Lights, camera, action!
Millions of people around the world are entertained by Film and TV productions, many of which feature stunts, big equipment, long working hours and even remote locations. Keeping the cast and crew safe and healthy on set is essential, and on many productions that is the job of the on-set medic.
What does a film and TV medic do?
What is the role of a film/TV medic?
Productions bring in medical cover suited to the risks involved. That might be a first aider or paramedic on a studio drama, or a doctor with remote and wilderness medicine experience for filming in extreme environments. The type of production, the location and the planned activities decide who is needed. For Film Medics, consult with outdoormedicalsolutions.co.uk/tv-film-medical-services/
Different productions, different risks
Providing medical cover for a studio-based sitcom is very different from supporting a survival series shot in the wilderness. Hospitals may be hours away, so the medic will require broad general medical skills as well as confidence in managing the unexpected. They will also need to have read the risk assessments and the medical evacuation plan for the production and know the location of the nearest hospital and emergency services before arriving on set.
What medics might see on set
A large production can include hundreds of people: carpenters, electricians, riggers, drivers, divers, camera and sound crew members and the catering team. All of these individuals are at risk of injury, from cuts and burns to falls and manual handling injuries, and the medics also treat everyday illnesses as well as existing conditions of the cast and crew.
In addition to ensuring the health of cast and crew in the production environment, public health needs to be considered in case of an outbreak of disease such as gastroenteritis which can spread quickly through a crew and lead to delays to shooting, so hygiene around food and water is important. The medics on location need to take into consideration factors such as heat and cold, high altitude, insects and wildlife, as well as the risk of tropical diseases. They also need to consider contaminated water and the risk of drowning. Mental health and wellbeing also need to be considered in every setting, especially when working on long and demanding shoots away from home.
Challenges of the role
- Working with people you have not met, so knowing about high-risk conditions such as severe allergies in advance is vital.
- Limited equipment and long distances to hospital on location.
- Long, irregular hours alongside the rest of the crew.
- Balancing the needs of the production with patient safety.
You may need to weigh up production goals against the safety of patients and risks. Productions want drama and tension on screen, but the medic’s priority is always the health and safety of the people involved.
Medical cover by production type
| Production | Typical medical needs |
|---|---|
| Studio drama or sitcom | First aid, occupational injuries, everyday illness |
| Stunts and action | Trauma care, rapid access to emergency services |
| Water-based filming | Drowning and hypothermia risks, dive medicine |
| Remote or overseas locations | Wilderness medicine, evacuation planning, tropical disease |
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications does a film medic need?
Roles on set can vary depending on the production. Some productions rely on qualified first aiders and paramedics, others on nurses and even doctors. Often remote work requires additional training in expedition or wilderness medicine, and experience of working independently is valuable.
Is a medic the same as a medical adviser?
This is not quite the same role. On-set medics work to look after the health of cast and crew, whereas a medical adviser is there to assist writers, directors and actors to get it right for scenes with medical content – some people do both roles.
Where to go next
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