The health and medical rescue service carries out the following missions:
1° Monitoring the physical condition of firefighters;
2° Carrying out professional and fitness medicine for professional firefighters and fitness medicine for volunteer firefighters;
3° Advising on preventive medicine, health and safety, in particular to the health and safety committee ;
4° Health support for fire and rescue service operations and emergency care for firefighters;
5° Participation in the training of firefighters in first aid;
6° Monitoring the condition of the service’s medical and first aid equipment.
In addition, the health and medical rescue service participates:
1° In emergency rescue missions;
2° In operations carried out by the fire and rescue service involving animals or concerning the food chains;
3° In forecasting, prevention missions and interventions by the fire and rescue service in the areas of natural hazards, particularly when the presence of certain materials may present risks to people, property or the environment.
The health and medical rescue service comprises doctors, pharmacists, nurses and veterinary surgeons who have the status of volunteer fire fighters.
Under the authority of the director of the Mayotte fire and rescue service, a chief medical officer runs the health and medical rescue service and advises the responsible authorities. The chief medical officer may be assisted by a deputy chief medical officer. The service may also include a chief pharmacist and, where appropriate, a chief veterinary surgeon.
Medical health and rescue service personnel are placed under the authority of the chief medical officer and report to their centre manager or to the head of one of the services mentioned in article R. 3551-6-1 for the missions carried out by this centre or service.
A commission of aptitude for the duties of volunteer firefighters is created within the health and medical rescue service, the members of which are doctors appointed by order of the prefect. This commission, chaired by the chief medical officer, may be asked to give its opinion on any question relating to the physical fitness of volunteer firefighters. The commission may call on experts. The firefighter whose situation is being examined may be heard by the commission, accompanied by any person of his choice.