Page 18 - July 2020

THE SALAMANDER | July 2020
advised they should have very limited social interaction during the current pandemic. Food and care packages are also being transported to people’s homes. These include food parcels made for patients discharged from hospital and food bank packages delivered by firefighters. We have also been delivering key messages to vulnerable groups across The City on behalf of The City of London Corporation.
While delivering vital medicine and food, crews are also giving fire safety advice at people’s front doors, always respecting social distancing. Firefighters are getting vital protective equipment to frontline health staff and local
arrangements between London fire crews and the NHS are assisting those in hospitals and care homes. We are not only delivering, but producing essential PPE for the health workers. Crews from across London have also found time to make thousands of face shields to protect health professionals. London is working together with other services in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but, of course, is still maintaining a full fire and rescue emergency service. As the Stop Message from a recent 10 pump fire with Persons Reported shows, the day job still goes on. Looking ahead we want to see The City returning safely to its former vibrancy and industry. To support this objective we have been
helping businesses in developing ways to welcome people back to a safe environment in which to work, respecting social distancing and respecting all our responsibilities to keeping people safe.
SUFFOLK FRS ADAPTING TO WORKING UNDER COVID-19
A six-week training course, offered by the police and Suffolk FRS will be teaching people to drive patient transport service vehicles.
Training has been postponed, stations are being closed to community meeting and some home visits have been cancelled tohelppreventfireofficersfrom becoming ill or from spreading the virus, known as COVID-19, to members of the public.
Despite the changes, Suffolk’s chief fire officer Mark Hardingham has reassured locals, confirming that the service will still respond to 999 calls.
He said: “Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is continually monitoring the coronavirus situation so that we can keep our staff safe and continue to protect our communities.
“We will of course continue to
respond to emergency 999 calls. “We have stopped some work to minimise risks, including cancelling some home visits, some firefighter training and closing stations to community meetings and events.
“We are adapting our operations to continue to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
“We continue to follow the Government guidelines, the operational guidelines set out by the National Fire Chiefs Council and our own business continuity plans.”
More than 130 student paramedics, community first responders, military personnel and other new recruits at the East of England
Ambulance Service (EEAS) are receiving specialist driver training to help them support the front-line services.
Des Pooley, lead for driving training at Suffolk Police, said: “We are looking to train at least 132 people to drive ambulances in the next six weeks and this valuable, practical work is already successfully underway.
Marcus Bailey, chief operating officerwithEEAS,said:“COVID-19 represents an unprecedented challenge and we truly appreciate the fantastic support we have received.”
Suffolk FRS News Release
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David Bulbrook London Fire Brigade