Before the first shoot day
A medic usually joins a day or two before the first day of photography, sometimes only for the days with risk on the schedule. Prep starts with the schedule and the script breakdown. The medic is looking for anything that raises the odds of an injury: stunts in Scene 57, a car chase, a night exterior in the desert in July, a pool scene, a day with 200 background actors in a stadium.
For each location the medic confirms:
- The nearest emergency room, its address, and the drive time from set
- The nearest urgent care or occupational clinic the production's workers' comp carrier uses
- Cell coverage, and where an ambulance can actually reach set
- Local hazards (heat, water, cliffs, wildlife, air quality)
The medic's kit goes onto a cart or into a trauma bag: wound care, burn gel, eye wash, splints, an AED where the production provides one, oxygen where the medic is licensed to use it, sunscreen, and a lot of electrolyte packets.
The morning safety meeting
At crew call on a day with anything risky, the 1st AD runs a safety meeting before the first shot. The medic stands next to the 1st AD and the stunt coordinator, says where they will be positioned, names the nearest hospital, and repeats any heat or hydration warnings. Industry safety guidance for specific hazards comes from the safety bulletins that Contract Services publishes, and the medic should have read any bulletin that applies to the day's work.
A day on set
A realistic day for the medic on an exterior shoot with a 6:00 a.m. call:
| Time | What's happening |
|---|---|
| 5:30a | Arrive, set up first aid station near set, check kit and cooler |
| 5:50a | Safety meeting with 1st AD and stunt coordinator |
| 7:00a to 12:00p | Walk set between setups, watch rigging, hand out water |
| 9:40a | Electric department sprain from a cable trip. Ice, wrap, assess, log it |
| 12:00p | Lunch. Medic eats near set or on call |
| 2:30p | Stunt rehearsal. Medic positioned with a clear path to performer |
| 4:00p | Heat check on background in holding |
| 7:15p | Wrap. Restock kit, finish the injury log, report to UPM |
The job is mostly watching. A good medic notices the grip who hasn't drunk water since call, or the background actor sitting in full sun in a wool coat, before either becomes an incident.
When something happens
Minor injuries get treated and logged. Anything more serious gets a decision: can this person go back to work, do they need a clinic, or is it a 911 call? Serious injuries also start paperwork. In California the Division of Workers' Compensation says the employer must give or mail the injured worker a claim form within one working day after learning about the injury or illness. On most productions the medic tells the UPM or production coordinator right away, and the production office handles the claim form with the payroll company or carrier. Other states have their own deadlines and forms.
The medic's injury log feeds the daily production report, which records accidents and injuries for the day. Keep the log entry factual: time, name, department, what happened, what was done, and whether the person returned to work. See workers' compensation for how the claim moves after that.
Who the medic works with
The UPM and 1st AD are the main contacts. The stunt coordinator and special effects supervisor plan their gags with the medic in mind. Craft services and the medic share responsibility for water on hot days. On shows with minors, the studio teacher is responsible for the health and safety of minors under 16, so the medic and teacher should agree on heat and rest breaks for kids.
How medics get hired
Most set medics come from outside film: EMTs, paramedics, nurses, and firefighters who pick up production work. On union productions in Los Angeles, first aid is represented by IATSE Local 80, which Contract Services lists as covering grips, craft service, and first aid for its Industry Experience Roster. Local 80 asks prospective medic members to send copies of their certifications (front and back of the cards) for its permit orientation. Outside Los Angeles, the rules depend on the local and the state, so check the union covering your area.
Paperwork and tools
Injury log, incident reports, the call sheet's hospital section, kit inventory, time cards, and copies of certifications. Storiara's call sheets show the day's weather forecast for the location and a hospital field the ADs fill in, so the medic can check the route and heat warnings against what went out. See the call sheet feature.