Page 110 - Archived Back Issues

FIRE BRIGADES
Just a short introduction to welcome all our readers to this new section, about our colleagues, friends and members within the local fire and rescue services across the UK, and others in Toronto, Canada, and Belgium. In this issue we have just taken a quick look at some of the work that is undertaken in support of others. I hope you will enjoy reading this and watch out for future issues, which will cover a range of aspects including the work of USAR the rescue service, fire brigades in 21st century and hopefully a ‘Meet the Chief Officer’.
Devon and Somerset
Firefighter Nick Williams from Appledore fire station in Devon plans to run the London Marathon again this year despite promising ‘never again’ after last year’s run. Nick explains: “Last year I ran my first marathon for the Fire Fighters Charity, the experience was amazing and painful in equal measures, although the pain probably more so! I had two objectives to raise a certain amount for the charity, and to beat the time my brother did many years ago.
“Well I exceeded the fundraising and collected just under £2,000, as for the sibling rivalry, my brother’s still gloating. At about 18 miles severe cramp set in and I could do nothing but get round any way I could, my four hour target turned into five hours and 42 mins. If that wasn’t bad enough Pingu the penguin overtook me on the finish line!
“Now having sworn I would never do it again the recurring nightmare of Pingu’s fury flipper pushing me aside has become impossible to live with, so I plan to give it another try. “This year’s training has gone really well, I am up to 18 miles now, with two more increases to 22 miles to achieve before the big day on the 22 April.”
If you would like to support Nick in his dream to beat Pingu the penguin this year and raise funds for the Fire Fighters Charity, then please visit justgiving.com/nickbwilliams.
South Yorkshire
A South Yorkshire firefighter is heading to Ghana to help train the country’s fire crews in road traffic collision (RTC) rescue.
Steve North, based at Dearne fire station, is part of a World Rescue Organisation (WRO) team spending two weeks working with firefighters in the West African country’s capital, Accra.
Steve, one of the UK’s leading specialists in RTC rescue, is an assessor for the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) and visited Ghana in 2008 to teach rescue techniques to firefighters.
The 50 year-old, who was also part of a South Yorkshire team named World Extrication Champions in 2004, said his previous visit to Ghana proved invaluable to crews there: “I regularly get emails from the firefighters in Ghana telling me how they’ve saved the life of a car crash victim so it’s extremely rewarding to know that the skills we have taught them are making a difference.
THE FIRE FIGHTERS CHARITY
The Fire Fighters Charity offers support to all Fire Service personnel and their families during times of need, by providing services such as therapy and recuperation facilities.
Despite the best training, accidents and tragedies are sadly inevitable and the Fire Fighters Charity is here to support these brave men and women when things don’t go according to plan. A firefighter can suffer from physical, psychological or emotional trauma.
The Fire Fighters Charities have two therapy and recuperation centres in the UK to provide physical and emotional rehabilitation to the firefighters. Today over 13,000 beneficiaries are supported annually by the Charity, which puts it in the top 10 most effective charities in the UK - www.firefighterscharity.org.uk.
NEWS & VIEWS
Met with Shaun Bone - Knell of Kent FR&S - more next issue
Proposed meetings with Devon, Essex and Wales
“It was a real eye-opener when I first visited in 2008. I discovered that quite often their method of freeing someone trapped inside a vehicle was to chop off their limbs with a hatchet. Obviously things have improved since then thanks to our training programmes and some kit and equipment donations, so this trip will help them build on these improvements.”
The training trip is part of the International Development Programme (IDP) and will see Steve and the WRO team teaching extrication techniques to training staff. The team fly out to Accra on 9th March.
Identical Twin sweeps from Sheffield backed South Yorkshire F&RS 'safe and warm' drive - by encouraging homeowners to get their chimneys swept more regularly.
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