On-set paramedic who monitors first aid supplies and treats minor injuries — mandatory on stunt days and larger productions.
Technical Details
Set Medics typically carry a basic kit: defibrillator (AED), oxygen device with a 15-liter cylinder, resuscitation bag, immobilization materials, and a Category N medicine cabinet (emergency medications without narcotics). The complete equipment weighs 25-30 kilograms and is organized in mobile cases. For stunt-intensive productions, spinal immobilization, hydraulic rescue shears, and advanced analgesics are added. Two main categories exist: Basic Life Support Medics (BLS) for standard shoots and Advanced Life Support Medics (ALS) with intubation and medication authorization for high-risk productions.
History & Development
In 1967, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) mandated the presence of Set Medics following several serious accidents. The first documented deployment occurred on George Stevens' "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965). In Germany, the position was established in 1982 with the Berufsgenossenschaft (Employers' Liability Insurance Association) regulation BGV C1, which prescribes medical care for productions with over 50 people or stunt sequences. Since 2019, the Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) requires proof of qualified medical care for funding applications exceeding 2 million Euros.
Practical Application in Film
On "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), three ALS Medics were permanently on duty, treating an average of 12 injuries per shooting day. The typical workflow includes risk assessment before shooting begins, positioning within sight of dangerous scenes, and a 30-second response time for accidents. Set Medics document every incident in injury reports for insurance and employers' liability insurance associations. During action sequences, they wear radios on the same frequency as the 1st AD and are in direct contact with local emergency services.
Comparison & Alternatives
Set Medics differ from Safety Coordinators by their medical rather than preventive focus. Stunt Coordinators sometimes provide initial medical care but rarely have the relevant certification. On low-budget productions, trained first-aiders from the crew replace professional Set Medics, which can, however, lead to insurance issues. Modern alternatives include telemedicine systems with remote diagnosis by emergency physicians, which have been tested in international co-productions since 2020.