accurate communication can be the difference between life and death, and drastically increase…

In high-pressure environments, such as emergency departments, critical incidents, or disaster zones, the ability to make rapid and accurate assessments can save lives. This is particularly true when…

At the scene of a critical incident, emergency responders must work quickly and calmly in difficult conditions. With many injured patients and only limited resources, they rely on…

In the critical moments following a major incident - a natural disaster, an extensive fire, or a terrorist attack, for example - poor coordination and misallocation of medical…

Would you lie on a cold, wet surface without insulation? While it might sound like a pointless question with a startlingly obvious answer, in the chaos of an…

When a critical incident occurs in a hospital, such as a fire, bomb threat, or structural failure, the safe and rapid evacuation of the building can be complex…

On a recent trip to Abu Dhabi for IDEX 2025 (International Defence Exhibition And Conference) in January, I found myself discussing hypothermia with two students who were studying…

Xtract™SR Afloat: a versatile solution for extreme environments Whether you need to cross a jungle river in Costa Rica, evacuate a flooded house in Bangladesh, traverse a river…

Case study: Xtract™ SR stretchers in use by the Swedish Armed Forces Our Xtract™ SR Stretchers are used by numerous military, police, first response, medical, and industrial customers around…

The colourfully named ‘hypothermia burrito wrap’ is a method frequently used to treat casualties suffering from hypothermia. The principle behind the method is to wrap someone in layers…

In this episode, Senior Partner Colin Smart engages in a compelling conversation with Richard Villar, delving into his remarkable experiences of saving lives in conflict zones around the…

Over the past few years, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting 25 insightful podcasts, each one a unique exploration into the world of medical practice. A recurring question…

In this episode, Senior Partner Colin Smart had an enlightening conversation with Stephen Thompson, an area response team paramedic in Manchester for the Northwest Ambulance Service. They delved…

While police officers are not medical professionals, they are often the first responders to arrive at an emergency scene and will need to conduct primary triage. Officers must…

Ambulance services frequently find themselves on the frontline of pre-hospital triage during multiple casualty incidents (MCIs). Successful MCI management often hinges on the tools and training available to…

External major incidents involving multiple casualties, while rare, can quickly overwhelm a hospital’s emergency treatment facilities. Not only are casualties taken directly to the hospital by ambulance, but…

A trauma victim who has wet clothes following submersion in water, or exposure to rain or snow in an austere environment is at critical risk of hypothermia. Most…

Ten Second Triage (TST) is a new rapid assessment system developed and published by the NHS in 2023, used by many emergency response services and hospitals in the…

Mylar blankets, often referred to as ‘space blankets’ or reflective foils, have been a standard tool in hypothermia management kits since they were developed by NASA in the…

 Title: Marketing Coordinator  Location: TSG Associates, Albany Works, Long Lover Ln, Halifax HX1 4QF  Position Type: Part-Time  About Us: TSG Associates are a leading provider of innovative, life-saving…

In our latest podcast, Senior Partner Colin Smart and Professor Randy Kearns delved into the unique challenges of providing medical care in complex environments. Their conversation highlighted the…

During a Mass Casualty Incident, such as a natural disaster, terrorist event, or biosecurity incident, the main focus of emergency response teams is the casualties at the site…

RAAC – Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete – hit the headlines in August 2023, sparking concern about the potential collapse of public buildings, including schools, hospitals, and courts. While…

The Victoria Cross is Britain’s most prestigious honour for those who have shown great bravery and valour in the field of battle. Since the award’s inception in 1857,…

Lost patient property is a significant and often overlooked issue in hospitals. It not only consumes valuable time and resources but also impacts patient satisfaction and trust. From…

While hospital evacuation is one of the most complex logistical challenges healthcare managers can face, it is a scenario for which all NHS and private organisations must be…

The decision to evacuate a hospital is based on the assessment of various factors to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients, staff, and visitors. It is always…

Like all public buildings, hospitals may need to be evacuated in an emergency, but there are considerable challenges to overcome to protect patient safety. Many patients depend on…

Contemporary Warm Poem written by Major General Hodgetts - recited and discussed on TSG Talk This poem was borne from the image of the funeral cortege passing through…

Hospital evacuations have the potential to be extremely chaotic, with a real risk of critical possessions being waylaid in the effort to evacuate patients to safety. While all…

Partial hospital evacuations are more common than many of us realise and whilst full hospital evacuations remain relatively rare, we still need to plan for both. Whether partial…

When soldiers are injured in combat situations, their survival depends on them being quickly evacuated from the battlefield to a place of safety where they can receive the…

In one of our recent episodes, Senior Partner Colin Smart welcomed Jorgen Melau, PhD, to explore the critical domain of hypothermia prevention and management. Jorgen highlighted his findings…

During this episode, Colin Smart, our Senior Partner, had a conversation with Dr. Marcus Larsson about his essential role in providing medical aid during the Turkey-Syria earthquakes. They…

‘1% increase in staff efficiency could save the NHS £280 million a year,’ Lord Carter estimated in his report (Operational productivity and performance in English NHS acute hospitals:…

Why is casualty handover so important? “Handover of care is one of the most perilous procedures in medicine, and when carried out improperly can be a major contributory…

What is the true cost of lost patients’ property? Never before has the NHS been under such financial pressures. We are all personally familiar with increased costs, whether that…

Hypothermia can be a complication of traumatic injury, capable of exacerbating a casualty’s condition and reducing survival chances. Understanding its impact is essential if seriously injured casualties are…

The blockbuster film Napoleon shows the horrors of the battlefield in the eighteenth century in graphic detail. Behind the fighting, Napoleon's surgeon, Dominque Jean Larrey, was carrying out…

Compatible with the new MITT triage flowchart. Two new triage flowcharts in the UK will soon become a national standard.  The “Major Incident Triage Tool” (MITT) is the…

US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled US Airways flight from New York City, but on January 15, 2009, the Airbus A320 struck a flock of birds…

Our SmartTriage™ First Response is an innovative multiple-casualty triage solution that integrates a variety of equipment and training options to assist first responders in managing multiple casualty incidents.…

When a high number of people are injured in a single incident, multiple casualty triage is vital because it allows first responders to prioritise patients and provide urgent…

Martyn’s Law, which is due to come into effect imminently, is a key piece of legislation arising from the public inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing in which…

In a recent episode of our podcast, Senior Partner, Colin Smart, engaged in a fascinating conversation with Liam Lehane. His unique insights into the medical planning behind the…

In a recent instalment of our podcast, Senior Partner, Colin Smart, engaged in a discussion with 77-year-old Ted Liddle. Ted, while preparing for a charity cycling event, experienced…

On a hot summer’s day in the UK, I was presenting a lecture on hypothermia to a diverse group of students from first aid instructors to pre-hospital doctors.…

Hypothermia can be caused by exposure to cold weather, water or wind, or when a casualty is suffering from severe blood loss after sustaining trauma. Because hypothermia can…

When a soldier is severely injured on the battlefield, time is of the essence. A swift and effective evacuation will enable a casualty to receive urgent medical care…

When a disaster occurs, it’s likely that there will be a high number of casualties whose injuries will range from superficial to life-threatening. Because of the challenges of…

Hypothermia is generally understood to be a medical condition in which the body loses heat and is usually associated with patients who are exposed to low temperatures in…

It’s almost certain that in a multiple casualty incident (MCI) the needs of the casualties will exceed the initial availability of medical resources. Due to the considerable disparity…

Anyone who has served in the military will tell you that a significant part of their service is spent being cold and often wet! It’s an unfortunate part…

International World Women’s Day, on 8th March 2023, was a bitterly cold and wintry day on Salisbury Plain, with biting winds and a full covering of snow on…

When you are called upon to attend a major incident where you will offer life-saving treatment for severely wounded casualties, it’s imperative that you can act quickly and…

Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when the body loses heat more quickly than it can produce it and prevents the body’s vital organs and nervous system from…

Although patients are not encouraged to take personal possessions with them into hospital, inevitably many do. The loss of patient property is an ongoing issue in many UK…

Accidents in austere or remote locations often pose an elevated risk to casualties. With professional medical assistance and healthcare facilities hours, or even days, away, and hostile terrain…

In a recent instalment of our podcast series, Senior Partner, Colin Smart, spoke with Aebhric O'Kelly, the Executive Dean for the College of Remote and Offshore Medicine Foundation.…

There are many complex environments in which medical care will need to be provided, and one of the most challenging is within a cave system in which countless…

Rapid triage is a mainstay of early Multiple Casualty Incident (MCI) management. For this purpose, triage protocols have been developed, which aim at both standardising patient assessment and…

During a recent episode of TSG Talk, Colin Smart, Senior Partner at TSG Associates, discussed Adam Gent’s aid mission to provide assistance to the Ukrainian people during the…

Delivering optimum care will always be the primary objective to minimise suffering and maximise survival for all patients when they require assistance. This also applies to working remotely…

In a typical Multiple Casualty Incident (MCI), the range of injuries can be extensive, from minor lacerations to severe haemorrhages, affecting many casualties over a wide area. Other…

Delivering care in the civilian tactical environment is a responsibility that can involve anyone in civilian pre-hospital care. Often the first responders have limited experience in this area…

It’s a common misconception that hypothermia is only a risk factor when a casualty is exposed to cold and/or wet weather for a long period of time. While…

When a Multiple Casualty Incident (MCI) occurs, such as a major road traffic accident, fire, or terrorist attack, prioritising patients is critical for those that are most in…

Multiple Casualty Incidents (MCIs) are incredibly challenging for medical staff and first responders. The unique combination of circumstances increases the pressures and challenges faced by those involved. For…

An MCI refers to an incident where emergency medical services are on-hand to respond to an event with multiple casualties, depending on the figures it can lead to…

In a Multiple Casualty Incident (MCI) it is highly likely that there will be more casualties than initial resources on scene. A triage system enables first responders and…

In a recent episode of our podcast TSGTalk, Senior Partner, Colin Smart, spoke with 13-year-old Henry and his father, Jules, about a life-saving incident that occurred when Henry…

Our initial transport of an ill or injured person can often be critical to their outcome. Managed badly we can exasperate existing conditions and undo treatments we have…

The UK’s emergency services play a critical part in protecting the public and keeping people safe but, like all organisations and businesses, there are always lessons to be…

Care of patient belongings and valuables is a legal responsibility for NHS Trusts, under the Health and Social Care Act (2008) who must take active steps to protect patients’…

Recently, TSG put their hypothermia management products to the test under scientific conditions to assess how effectively they protect casualties from the dangers of the cold in austere…

Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below 35.0 °C (95.0 °F) in humans. Symptoms depend on what stage of hypothermia is present.  The stages of hypothermia…

Why is Hypothermia in trauma patients dangerous? Hypothermia is widely recognised, alongside acidosis and coagulopathy, as a component of ‘the lethal triad’ that results in poor outcomes for…

In a recent episode of our podcast TSG Talk, Senior Partner Colin Smart engaged in a conversation with Dave Whitmore, formerly of the London Ambulance Service, a renowned…

Preserving life and minimising suffering is the priority in any trauma situation, but complications can make this task even more challenging, especially in dangerous or hostile environments. Despite…

Recently we looked on in horror as the footballer, Christian Erikson, collapsed on the football pitch during the European Football Finals. His survival was in large part due…

What steps can be taken to ensure that patient property is handled with dignity and professionalism, whilst not distracting time and attention away from urgent medical care?

To prepare for the worst-case scenario, hospitals need an evacuation plan that ensures patients and casualties can be moved quickly and efficiently, with the infrastructure and equipment in…

“Rapid casualty extraction often becomes the key link in the chain of survival.” -Dr John Hall MB CHB, DRCOG, DFSRH, DIMC RCS ED. HON. Senior Clinical Lecturer in…

I am privileged to be invited to various drills relating to multiple casualty care. It’s always an interesting experience as I can be an outside pair of eyes…

Whether a patient in hospital, ourselves or a next-of-kin, it is what we value or hold dear to us (often reminding us of our loved ones, e.g. a…

When James, our Key Account Manager, was returning home from work last week his daughter asked what he did at work today?  The answer was something like this….

2020 was a tough year for many people.  At TSG we wanted to look at how we could assist our local community, especially for those who had hit on…

Recently we had the pleasure of being interviewed by Dr Sam Slishman MD.

A ground breaking paper on how we approach hypothermia is now available: 

The HALO Trust helps countries recover after conflict. Clearing landmines, to save lives, is at the heart of what they do.

Hospital evacuation is something that many of us are totally unaware of. Usually because they are partial and it is reported locally rather than nationally.

The days are getting colder and the nights are getting longer. Mornings are chilled and the frost is biting; winter is coming and it can’t be ignored. The…

TSG Associates are delighted to announce that London Ambulance Service has standardised the use of SmartSafe™.

Communications are the most frequently identified failings during the response to multiple casualties. The following is a real story of when communications failed. It highlights a simple misinterpretation…

Much to everyone's relief (well his mum and pregnant wife anyway) Colin has successfully completed his crossing and safely returned from his polar expedition.

Branded Kingfisher Medical, our sister company's primary purpose is to distribute our full range of products across North America, providing our US Customers with unparalleled product knowledge and customer…

During the most recent large scale incidents, we have seen very serious war-like injuries being sustained by the casualties involved. These injuries, if they are to have a…

The SMART Tag™ is now used by EMS, covering over a quarter of the population of the United States (as calculated from the US Census Bureau).

Recently branded as a Northern Powerhouse, TSG Associates have been praised by the MOD on the success of Xtract®2.

You're on scene at an MCI involving a passenger train. People were thrown around violently after impact - their bodies flying one way, their belongings another. Briefcases, wallets,…

TSG Associates Ltd have been accredited with ISO 9000:2001

Effective August 1st 2007 The SMART Triage Tag Will be the Standard used by all Connecticut EMS Care Providers, as the front end MCI command system.

I am writing this letter so you may forward this information on to your contacts with the SMART triage system.

The recent London bombings on July 7th saw the use of the SmartTriage™ Tag and SMART Incident Command System, by London Ambulance Service and the receiving hospitals.

Following the bombings of the 7th July, London Ambulance Service examines the process involved in triageing patients at major and large scale incidents and finds out how it…

Mike Smith, BS, MICP looks for the latest and greatest tools of the trade at EMS Expo 2005 and declares that the SMART Evidence and Baggage System (SEBS),…

When emergencies arise that require patients to be evacuated from the hospital. A proven evacuation system can be critical for maximising safety, reducing disruption to patient care, and…

Administering effective triage is a vital component of a successful response during multiple casualty events, but it can be an incredibly difficult role to perform, especially with the…