June 2014
www.emergencyservicestimes.com
Volume 15 | 3
ESTCONTENTS | 1
IN EVERY ISSUE
38
Comment
3
News
4
Events
16
People
17
Company Profile
31
Products
58
Last Words
64
IN THIS ISSUE VEHICLES 31
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The Home Office and National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) outline details of the Police Fleet Frameworks that are open to all government departments including all emergency services; one year on, how well is the amalgamation of Scotland’s police fleet departments working in practice; details of the Government’s Go Ultra Low campaign, which aims to give clear information on the benefits
3
and practicalities of electric and other ultra low emission vehicles; Midlands Air Ambulance unveils its new helicopter; Yamaha showcases the Professional Edition of its FJR 1300A motorbike; plus how Yorkshire Ambulance
34
Service has reduced its carbon footprint by introducing a lightweight, aerodynamic ambulance to the fleet
4 RESCUE
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Animal rescue from flooding – the RSCPA dealt with almost 7500 calls to rescue animals affected by the flooding in the first quarter of 2014 following the extreme weather; plus the work of the voluntary search and rescue team and NGO Watersafe UK and how it put a rescue
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24
pole to the test at a recent water related event
ESS2014
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Registration is open for The Emergency Services Show 2014, which returns to the NEC from 24-25 September. Visit www.emergencyuk.com and click on ‘Register Now’ to sign up for free admission
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2 | ESTA-Z
Companies Company Name
Page No
2CRisk .......................................................................60 Ainscough Training Services ..................................31 Airbus Defence and Space.......................................61 Aireshelta ..................................................................44 Airport Fire Officers Association...........................64 Airwave Solutions ......................................................4 AJC Trailers...............................................................61 Aligned Assets ..........................................................10 AMDAC Carmichael................................................64 Argus Thermal Imaging............................................6 Argyll Telecom..........................................................59 Armadillo Merino ....................................................10 Association of Air Ambulances ................................4 Association of Lowland Search and Rescue....18, 64 Audi ...........................................................................28 Autosales Group .......................................................34 Avon and Somerset Police.......................................18 Babcock International Group ...................................6 Bay Search and Rescue ............................................64 Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service ...................10 Bedfordshire Police............................................18, 28 BHX Fire & Rescue Ltd..........................................11 BMW ...................................................................28, 34 Bond Air Services.....................................................41 Brake....................................................................11, 16 Bristol Uniforms ......................................................11 British Cave Rescue Council...................................64 British Red Cross .....................................................31 BSG Command Systems..........................................60 BSi..............................................................................43 Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service...........10 Burntwood and District Community First Responders.............................34 Cambridgeshire Constabulary ..........................11, 18 Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service......10, 11, 43 Cartwright.................................................................40 CFOA National Resilience......................................64 Chief Fire Officers' Association..............................13 Civil Nuclear Constabulary...............................17, 28 Collins Drysuits........................................................61 Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service..........................11 Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) .....................................32 County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.........................................8 Crown Commercial Service.....................................24 Cumbria Constabulary.............................................17 Defra ..........................................................................52
Company Name
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Company Name
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Company Name
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Dell ............................................................................62 Department for Communities and Local Government....................................4, 13 Department of Health..............................................32 Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service ........................5 Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service......17 Dr채ger..........................................................................4 East Anglian Air Ambulance..................................11 East Midlands Ambulance Service...........................4 East of England Ambulance Service ......................18 East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service......................13 EM Highways ...........................................................21 Emergency One ........................................................64 Emergency Planning Society..................................64 The Emergency Services Show 2014................56, 64 Energy Saving Trust.................................................33 Essex Police...............................................................18 Excelerate Technology .............................................64 Fiat.............................................................................31 Fire Procurement Network.....................................64 Ford ...........................................................................28 Getac..........................................................................61 GGP Systems ............................................................62 Go Ultra Low............................................................32 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service .......57 Greater Manchester Police ......................................59 Gwent Police.............................................................18 HAAGEN..................................................................59 Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service ......................17 Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service .....11 Hertfordshire Constabulary..............................18, 28 Highways Agency.........................................10, 21, 64 HM Coastguard ........................................................54 Home Office....................................................5, 23, 38 Humberside Fire and Rescue Service ......................6 ISG Infrasys ........................................................10, 11 Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service ...................56 Isuzu ..........................................................................64 Jaguar Land Rover.............................................31, 64 John Dennis Coachbuilders....................................64 Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme ...............................14 Lancashire Constabulary.........................................17 Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service ......................31 Le Maitre...................................................................58 Leeds University ......................................................40 Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue...................................4 London Ambulance Service......................................5
London Fire Brigade .......................................6, 8, 34 Lyon Equipment Ltd...............................................57 Manchester University ............................................41 Maritime and Coastguard Agency..........................64 Mercedes-Benz .......................................28, 31, 40, 64 Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service ......................56 Merseyside Police.....................................................18 Metropolitan Police Service..................................4, 8 MG.............................................................................48 Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.......................................4, 8, 18 Midlands Air Ambulance........................................41 MIS Fuel Monitoring (Merridale) .........................48 Mitsubishi.................................................................28 Mountain Rescue England and Wales ...................64 National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) ............................23, 28 National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies ........................................14 Nissan........................................................................33 Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service............................11 North Fire plc.............................................................6 North Wales Fire and Rescue Service....................11 North Wales Police...................................................17 Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service............10 Nottingham Trent University...................................5 Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service............17 Nottinghamshire Police.............................................5 Office of Low Emission Vehicles............................32 Ogura .........................................................................11 OnStar .......................................................................47 Operation Florian ....................................................16 Oxford City Council.................................................33 Pacific Helmets.........................................................11 PageOne Communications........................................6 Paratech.....................................................................11 Peli Products.......................................................57, 62 Pickup Systems.........................................................64 Police Scotland .....................................................3, 27 Premier Hazard ........................................................21 Primetech UK Ltd.............................................44, 64 RAF Search & Rescue..............................................64 Red Ledge .................................................................60 Renault ......................................................................31 RNLI .............................................................17, 54, 64 Rosenbauer International..........................................6 Rosenbauer UK....................................................6, 64 RoSPA......................................................................4, 8
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.................5 RSPCA.......................................................................52 Safequip.......................................................................8 Scania...........................................................................6 Scape............................................................................8 Scottish Ambulance Service......................................6 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service........................6, 58 Skoda .........................................................................34 South Wales Fire and Rescue Service ................8, 57 South Wales Police...........................................4, 8, 18 SP Services (UK) Ltd ..............................................43 Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service .....................8 Suffolk Constabulary ...............................................18 Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service .............................10 Supacat ......................................................................64 Surrey Fire and Rescue Service ..............................44 Surrey Search and Rescue .......................................17 Terberg DTS .............................................................64 Thales ........................................................................10 Thames Valley Police...............................................28 Transport for London ..............................................21 Treepartner................................................................57 TruckEast Ltd...........................................................43 TSR..............................................................................4 Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service ..................8 TyreSafe .....................................................................51 United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO).....56 Vauxhall.....................................................................28 VCS Limited.............................................................34 Vimpex Limited .......................................................11 Volvo......................................................................6, 64 VOSA.........................................................................51 VW.............................................................................28 Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team ................54 Welsh Ambulance Service.......................................11 West Mercia Police.............................................11, 17 West Midlands Ambulance Service........................34 West Midlands Fire Service ................................8, 48 West Midlands Police ..............................................33 West Yorkshire Police ..............................................18 WH Bence (Coachworks) Ltd.................................64 Wiltshire Police ........................................................23 Witness Box ..............................................................62 Yamaha ................................................................37, 64 Yorkshire Ambulance Service.................................40 YPO .............................................................................5
Company Name
Company Name
Company Name
Advertisers Company Name
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Airwave Solutions Ltd .............................................7
The Emergency Services Show 2014..................IBC
Lyon Equipment Limited......................................45
Strongs Plastic Products Ltd.................................29
Argyll Telecom ........................................................46
EST Directory.........................................................63
Mercedes-Benz.....................................................IFC
Supacat.....................................................................30
Aspect Radio Communications Ltd......................49
Excelerate Technology Ltd ........................13, 47, 51
MIS Fuel Monitoring (Merridale) Ltd.................42
Babcock Critical Services.........................................9
The Fire Service College........................................12
Babcock International Group................................19
Goliath Footwear (YDS Boots)..............................46
Blue Lamp Afloat ...................................................56
HAAGEN Fire Training Products........................20
BMW........................................................................26
Haztec International...............................................36
Bristol Uniforms.....................................................49
Land Rover..............................................................22
RSG Engineering Limited.....................................29
British Red Cross....................................................50
Le Maitre.................................................................29
Ruth Lee Ltd...........................................................20
YPO..........................................................................56
Emergency Medical Services UK..........................49
Lintran.....................................................................42
SP Services (UK) Ltd ........................................OBC
Zodiac ......................................................................53
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Openhouse...............................................................50
TruckEast.................................................................42 Vimpex Limited......................................................53
Premier Hazard ............................................OFC, 35 Primetech UK Ltd..................................................39
Volvo Cars................................................................25 Yamaha.....................................................................30
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ESTCOMMENT | 3
ISSN 1472-1090 Date:
June 2014
Editor: David J. Holden MEng(Hons) Twitter: @999editor davidholden@brodenmedia.com Advertisement Manager: David Brown davidbrown@brodenmedia.com Advertisement Sales: Carol Fox carolfox@brodenmedia.com Office & Events Manager: Lesley Stevenson lesleystevenson@brodenmedia.com Marketing Manager: Emma Nicholls emmanicholls@brodenmedia.com Circulation: Christine Knoll admin@hpcpublishing.com
Joint Managing Directors: David Brown David Holden Published by
Robert Denholm House, Bletchingley Road Nutfield, Surrey RH1 4HW Tel: 01737 824010 Fax: 01737 824011 e-mail: davidbrown@brodenmedia.com www: brodenmedia.com Distribution: EMERGENCY SERVICES TIMES is free of charge to officers and managers who are buyers or specifiers actively involved in the procurement of equipment or services within the emergency response industry and based in the UK and Irish Republic. All other categories of reader are invited to subscribe at £130.00 to UK addresses and £165.00 overseas. Single copy price £25.00 including post and packing. The articles within Emergency Services Times are copyright and are the property of the publisher Broden Media Limited and cannot be reproduced in any media form without permission of the publisher. Application should be made in writing. Reprints of articles and advertisements are available, allow 28 days for delivery. PDF pages are available by email at £20.00 (+VAT) per page (€32.50, $33). Prices on application to the publisher. Printed by Manor Creative Tel: 01323 514400 Studio work by Keystrokes, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex Tel: 01273 453300 keystrokes@btconnect.com
Modern society requires a modern policing response Words: Sir Stephen House, Chief Constable, Police Scotland I said at the outset of my taking up post, it was an enormous privilege to lead the new police service. The experience of the past 12 months has reinforced that view. As I travel around the country, meeting staff and officers the dedication and effort I see is what makes policing effective. Strong policing performance makes for communities, which are safer, stronger and more resilient. Modern society requires a modern policing response. How people contact the police has changed and we’ve reflected that through introducing the 101 single non-emergency telephone number, which is now in use across the UK. Getting it right at the first point of contact is so critical to ensuring the right officers are sent to the right place at the right time – and that’s what we are striving to do. I want us to be regarded as world class in terms of how we tackle domestic abuse offenders, those who commit rape and serious organised criminals. Strong local policing
Introducing the single service sought to achieve a number of objectives, including delivering strong local policing and increasing more equal access to specialist services – ensuring when a serious crime or incident takes place, which requires more than a local response, the specialists are on hand where and when needed. This happened on 29 November 2013 when the Police Scotland helicopter crashed on to the Clutha Vaults pub, with 10 people losing their lives, making a profound effect on the entire country. Police Scotland – less than eight months into its existence – dealt with the terrible aftermath. Three of our staff lost their lives.
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Adapt and change
Our first year has seen many changes and we will continue to adapt and change as we go forward and this could not be done without the hard-working,
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skilled staff we have working throughout the country who make our policing so effective. We must deliver policing within budget and much of our current budget goes on staff costs. The reality is I expect there to be fewer members of staff working in the service as we move into 2014 and beyond. Reviews have taken place in areas including front counter provision and control rooms and service centres to help deliver a better, more consistent service to the public. We’ve changed how we tackle issues such as domestic abuse, serious organised crime, sexual crime investigation, major investigations and target those who break the law on the country’s roads. Many of these disciplines are nationally-managed and locally-delivered. They all exist in support of helping us deliver local policing in the communities where the public tell us that issues exist and where our smarter, swifter intelligence gathering indicates we have problems, which need to be addressed. Community policing teams – and we are making changes to ensure officers are more visible and available in their communities – are supported by teams of dedicated specialists who can provide extra levels of response in the right place, at the right time. Financial challenges
The financial challenges we face are significant. These are not going to disappear overnight and they will remain – and move into even sharper focus – as we move into our second year. The success of policing will continue to be built on strong local policing, based on 353 ward plans, which are informed by the public, and supported by modern and effective specialist policing functions. Looking ahead, this year, year two of Police Scotland, is the year of the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles; these are both major events, which put the country on a truly global stage. Police Scotland officers and staff will be at the heart of ensuring we keep people safe. www.scotland.police.uk
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Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has joined forces with South Wales Police to create a joint fire and police facility at Reynoldston, which will now accommodate both police and fire resources servicing parts of the Gower. The new facilities at Reynoldston Fire Station, which opened on 3 May, include an office and interview room for South Wales Police officers as well as a Community Room, which will enable both police and fire personnel to deliver safety advice to residents and community groups within the area. www.mawwfire.gov.uk
The Dräger HPS 7000 helmet has been recognised as a winner of one of the prestigious iF Product Design Awards 2014. The HPS 7000, which launched in 2013, represents cutting edge ergonomic design and will now be able to carry the renowned iF label – a label that signals outstanding products to target groups everywhere in the world. After years of extensive testing with hundreds of firefighters from around the world, the HPS 7000 was launched with a strong emphasis on comfort and safety. This award recognises the new standards set by the helmet, with its innovative, sporty and dynamic design, ergonomic fit and components and a multifunctional system solution. www.draeger.com
The Association of Air Ambulances is calling on all of the UK’s air ambulance community to nominate an individual or team for this year’s Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence. These prestigious, independent awards honour the exceptional contributions of staff and volunteers in the UK air ambulance community. Nominations are now open so the entire sector’s most inspirational people get the recognition they deserve. The closing date for nominations is 1 September 2014 and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner to be held on 17 November. www.aoaa.org.uk/aaae
Airwave has won Gold in the annual Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2014 run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The RoSPA Awards, which date back 58 years, recognise the commitment to continuous improvement in accident and ill health prevention at work. Entrants are judged on their overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement. The award will be presented during a ceremony at ExCeL on 17 June 2014. www.airwavesolutions.co.uk
Met Police trials body-worn cameras The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) launched its first large-scale pilot project of body-worn cameras on 8 May, which will determine how best they can be deployed on a wider scale in the future. Improved evidence and increased transparency have already been achieved thanks to officers wearing the cameras in previous smaller-scale MPS trials. The footage can also demonstrate the professionalism of police officers in the many difficult incidents they face.
Commissioner, Sir Bernard HoganHowe (above), said, “Body-worn video will not only help us fight crime and support victims but help the Met to be more accountable. Our experience of using cameras already shows that people are more likely to plead guilty when they know we have captured the incident. That speeds up justice, puts offenders behind bars more quickly and protects potential victims. “Video captures events in a way that can’t be represented on paper in
the same detail and it has been shown the mere presence of this type of video can often defuse potentially violent situations without the need for force to be used. “I believe it will also show our officers at their best, dealing with difficult and dangerous situations every day but it will also provide clearer evidence when its been alleged that we got things wrong. That has to be in both our own and the public’s interest.” The cameras will not be permanently switched on to ensure police interactions with the public are not unnecessarily impeded but members of the public will be informed as soon as practical that they are being recorded. The pilot, thought to be the largest in the world, will see a total of 500 cameras distributed to 10 London boroughs. Firearms officers will also be putting the cameras through their paces in their training environment with a view to later operational deployment. Two response teams on each bor-
ough will wear the cameras as they answer 999 calls during the one-year pilot. The findings will be evaluated by MOPAC and the College of Policing before any decision about a future roll-out is made. The camera chosen for the pilot, which will be attached to the officer’s body armour, is called the Axon Body Camera and is manufactured by TSR. Officers will ‘dock’ the camera at the end of each shift and upload the material to a cloud-based server. The images will be deleted after 31 days unless required for evidential purposes. The National Policing lead for bodyworn video, Hampshire Chief Constable Andy Marsh, said, “Body-worn video has the potential to transform policing. The trial by the Met is the first study of its kind in the UK and has the potential to improve the quantity and quality of evidence that officers are able to capture at the scene of a crime, the transparency of their decision-making and the way officers and the public interact.” www.met.police.uk
Joint Ambulance Conveyance Project looks to improve patient care in the Midlands East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue (LFR) have secured £491,000 from the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Transformation Challenge Award fund to develop a pilot project aimed at improving the quality of service and outcomes for patients in Lincolnshire through the development of an innovative and complementary approach to ambulance provision in the county. The project is called the Joint Ambulance Conveyance Project (JACP). The JACP will build on LFR’s existing co-responder scheme, run in partnership with EMAS and Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service
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(LIVES), in which on-call retained firefighters from 21 stations already respond to medical emergencies, delivering first aid, providing oxygen therapy and administering defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The JACP will see some co-responders being mobilised to medical incidents in an ambulance vehicle. At the same time, an EMAS paramedic will also respond to the incident in a fast response car. The paramedic will assess if the patient needs to go to hospital and, if so, will travel with the patient in the ambulance providing any necessary treatment en route. The main difference between current practice and the JACP is that LFR staff will have the
capability of conveying a patient to hospital rather than having to wait at the scene until an EMAS ambulance arrives. This collaborative approach will help support more timely patient conveyance while ensuring the highest level of clinical intervention possible, therefore supporting better recovery and improved chances of survival for patients. It will also aim to deliver more effective and value for money services in the future. The firefighter co-responders participating in the pilot will undertake some additional clinical and driver training starting in June. The pilot will start in July and last for 12 months. www.lincoln.fire-uk.org
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ESTNEWS | 5
YPO adopts a collaborative approach to equipment frameworks As well as marking the 40th year since YPO was established, 2014 is an exciting and busy year for the organisation, with the development of several new frameworks to complement an expanding emergency services range. YPO recently identified demand for a new framework to deliver Emergency Response Equipment (Ref 515) following discussions with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, which was completing its own tender for pumping appliances and ladders. This new framework, available from July 2014, will provide authorities with a simple, fully compliant route, with the flexibility to either complete their own tender or utilise the expert support available from YPO. YPO is also leading on the development of a national framework for Incident Command and Control Software (Ref 560). From July 2014, authorities will be able to benefit from this single supplier solution, with the option of purchasing software and training individually or as a package. Emergency Services Forum Furthermore, a framework for Incident Ground Feeding (Ref 561) is being designed to provide a fully compliant route to market for selfheating meals and beverages, helping authorities equip staff with everything they need during live incidents. This framework will be available in September 2014. Following the success of its inaugural event last October, YPO will be holding its next Emergency Services Forum on 2 July in Birmingham, providing representatives from attending fire, rescue and police services with a valuable opportunity to discuss common issues and look for collaborative procurement solutions. Gaynor Elliott, National Account Manager for Emergency Services – YPO, said, “Working in partnership with authorities to understand their requirements is an essential part of what we do at YPO. It helps us to ensure that all our frameworks are fit for purpose, and ultimately delivers savings for all.” www.ypo.co.uk
Home Office tenders for new Emergency Services Network provider The Home Office has taken the first step to provide the emergency services with cheaper, better and smarter communications services to help protect the public and save lives. A formal Official Journal of the European Communities contract notice has been issued by the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP), a Home Office led, cross-departmental programme set up to provide cheaper, better and smarter communications services for the emergency services, called the Emergency Services Network (ESN). The new services, the contract for which will be worth between £555m and £1.2bn, will replace the existing Airwave system as contracts expire between 2016 and 2020. ESN could offer the ability to share patient records and images with a paramedic on call or en route to hospital; it could provide building diagrams to help plan and coordinate fire fighting across multiple fire and rescue services. Broadband data services cannot be delivered via the technology used by the existing TETRA system. Minister of State for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, Damian Green, said, “A modern communications system will give the emergency services new and vital tools they can use to protect the public and save lives. This announcement is a significant step towards delivering the new Emergency Services Network com-
Damian Green, Minister of State for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims.
munication service, which will become a key part of our critical national infrastructure.” ESN will also provide a service for more than just the police, fire and rescue and ambulance services. Over 400 Government and local public safety and other bodies use the current system and will potentially require the ability to use ESN. These other bodies may add up to approximately 50,000 additional connected devices, and may include the Central Government Departments, NonDepartmental Public Bodies and agencies, local authorities in Great Britain and a number of charitable bodies and other organisations that interact with public safety bodies. www.gov.uk
In-store defib campaign London Ambulance Service has launched a campaign to get 1000 extra defibrillators in shops, businesses
If it wasn’t for a defibrillator Fabrice wouldn’t be here today.
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and gyms across the capital to save more lives. The campaign, backed by ex-footballer Fabrice Muamba, is being launched with Marks & Spencer, which is fitting defibrillators in its 86 London stores. Fabrice, who was famously shocked back to life with a defibrillator after going into cardiac arrest during a football match, attended the launch event and is lending his support to the campaign. Keith Davis, Fire, Health and Safety Manager at Marks & Spencer, said, "We’re training over 1000 first aiders to use them in our stores and with the support of the London Ambulance Service we are making shopping in London safer than ever before.” M&S will roll out the defibrillators across London and its partner Ashbury Training will train over 1000 customer assistants over the next three months. www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/defibs
Driver First Assist, a road safety initiative, which seeks to reduce road fatalities through incident first-onscene training, has earned the support of The Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (FPHC) of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Launched last year, Driver First Assist (DFA) is aiming to almost halve the number of deaths caused by road traffic collisions (RTCs) by training professional drivers to provide emergency first aid before the arrival of the emergency services. The DFA courses are run by current and recently retired members of the emergency services, who use their experience to teach participants how to manage the scene of an RTC in the first critical minutes. Support for DFA is growing, with all three emergency services and both the current and shadow governments all backing the initiative. www.driverfirstassist.org
Emergency Services Times magazine has recently started a Linkedin Group, where members can get involved in discussions relating to the multi-agency approach to emergency planning, response and recovery. Just head for the Linkedin website and search for ‘Emergency Services Times’ to join in the discussions. www.emergencyservicestimes.com
A new ‘policing pathway’ established as part of Nottingham Trent University’s criminology degree will see students recruited as Special Constables during their course. The innovative collaboration with Nottinghamshire Police means that undergraduates had the option to tailor their learning by choosing the police pathway in their second year. As part of the policing pathway students are also taking modules on crime reduction, community safety and risk; diversity and crimes of prejudice; police powers; operational policing and policing practice. www.nottinghamshire.police.uk
The eagerly awaited OJEU notice for the National Uniform Managed Service (NUMS) was issued in May meaning the procurement process has now started in earnest. NUMS, led by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Home Office and with input from key stakeholder groups heralds a significant change in the way the police and other organisations provision their uniform. The goal of NUMS is to provide a fit for purpose uniform while maximising value for money. www.met.police.uk
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PageOne Communications, a leading provider of critical messaging solutions to the public and private sectors, has announced that Dorset Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) has selected its Trio lone worker device to help ensure the safety and security of its field-based staff. Implementing the Trio device is helping DFRS protect staff working alone who may potentially be at risk, while also adhering to vital health and safety requirements. Fully integrated with Connect, PageOne’s cloud-based messaging service, it means DFRS can manage and monitor lone workers from a secure web-dashboard. www.pageone.co.uk
The Scottish Ambulance Service has invested £500,000 in 10 new specially adapted 4x4 ambulances for the Northern Isles. The new vehicles are part of a programme to provide modern, versatile vehicles to support the specific needs of patients in the islands. Eight of the new vehicles will be deployed in Orkney in Kirkwall, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Eday, Sanday, and Graemsay, with one vehicle kept as a spare backup. In Shetland, two vehicles will be deployed Skerries and Fetlar with a spare in Lerwick. On the outer isles, the specially adapted vehicles will be available to local nurses and doctors to transfer patients as well as providing a sheltered examination and treatment environment. www.scottishambulance.com
Firefighters in Dumfries and Galloway have been given the keys to four new appliances as part of a major investment in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) fleet. The vehicles have been initially deployed to Dumfries, Annan, Lockerbie and Stranraer fire stations and at a cost of almost a quarter of a million pounds each the Scania P28s are a significant asset for SFRS crews. The new vehicles are part of a £3.8m investment in 16 appliances, including both Scania and Volvo models. www.firescotland.gov.uk
Babcock International Group PLC has been announced as the preferred bidder on the multi-million pound contract to manage London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) fleet. Over the 21-year contract period, which is expected to become operational on 13 November 2014, Babcock will be working with LFB to manage and maintain its fleet of 500 vehicles and 50,000 pieces of specialist equipment across an operational territory covering 1587 square hectares of Greater London. www.london-fire.gov.uk www.babcockinternational.com
Humberside FRS announces The Ark Project flood preparation and response centre
With severe weather and flooding anticipated to become a more regular occurrence, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has unveiled plans for a new flood preparation and response centre. The facility, known as ‘The Ark Project’, will be the first in the UK to recreate domestic flooding scenarios to enable the effective recovery of communities affected by flooding. The training facility will be a bespoke moving water training centre and it is intended to be housed at Peaks Lane Fire Station in Grimsby. It will consist of a water tank large enough to submerse a vehicle and other hazards in a realistic ‘street-scene’. The new facility will also be able imitate rapids for fast moving water scenarios and enable effective and safe rescue
training to be delivered to responders, on call staff and volunteers. Dene Sanders, Chief Fire Officer at Humberside Fire and Rescue, said, “This new training centre will be used to ensure our own staff are trained to the highest standard by simulating what happens when large scale flooding occurs. It will create a realistic environment for crews to train in water rescue scenarios, whilst simultaneously reducing training costs.” The Ark Project will be a purpose built facility specifically designed for flooding scenarios and other fire and rescue services across the country will also have the opportunity to train at the centre, which is expected to be built by summer 2015. It will become a centre of regional and national importance as a single point of contact
for preparation, planning, resourcing and training for all water related incidents. The new facility will also be used to help partner organisations prepare for the potential risks when responding to flooding. It could also help other businesses and organisations consider their business continuity plans and the impact flooding can have on delivering their services. “Not only will the new centre provide us with an excellent training venue, it will enable us to help our communities by educating them about protecting their homes from flooding. It means we can also assist residents to be better prepared by simulating what actually happens when flooding occurs,” CFO Sanders added. www.humbersidefire.gov.uk
Rosenbauer completes North Fire acquisition Rosenbauer International has completed the acquisition of the majority shareholding (75 percent) in North Fire plc. The strategic move, which sees North Fire rebrand as Rosenbauer UK, has been made following the recent launch of the full Rosenbauer fleet options into the UK by Rosenbauer and North Fire, and with forecasts showing growth on the imminent horizon the two companies have come together to intensify the service and manufacturing elements required to raise the bar of quality and efficiency from a fire appliance and vehicle component perspective. Fire fighting equipment and Argus Thermal Imaging products will maintain their current, high level of support and service back-up with the current market leading product ranges such as the Argus Mi-TIC and Rosenbauer HEROS-xtreme fire helmets continuing to flourish on UK soil. Rosenbauer UK has remained partly British-owned too, with North Fire’s Managing Director, Oliver North, retaining a 25 percent shareholding in the new company, which keeps its current West Yorkshire base as its headquarters.
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Oliver North, Managing Director, Rosenbauer UK, said, “We’re absolutely delighted to have merged with the biggest and best fire fighting vehicle and equipment manufacturer in the world. Our sole aim has always been to provide sheer quality in terms of fleet and equipment products, and merging the two companies will give the most sustainable platform over and above any other vehicle supplier in Britain. “With the absolute ‘best in class’ of Rosenbauer fire fighting vehicles, aerials and equipment, coupled together with an extremely buoyant and exciting thermal imaging product range, we’re very excited at what the future holds, not only for ourselves but for our customers, who are in my opinion amongst the most professional fire and rescue services on the planet.” Dr Dieter Siegel, Chief Executive Officer, Rosenbauer Group, said, “The fire and rescue services in the United Kingdom are very well known for their professionalism and with our fleet options being regarded as arguably the best on the planet, we feel we are as well-placed to provide improvements, dynamism and quality to the brigades as they look to
Oliver North, Managing Director, Rosenbauer UK.
achieve their utmost in delivering savings while increasing their efficiency. North Fire plc have proven over the past few years that they are genuinely the ‘favourite’ supplier on UK shores. “The efficiency and work ethic demonstrated by the North Fire team over the past six years has impressed their customers and in turn us, the Rosenbauer Group. By acquiring the company who have been an efficient and loyal distributor, we are now excited to grow the firm together, by providing a world-class offering of fleet and equipment products.” www.rosenbaueruk.com
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A shared fire control for West Midlands and Staffordshire fire and rescue services officially went live on 31 March. The two organisations have merged their fire control rooms into one shared service, Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control, which operates from WMFS headquarters in Birmingham. A total of 70 staff are employed at the new shared fire control, which is expected to handle up to 70,000 emergency calls per year. Fall back arrangements have been agreed, with Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control providing the resilience for North West Control and its own resilience provided by London Fire Brigade.
Breathing new life into blue light sector buildings
www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk www.wmfs.net
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has received a Gold Medal Award for Occupational Health and Safety from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the ninth year running. The service has seen the total number of workbased accidents reduced by 66 percent from 95 to 44 over the last four years (2009-2013). While vehicle-related accidents have also dropped from 102 to 23 during the same period, a 78.5 percent reduction. www.twfire.org
A new branch of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service has launched to provide top quality training and community benefits. The new commercial trading arm of the service has been set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) to offer industrial leadership training to individuals and businesses throughout the region led by the fire and rescue service as experts in the field. Courses include working at height, confined spaces training, leadership and management and health and safety including National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH). In addition, there is also an HGV driving academy. The training will take place at County Durham and Darlington’s Fire and Rescue’s Belmont headquarters as well as at fire stations throughout the area.
How buildings transformed by Renovate could look.
An exciting new product to transform existing buildings in the blue light sector so they are high quality, attractive and efficient – but delivered at a lower cost than new build projects – has been launched by public sector design, procurement and transformation specialist Scape. Renovate was launched on 30 April at the Academies Show in London. Rather than designing new buildings, Renovate injects new life into tired and old building stock. This approach is much more cost-effective than new schemes and can be delivered across the public sector including to blue light buildings, schools, colleges, universities, housing, NHS, care homes, civic buildings, MoD, leisure facilities, libraries and more.
Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at Scape, said, “Renovate boosts the value and income of property, creates buildings which are inspiring and visually appealing inside and out and transforms property so it is affordable to run and operate. Transforms property “Prolonged austerity measures are continuing to hurt public sector bodies as their resources continue to diminish,” Mark continued. “Core services take precedence and for many this means that new projects have to wait or are completely unworkable for the foreseeable future. Renovate provides a solution to this problem.” www.scapebuild.co.uk
Met Police improves water rescue response with new throw bags The Metropolitan Police Marine Unit is part of the task force supporting 32 boroughs and responsible for 250 miles of inland waterways and 47 miles of the River Thames.
www.ddfirecic.co.uk
The June issue of Emergency Services Times includes a free wallmap showing UK Police headquarters and other police locations. If you don’t have your copy please contact us on Tel: 01737 824010 or e-mail: lesleystevenson@brodenmedia.com to check availability. www.emergencyservicestimes.com
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Safequip has recently been awarded the contract to supply 25m rescue throw bags to the Metropolitan Police for use by its officers. The throw lines will form part of the force’s response vehicle rescue first aid, with 30,000 officers being trained to deploy the throw line. During recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of water related incidents that require assistance from the emergency services, with the police often the first to respond to these types of incidents. Having the availability of a throw line will potentially help to rescue a casualty and also avoid officers endangering their own life when faced with the dilemma of possibly entering the water to carry out a rescue. www.safequip.co.uk
Multi-agency control room collaboration in Wales Plans for a Joint Public Service Centre (JPSC) for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) have been approved. Chief Fire Officers from both services and the Chief Constable of South Wales Police officially launched the joint project at a meeting on 16 April to merge the two fire and rescue services’ fire control functions and colocate at South Wales Police headquarters in Bridgend. One of the main aims of the JPSC is to provide an improved service to members of the public through a series of IT upgrades. The enhancements in technology will assist the JPSC in locating a member of the public in distress and in need of assistance from a distance of 100m to 30m. If the person in distress is carrying a GPS enabled mobile phone, the JPSC will be able to pinpoint their exact location. Historically, fire and rescue services had the ability to view their own fire appliances, but these changes will allow all services to view all fire appliances throughout Wales enhancing integration and improving support in the border areas. Following the decision to proceed with this project, work will now begin on reviewing staffing models in the two fire controls from the current shift pattern to a demand led resourcing model. Another key aim of the centre is to provide enhanced resilience. As part of the project, an extension will be built at the Police Public Service Centre building at South Wales Police to allow control staff and managers from blue light services to share a facility that will provide a better flow of intelligence and information when responding to emergency situations. Live in 2016 It is anticipated that the project will go live in April 2016 and will realise significant financial savings. Chief Constable of South Wales Police Peter Vaughan said, “Outcomes of major emergencies across the UK continue to demonstrate the importance of blue light services working in full harmony both on the ground and in Public Service Centres. This project will enable us to share valuable information and manage incidents on a multi-agency level, which will significantly improve the way emergency services deliver a response to people who need our collective help.” www.mawwfire.gov.uk
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Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service teamed up with its NI Community Safety College partners – Police Service and Prison Service, to co-host the first ever Joint Services Training Awards. The awards, which celebrated people who have made outstanding contributions in the field of training across the three services, took place on 30 April at La Mon Hotel in Belfast. The NIFRS Individual Trainer of the Year award was presented to Temporary Station Commander Kenneth McEwan (North West District Belfast) and the NIFRS Training Team of the Year award was presented to a team from Southern Area Command. www.nifrs.org
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has selected the Symphony Bluelight corporate gazetteer management system from gazetteer specialist Aligned Assets for the management of Ordnance Survey’s AddressBase Premium data. The system compromises modules that will allow the service to create, manage and enhance its address data, synchronise other systems using the UPRN (unique property reference number), and importantly to integrate AddressBase Premium into frontline and back office systems. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service also host a managed service for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority and the Symphony Bluelight system will allow them to hold the two address datasets separately, but manage them through one interface. www.aligned-assets.co.uk/bluelight
Thales has been awarded a fiveyear contract to provide secure network connectivity services for the Highways Agency. Under the contract, let under the Government’s Public Services Network (PSN) connectivity framework, Thales will deliver a range of services to the Highways Agency, including network connectivity, encryption security, Wide Area Networks Local Area Networks and remote access services for employees. The Thales solution will enable the Highways Agency to exploit modern, secure communications that conform to the Government’s PSN standards, improving cyber security, while significantly reducing ICT costs and improving operational effectiveness. The backbone of the Thales solution is a secure, accredited network service that will link 49 sites across the United Kingdom. www.thalesgroup.com
Armadillo Merino selected by Buckinghamshire FRS Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) has selected a number of Armadillo garments to create a head to toe system for some of its officers. User trials of Armadillo garments, which offer a higher level of FR protection than the service’s existing next-to-skin clothing, looked at all aspects of the wearer’s protection, performance and comfort and included moisture management, thermoregulation, next-to-skin comfort and low odour. The clothing selection, which incorporates the Kojak beanie hat, Giraffe long neck gaiter, Panther long sleeve, crew neck top, long john bottoms and lightweight boot socks, are all constructed from a special selection of 100 percent merino wool (except for the socks which have a blend but are 100 percent wool next-to-skin) to enhance the user protection and comfort. CFO Mark Jones from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said, “Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority were looking for base layer garments, which had fewer limitations and challenges than cotton or synthetic materials. Our Technical Rescue staff are part of the national Urban Search and Rescue capability and can therefore be deployed to incidents anywhere in the United Kingdom for extended periods of time. That requires a base
Crew wearing the Armadillo Merino Panther long sleeve, crew neck shirt base layer in blue.
layer clothing system that can be adapted to meet the physiological demands that working in challenging environments and differing weather conditions provide. “We also wanted a t-shirt style top that could be worn at all times when on duty without the need to issue alternatives. After a series of extensive and punishing wearer trials, the Armadillo Merino garments out-performed the cotton and synthetic alternatives, providing a good solution on the grounds of effectiveness and wearer comfort. “Whilst there are less expensive garments available, and money is always tight in this service, we felt
that we needed a greater focus on improving baser layer clothing in addition to outer wear PPE. This represents a significant investment to improve the health, safety and welfare of our specialist staff that fits well with our ethos of seeking high quality to achieve best value over time. “Andy Caughey from Armadillo Merino has worked closely with us to ensure that everything from the options selected, colours and badging met our requirements and, in seeking to support British Industry, we are pleased to be working with a UK based company that is growing a worldwide market.” www.armadillomerino.com
Suffolk selects ISG X-Series after brigade trial Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is the latest UK brigade to opt for the ISG X-Series thermal imaging camera, having purchased 54 new units. The decision to change to ISG’s advanced imaging technology was made by Suffolk following a rigorous trial process. The X-Series came out on top as it has done in many brigade trials throughout 2014. ISG and sales partner Vimpex attribute the successful outcome to not only camera performance, but also the unbeatable level of customer support and 48-hour service turnaround they offer. “We would like to thank Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service for choosing our British made X-380 thermal camera,” said ISG Sales Director Andy Slater. “Performance Enhancing Imaging Technology™ like our Hot and Cold Spot tracking, provide firefighters a level of situational awareness unmatched by any other camera available, this recent trial and subse-
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quent order further demonstrates that brigades’ thoroughly testing cameras on their ability to perform are selecting ISG.” Northumberland, Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Tyne and Wear and Bedfordshire are just some of the brigades that have made the decision to purchase the ISG X-380, which is stocked and supplied in the UK by Vimpex Ltd. www.isgfire.com
The new X380 Personal Format Thermal imaging cameras with Hot and Cold Spot trackers.
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Supplier celebrates Cambridgeshire FRS lends 20 years of success support to air ambulance service
Vimpex Limited, the specialist supplier of fire and rescue equipment, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2014. In those 20 years, Vimpex has grown from a small UK-based distributor, to a pan-European organisation with subsidiaries in The Netherlands and Sweden and now represents some of the world’s best-known brands. It is recognised by its suppliers as a company that is dedicated to providing the very best customer service and support for their products. Developing successful partnerships with leading suppliers in their field has enabled Vimpex to be profitable in every one of its 20 years in business. The company’s technical rescue portfolio includes hydraulic rescue tools from Ogura and TNT, thermal imaging cameras from ISG, fire fighting and rescue helmets from Pacific and a wide range of technical rescue products from Paratech.
www.brakepro.org
The signing of a five-year lease agreement with Birmingham International Airport will see the airport’s 64 firefighters being equipped with new head-to-toe protective clothing from July this year. Following an extensive trial period, during which alternative firefighter PPE options were put through a range of tests, BHX Fire & Rescue Ltd, which provides fire cover for the airport, selected Bristol Uniforms XFlex™ structural fire kit to meet their needs for the period to 2019. www.bristoluniforms.co.uk
www.vimpex.co.uk
Joint resource centre gets council backing Plans for a new Ambulance and Fire Services Resource Centre in North Wales have been given backing by Wrexham Council. The council’s planning committee granted permission for the construction of the joint facility on land south of the Maelor Hospital on 6 May. Welsh Government must approve the funding for the Full Business Case before construction of the new facility goes ahead. The new development, if approved, will provide better facilities for staff, as well as an improved service for the public and patients in Wrexham and the surrounding area. The Welsh Ambulance Service and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service will be investing more than £15m in the joint facility, which will be due for completion at the end of 2015, providing Welsh Government approves the Final Business Case. The new Ambulance and Fire Services Resource Centre would replace the existing fire station at Bradley Road in Wrexham, and the existing ambulance stations at Chirk and Wrexham. www.ambulance.wales.nhs.uk www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk
Brake, the road safety charity, has created the Brake Professional website to give easy access to events, research, tools and campaigns to help road safety professionals, fleet managers and others to implement successful road safety activities and campaigns. The website, www.brakepro.org, replaces Brake’s former Road Safety Forum and Fleet Safety Forum websites, combining all the resources both practitioners need into one place. Current subscribers will continue to receive their current benefits, but through the new site.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has formed a partnership with East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), which sees every fire engine and vehicle owned by the service featuring the red, square ‘Proud to support the EAAA’ logo. Acting Chief Executive of EAAA, Patrick Peal, said, “This
amazing show of support by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is a great example of how the frontline emergency services work together and it will help to raise awareness of the charity throughout the county.” www.eaaa.org.uk
Emergency services move in to Worcestershire’s first joint station A new joint police and fire station in Bromsgrove has replaced outdated police and fire stations in the town. The shared station is the first project delivered under the Worcestershire Capital Asset Pathfinder initiative, which looks at how a partnership approach to public services can lead to better local services, increased value for money and efficiencies through shared services. The police have funded the project, with the fire and rescue service committed to a 25-year tenancy agreement. By joining forces, the police and fire and rescue service have saved an estimated 20 percent on building costs. The building has been installed with solar panels to contribute to heating and electricity, lighting sensors, heating control sys-
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tem and a sprinkler system, harvesting rainwater, which provides filtered water to the building. These installations are expected to cut annual running costs by 25 percent. Superintendent Kevin Purcell, North Worcestershire Commander, said, “There have been many occasions in recent months including floods and serious fires, where I have had the privilege of working closely with fire and rescue colleagues. They are undoubtedly a top performing service and this new venture cements our already close working relationship.” The official opening of the Bromsgrove Police and Fire Station will take place later in the year. www.westmercia.police.uk www.hwfire.org.uk
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) and Cambridgeshire Constabulary have launched the first Prince’s Trust Team programme in the region. The Fenland scheme is a 12week personal development course, which aims to increase confidence, motivation and skills and as a result, enables young people to then gain employment, move into education or undertake training or an apprenticeship. The scheme will be delivered by NFRS in partnership with CFRS, the police and the College of West Anglia. www.cambsfire.gov.uk
Construction work has begun on two new community fire stations for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service – one in Hayle and one in Tolvaddon as well as the new service headquarters facility also at Tolvaddon. The Camborne, Pool and Redruth site will be shared with service headquarters, which will provide critical services including Fire Control, training and vehicle and equipment maintenance, as well as being the service’s administrative centre. The new Hayle Community Fire Station will be a tri-service facility, shared with Devon and Cornwall Police and South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust. www.cornwall.gov.uk
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12 | ESTADVERTORIAL
Meeting the challenge head on In a world where the opportunity for emergency services to train in real life situations is decreasing, yet the need for a collaborative response of joint resources is increasing – how do you respond to the challenge? Strapping on a headset and plunging into a simulated world of challenging real-life scenarios could be just the answer. With software that can replicate a live incident, the Fire Service College can offer a suite of virtual scenarios ready for training, improving the exposure to realistic incident command scenarios. How do you reassure the public that your organisation is the best that it can be? Introducing the Fire Service College's new simulation suite using tailor-made immersive ‘BLUEHAWK™’ technology – the next generation of Incident Command training. Vivid and immersive, The Fire Service College’s training solution places delegates at the heart of an incident, challenging and testing their command skills, at any level, across all blue light services. Assurance and assessment All simulation scenarios delivered through the FSC’s ‘BLUEHAWK™’ technology are mapped to the appropriate National Occupational Standards and integrated into the assessment and reporting tools, meaning delegates can take away a video as well as instant feedback on their assessment.
“A solution that provides the right level of qualification, to the right standard, makes the future of interoperability and collaborative working extremely achievable.” This regulated learning approach also provides a professional competency, not only among fire and rescue services, but also across all emergency
Responsible for the incident, delegates are placed at the heart of the action and put under pressure to make decisions.
services. A solution that provides the right level of qualification, to the right standard, makes the future of interoperability and collaborative working extremely achievable. With one-to-one coaching, professional discussions and constant monitoring and feedback of their performance, delegates are in safe and experienced hands. Technical ability Movement tracking headset technology allows delegates to look around and assess the scene, while directional movement within the scenario is controlled using a handheld gamepad. Delegates are judged on how they position themselves to rectify the situation as it unfolds and the actions that they would take. These instructions are communicated to a trained facilitator who is on hand to assess their response skills – from decision making and communication to risk analysis. Responsible for the incident, delegates are placed at
Incident Commanders are exposed to real-life scenarios in a safe and controlled environment.
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the heart of the action and put under pressure to make decisions. The training and the theoretical elements are powerful, but the FSC’s ‘BLUEHAWK™’ technology brings emergency scenarios to life and allows them to practice in a real-world environment.
Training footage and audio is also recorded, allowing the College’s experts to benchmark performances, challenge decisions and feedback to delegates. This way, Incident Commanders are exposed to real-life scenarios in a safe and controlled environment, so that when it really matters they are equipped with the skills and expertise to get it right, every time. How could you benefit? • Learn from being at the heart of the action • Realistic and demanding environments to develop skills and capability • Tailored training solutions to meet local needs • Simulation scenarios mapped to NOS • Live assessment and reporting tools providing instant feedback • Collaborate and learn from other emergency services • Cost-effective and flexible simulations • A blended experience of live and simulated training. www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk
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Operational guidance for breathing apparatus published by DCLG Following a very thorough technical and evidence based review of the extant guidance in the form of the Technical Bulletins, Dear Chief Fire Officers Letters etc, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has recently published the Operational Guidance ‘Breathing Apparatus’. Words: Gary Walsh, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, and Lead officer for Respiratory Protection Equipment, Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA). DCLG’s extensive review of the existing breathing apparatus operational guidance, in all of its forms, also took into consideration the outcomes of a number of serious incidents involving firefighters and the use breathing apparatus. Guidance in the use of breathing apparatus has been issued centrally since the publication of the Manual of Firemanship Part 1, in 1943. The most comprehensive guidance was provided, following several fatal fires, with the issue of Technical Bulletin 1/1997 Breathing Apparatus ‘Command and Control Procedures’.
“A step to an integrated and consistent but most of all safer approach to the deployment of breathing apparatus wearers.” Technical Bulletin 1/1997, at the time, provided the most in-depth guidance for the use of breathing apparatus but still resulted in differences across fire and rescue services, for example in the adoption of ‘Rapid Deployment’. As a result, for many in recent years, it was deemed as being out of date and individual fire and rescue services had begun to develop their own procedures.
A project board made up from a raft of subject experts led the review, from the Chief Fire and Rescue Service Advisor (CFRA), a number of fire and rescue services contributing at a local and regional level, and manufacturers and representative bodies. Following the review there was an extensive consultation and evaluation of the procedures detailed within the draft guidance, via user trials conducted at the Fire Service College to validate the procedures actually worked. The project board agreed that the aim of the new guidance should be to enhance the command and control of the use of breathing apparatus and that it should provide a framework for a safe system of work through robust, yet flexible guidance.
New technology What was clear, and agreed by all parties to the review, was that the extant guidance required a full refresh to meet modern fire and rescue service practices and the introduction of new technology such as telemetry systems.
Adaptable for non-FRS users This guidance should also be adaptable to the nature, scale and requirements of the incident while providing a consistency of approach that forms the basis for common operational practices, supporting interoperability between fire and rescue services,
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other emergency responders and other non-fire and rescue service users of breathing apparatus. The document describes the principles used in the deployment of breathing apparatus and includes some tactical and technical information that can fit seamlessly into the existing Incident Command and Control procedures. Overall what has been produced provides to fire and rescue services a method of incorporating a greater level of supervision when firefighters are committed to an incident in breathing apparatus and integrate breathing apparatus procedures into incident command and control. Therefore not only fire and rescue services but also those that may work in breathing apparatus alongside firefighters, such as the HART Teams, need to consider the guidance as a step to an integrated and consistent but most of all safer approach to the deployment of breathing apparatus wearers. www.cfoa.org.uk
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JESIP e-learning for All Staff Another key JESIP product has been completed and is now available for use. The All Staff e-learning package will provide anyone who has a response role in their organisation with a basic knowledge of the ingredients and essentials of joint working. Words: David Jervis, Senior Communications Advisor, Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP). While preparations were underway to run one-day training courses for priority commanders, it quickly became apparent that staff on the front line and in control should understand the ‘new’ language of JESIP.
“This new product strengthens that golden thread of interoperability.” The All Staff package is aimed at all operational and control room staff and covers: the five key principles of JESIP; the use of the mnemonic METHANE; and an introduction to the Joint Decision Model (JDM).
Category 1 and 2 responders and others throughout the wider resilience community are also encouraged to access the package. Sharing knowledge Carl Daniels, JESIP’s Ambulance Senior User, said, “Sharing the knowledge and understanding of JESIP throughout the front line of response can only improve further the effective management of a major incident. “This new product strengthens that golden thread
of interoperability from new entrant to strategic commander as we all work together to save lives.” Developed in liaison with Stephen Jarvis and his team at the National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies (NCALT), the package takes about 45 minutes to complete and features knowledge checks to test the learning. Counts towards CPD Completion of the package will count towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Further details about the package and its use can be found in the training section on our website. JESIP has contacted all emergency services chief officers requesting that they encourage all relevant staff to complete the e-learning package. www.jesip.org.uk
JESIP update
Over 700 JESIP training courses have now been booked as the number of commanders registered for training reaches 8000. Analysis of 400 feedback forms completed by those attending JESIP training has revealed a high level of satisfaction. Exercises to validate the training have been arranged across the country and plans for a largescale exercise in September are progressing well. More details about this event and about the JESIP legacy arrangements from April 2015 will be released soon.
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16 | ESTEVENTS
2014 Events Register now for free Road Safety Week resources
3-4 June
Blue Light Fleet Exhibition The International Centre, Telford www.napfmevent.org.uk
Emergency services are urged to start planning for Road Safety Week 2014 (17-23 November), the UK’s biggest road safety event, which involves thousands of communities, schools and organisations each year. The charity Brake, which coordinates the event, is encouraging emergency services to register for a free e-action pack at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/ professionals. The pack includes downloadable posters on this year’s theme, web banners, advice and case studies to help you run successful activities. Road Safety Week, now in its 18th year and supported by headline sponsors RSA and Specsavers, is a great opportunity for police, fire and rescue and ambulance services to run highprofile community engagement, awareness and enforcement campaigns to promote safer road use and prevent road death and injury. Last year hundreds of emergency service professionals got involved by coordinating activities in their area. Agencies can use the week to run one-off activities, launch new campaigns, or generate extra involvement and publicity for year-round programmes. Look out for each other The Road Safety Week 2014 theme is ‘look out for each other’: raising awareness of the ways everyone can help protect one another on roads, especially the most vulnerable. Brake will particularly call on drivers to protect children and adults on foot and bike by slowing down to 20 in communities, looking twice and taking it slowly at junctions and bends. Julie Townsend, Brake Deputy Chief Executive, says, “Emergency services’ involvement in Road Safety Week is invaluable. They play a critical role in protecting lives on roads year-round, and can have a major influence on public attitudes by raising awareness about the devastation of crashes and steps people can take to prevent them. Our
5 June
Fleet Safety Conference and Awards St John’s Hotel, Solihull www.fleetsafetyawards.com
theme this year is ‘look out for each other’, calling on everyone to be considerate of each other when using roads, but especially calling on drivers to slow down and look out for people on foot and bike. “We are encouraging emergency services to take advantage of the week and help communicate this vital message. The Road Safety Week website is full of ideas: fill in our registration form and we’ll send you an e-action pack with guidance and downloadable posters to help you take part.”
Safety and Health Expo ExCel, London
Service support Suzette Davenport, National lead for Roads Policing at Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), says, “Our police forces do a vital job in enforcing important safety laws and protecting the public on the roads. Road Safety Week is a great opportunity for forces and officers to engage with local communities and schools, and to get out there, be seen, and spread important road safety messages.” Dave Etheridge, Road Safety lead at Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA), says, “I encourage all fire services to work with Brake and register for Road Safety Week in November. It’s a great event that has benefited from the involvement of fire services over many years – and an ideal opportunity to work together to reduce the devastation of road casualties. Firefighters are ideally placed to deliver life-saving road safety messages, and the theme of Road Safety Week 2014 is a crucial one: appealing to everyone to look out for each other and protect the vulnerable. There are lots of powerful ways fire services can work with schools and communities in the week to raise awareness and promote safer road use – so start planning now.”
www.postmillcentre.co.uk
www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk
www.interschutz.de
17-19 June
www.safety-health-expo.co.uk
9-10 July
Ambulex Ricoh Arena, Coventry www.ambulex.com
9 August
Emergency Services Day Postmill Centre, Derbyshire
International Extreme Weather Symposium SkillZONE, Gloucester
9-10 September
www.operationflorian.com/938
The Emergency Services Show 2014 The NEC, Birmingham 24-25 September www.emergencyuk.com
Next steps for critical care in Wales: reform of ambulance and unscheduled care services Cardiff
14 October
www.policyforumforwales.co.uk
Emergency Services: Themes in Planning, Response and Recovery Nottingham Conference Centre
11 November
www.ntu.ac.uk
Road Safety Week
17-23 November
www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk
INTERSCHUTZ 2015 Hannover, Germany
8-13 June 2015
Humanitarian charity stages its first International Extreme Weather Symposium UK humanitarian charity Operation Florian, supported by Gloucester Fire and Rescue Service, is set to stage its first seminar focusing on international extreme weather planning. The symposium brings together esteemed experts from across the globe to examine and debate recent national and international extreme weather events; and how emergency services, planners, healthcare professionals and local authorities can build best practice responses for each possible outcome. The two-day conference, which takes place from 9-10 September 2014, will be held at
Gloucestershire’s first interactive safety education centre – SkillZONE in Gloucester. This unique event brings together the most experienced and respected experts to share their experiences and provide valuable knowledge on the lessons learnt from their involvement in these extreme situations. The cost to attend the event is £175 per person, including evening dinner. Exhibition space can be booked for £250, please contact Operation Florian on Tel: 07973 875505 or e-mail: opflorian@aol.com. www.operationflorian.com/938
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Hampshire’s top fire officer announces his retirement Chief Officer John Bonney will retire from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) at the end of 2014 after a decade in the role. Mr Bonney, who has been with HFRS for 13 years, and in the top job for the past 10, has announced he will step down on 31 December 2014.
Mr Bonney said, “2014 marks my 10th year as chief officer, and having served at the helm for a decade, I’ve decided it is now timely for me to step down from what is, by any measure, the best job in the British fire service. “I am proud to have led a service populated throughout by people absolutely dedicated to what we do and who, as a matter of routine, go far beyond what is asked of them.” Mr Bonney’s early announcement gives Hampshire Fire Authority time to appoint his successor to ensure a smooth handover of responsibility at the turn of the year. Hampshire Fire Authority Chairman Royston Smith said, “John retires from his position as Chief with our heartfelt thanks as an authority for the huge impact he has made as our top fire officer. John’s inspirational leadership has seen Hampshire gain a clear position as one of the leading fire and rescue services in the country. “He will be greatly missed and he leaves an absolutely massive legacy as a very effective and hugely respected Chief Officer. “The work of making Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service stronger, and keeping the people of Hampshire safer, of course continues. And so we thank John for allowing us the time and space to appoint his successor and to ensure HFRS continues to move forward and offer the very best service to people across the county.” www.hantsfire.gov.uk
Flood Responder receives volunteer award from PM A Flood Responder from Surrey Search and Rescue has received the new Point of Light Award from Prime Minister David Cameron. The new Point of Light Award scheme aims to recognise the outstanding work of volunteers in the UK, and was presented to Séamus Kearns for his role in helping victims of the floods that struck the UK at the start of the year. Séamus Kearns, 28, travelled to 10 Downing Street along with six colleagues for a reception hosted by Mr Cameron in recognition of the 'Flood Hero' award he received from ITV’s Daybreak programme. Séamus spent seven days in February helping flood relief efforts in Staines and Chertsey, alongside fellow volunteers Surrey Search and Rescue. He said, “I don't consider what I did to be heroic, but just part of the thousands of hours each year donated by Surrey SAR members.”
Séamus and colleagues outside 10 Downing Street. Photo: Surrey Search & Rescue
Séamus Kearns was part of a flood rescue team in Chertsey during the 2014 floods. Photo: Surrey Search & Rescue
The Prime Minister announced the Point of Light Awards, heralding ‘the extraordinary things done during the storms and floods in terms of community service’. And in a personal letter to Séamus, Mr Cameron continued, “I believe it is my duty as Prime Minister to hold up examples of great volunteering and service as an example for others. On behalf of the whole country, I hope this Point of Light Award can be a small way of saying thank you.” Surrey Search and Rescue is a charity and all members give their time for free. It is a member of the UK's voluntary Lowland Rescue network – with the same mandate as the RNLI and Mountain Rescue for life-saving support to the 999 services during emergencies. www.sursar.org.uk
Jerry Graham announced as Cumbria Chief Constable Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria Richard Rhodes has formally announced that Jerry Graham, Deputy Chief Constable of the county, will take up the permanent position of Chief Constable for Cumbria from 1 August 2014. Mr Rhodes said, “I am delighted to confirm Mr Jerry Graham as the next Chief Constable of Cumbria. He impressed us with his sound knowledge and significant experience of the county and its communities, as well as his obvious commitment to our shared vision to make Cumbria an even safer place to live, work and visit. “I look forward to working with him to take forward the long-term plans for policing over the next few years, in line with my Police and Crime Plan.” Jerry Graham said, “I am honoured to be given the opportunity to lead Cumbria Constabulary as Chief Constable and I consider it a privilege to
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North Wales Police has announced the appointment of Richard Debicki as Assistant Chief Constable. Mr Debicki is currently a Chief Superintendent with the Lancashire Constabulary having started his career with the force 20 years ago. Chief Constable Mark Polin said, “I am very happy to welcome Richard to the team. This is a key appointment and Richard will bring many qualities to the role and to the chief officer team, having served in a variety of positions over many years in Lancashire Constabulary. I would also like to express my gratitude to Simon Shaw who has been the Temporary Assistant Chief Constable for the past year.” A start date has not yet been finalised for Mr Debicki, who plans to move to the area and has made a commitment to learn Welsh. www.north-wales.police.uk
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has appointed Wayne Bowcock as Deputy Chief Fire Officer. Wayne began his career as a firefighter in Staffordshire in 1992, working initially in Stoke-on-Trent. After spells at Moorlands and Stafford, as a Station Officer, he spent time back at Stokeon-Trent and at HQ, where he developed the Integrated Risk Management Plan. He spent a year working from Stoke City Council before becoming Area Commander for Stokeon-Trent and later Area Commander responsible for North Staffordshire. In March 2012, Wayne moved to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service where he took up responsibility for training, organisational safety and operational assurance and was a Director of the Red One trading arm. www.notts-fire.gov.uk
serve the public of Cumbria in this important role. I look forward to working with the Police and Crime Commissioner, to deliver his Police and Crime Plan to keep the communities within Cumbria safe. “I am proud of Cumbria Constabulary, whilst there are a number of challenges ahead we are a dynamic organisation and I am confident and optimistic we can meet these challenges.”
ACC Anthony Bangham from Avon & Somerset Constabulary has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief Constable for West Mercia Police. DCC Bangham is now rejoining West Mercia Police as Deputy Chief Constable in June 2014. Bill Longmore, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, said, “I am extremely pleased to welcome DCC Bangham to West Mercia Police. His role will be to provide control and direction to the force and we look forward to benefiting from the professionalism, dedication and commitment to policing he has demonstrated throughout his career to date.”He replaces DCC Simon Chesterman who left West Mercia Police to join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary as Capability Director and Deputy Chief in January 2014.
www.cumbria.police.uk
www.westmercia.police.uk
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Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority has appointed Director of Risk Chris Davies to the role of Chief Fire Officer. The appointment comes after Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s former Chief Fire Officer Richard Smith announced his retirement from the service at the end of March. CFO Davies said, “I am extremely delighted to be appointed Chief Fire Officer for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. I look forward to working together with staff and the authority to ensure Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service becomes a world leader in community safety and emergency response.” www.mawwfire.gov.uk
Two directors have been appointed to new posts at the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST). Rob Ashford is Locality Director for Essex, and Dave Fountain takes up the same role in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Rob and Dave will be responsible for running the emergency 999 service in their respective areas. They will also sit on the trust board, ensuring that their counties are represented at the top level of the trust and the communities have a direct link to the board. www.eastamb.nhs.uk
The Association of Lowland Search and Rescue (ALSAR), which represents the UK’s Lowland Rescue teams, has announced the election of Kris Manning as Chairman, and Adrian Edwards as Vice Chairman. Kris Manning was author of the original Lowland Search Techniques course, which was used as the basis for Lowland Rescue search standards from 1995. The election sees a return to the Chair for Kris Manning, who held the position in the early years of ALSAR’s national work, but stepped down to concentrate on national training and delivery standards. www.lowlandrescue.org
Suffolk Constabulary has appointed Gareth Wilson as its new Deputy Chief Constable. Mr Wilson was selected on 8 May by a panel including Chief Constable Douglas Paxton, Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore and Suffolk County Council Chief Executive Deborah Cadman. Mr Wilson said, “There are significant challenges ahead but I am looking forward to working closely with Chief Officer colleagues, the Police and Crime Commissioner and officers and staff in shaping the organisation for the future, so that it can continue to provide a quality policing service to local people.” He will succeed Deputy Chief Constable Paul Marshall, who retires in July. www.suffolk.police.uk
Gwent Police appoints new Deputy Chief Constable Gwent Police has appointed Craig Guildford as its new Deputy Chief Constable (DCC). DCC Guildford joined Cheshire Constabulary in 1994 after completing a Geography degree at university where he also worked as a volunteer Special Constable. He worked in several different departments, both as a uniformed and plain clothed officer, and was also seconded to the National Crime Squad in 2000. On his return to Cheshire he progressed through the ranks before being appointed as Assistant Chief Constable Specialist Operations with West Yorkshire Police in October 2012. DCC Guildford said, “I was honoured to have been appointed to this important role, and am delighted to move to Gwent. I will repay the faith shown in me by working hard to deliver a police service, which focuses on victims and does all it can to prevent crime and bring those who commit crime to justice. So far I have been very impressed with the can do attitude of officers and staff I have met, and look forward to getting to know more staff and officers over
Two ACCs complete South Wales Police senior team The Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner of South Wales Police announced the appointment of two new Assistant Chief Constables on 28 April.
the coming weeks and months.” Chief Constable Jeff Farrar commented, “Craig is a highly skilled and experienced police officer, and he was appointed following a rigorous and competitive recruitment process. Throughout his career Craig has proved himself to be a committed, dedicated and highly professional police officer. I am very much looking forward to working with him, and on behalf of the force I warmly welcome him to Gwent.”
SWP ACC Nikki Holland
Chief Superintendent Nikki Holland from Merseyside Police and Chief Superintendent Jon Stratford from Avon and Somerset Police complete the uniformed senior management team at the force.
www.gwent.police.uk
Tri-service role for new ACC Essex Police Chief Superintendent Michelle Dunn has been appointed as the new Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) for Hertfordshire Constabulary. The first ‘Chief Officer’ to be appointed through a process which involved representatives of the three Chief Constables in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, ACC Dunn’s role will primarily involve leading the three-force Operational Support Project for the Strategic Alliance. The Operational Support Project involves looking at how the three forces will deliver call handling (999 and 101 calls), custody arrangements and criminal justice. The work of the project will impact upon more than 600 police officers and staff working across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Chief Constable Andy Bliss said, “We have taken a different approach to recruiting this post because each force and their Police and Crime Commissioners have a critical role in shaping how services will be delivered in the future. “Michelle is the right person for this role and I am delighted with her appointment. Her knowledge and understanding of operational policing
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SWP ACC Jon Stratford
is first class. She brings a wealth of experience which, I am sure, will serve the three forces very well as we move forward with our further collaboration plans.” ACC Dunn said, “I am absolutely delighted to take up this role working for three excellent forces. I am looking forward to what I know will be a challenging role bringing together some really important elements of policing that have a direct impact on the public and the service we provide. I am committed to working with officers and police staff from all three counties in the months ahead as the plans begins to take shape.”
Chief Constable Peter Vaughan said he was pleased that both had chosen to move to South Wales. He said, “I am very pleased to welcome both Nikki and Jon to South Wales Police. They bring valuable skills and a positive approach to our force and both have an excellent understanding of how to deliver high quality community based policing. “They have been appointed following a testing and rigorous process during which they demonstrated their personal qualities with distinction. I look forward to them joining my team and working with me to keep South Wales safe.” Commissioner Alun Michael said, “I am delighted that we have been able to secure the services of two experienced officers with track records of success in policing major cities. Also, that they complete a very strong senior team in South Wales to serve the public and continue the good work that has been done in recent times.”
www.herts.police.uk
www.south-wales.police.uk
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Install confidence in your vehicle with equipment from Premier Hazard Premier Hazard offers a cost effective, comprehensive installation service on a full range of lightbars, lighting, sirens, speaker and camera equipment. From full fitting, to configuration, setup and operator training, the company’s engineers and technicians provide the same expert service whether installing on new vehicles or retrospectively. With experience working closely with both vehicle manufacturers and customers across a full range of sectors from police forces and ambulance services to the fire and rescue market, Premier Hazard can provide a bespoke, application specific service that will help you get the most out of your equipment. Working to all relevant industry and health and safety guidelines, the company can also provide an installation service for emergency response vehicles in line with the NPIA (formerly PITO) Framework agreement.
In-car CCTV Although no timescale has been set for introducing in-car CCTV throughout the emergency services, many forces within the UK and abroad have taken it upon themselves to build in-car CCTV into their vehicles. Premier Hazard is leading the way in terms of clarity of picture and technological advancement, meaning that with one of its in-car CCTV kits customers get unrivalled visibility and control over their surveillance operations. The in-built shock sensors to measure XYZ axis movement give a total overview of how the vehicle is driven. Cameras sit unobtrusively on the car or van’s rear and windscreens and constantly record what’s going on, in front of the car, at the rear of the car and even in the car itself, providing the emergency services with concrete evidence should it be needed.
A DVR and a monitor are included within all Premier Hazard’s in-car CCTV kits, of which the company currently stocks three: entry level, highend and top of the range. The latter two include GPS so customers can give an accurate location of where incidents took place. Good sized hard drives are provided as standard in all Premier’s kits. Each in-car CCTV kit contains everything you need to equip one vehicle, including cables, mounts and manuals. The kits are also supplied with intuitive software, which allows for local playback and download, as well as the easy creation of video files that are suitable for court. Highways contract EM Highways has recently awarded Premier Hazard the contract to supply it with a high tech camera system for its fleet vehicles. EM Highways delivers highways management and maintenance contracts for the Highways Agency, Transport for London and several local authorities. Phil Gale, National Fleet and Transport Manager for EM Highways, said, “As an established UK company with more than 30 years’ experience and a good reputation within the emergency service market, we thought Premier Hazard were worth a look.
“Having seen the quality of Premier’s systems and learning how they would design a system for each type of vehicle on our fleet, we were keen to include them in our tender. We were very happy to award them the contract when they came in on budget.” Management and surveillance The Premier Hazard FleetView Live system is a vehicle management and surveillance system providing a wide range of functions to support fleet managers. It is successfully used in fleet operations ranging from emergency services and airside ground support, through to bus, coach and haulage operations.
“Premier Hazard can provide a bespoke, application specific service that will help you get the most out of your equipment.” FleetView Live allows fleet managers to view the location route, and speed, of all vehicles in the fleet, communicate by text and voice, view and control cameras on the vehicle, and monitor vehicle functions such as indicators, door switches, voltage levels etc. Providing an adaptable and responsive service, Premier Hazard’s products and systems can be fitted either on site, or at the location of a customer’s choice for added convenience. All work is guaranteed, and the company takes a flexible approach to each project, so it can integrate customers’ individual requirements and designs into the vehicle, and offer expert advice on fitting options, where required. www.premierhazard.co.uk
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Over 40 years of innovation , collaboration and standardisation, while driving down the cost of police vehicles The origins of the National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) can be traced back to a meeting of police fleet engineers at Wiltshire Police in 1973. This led to an annual police fleet engineers’ seminar, which ultimately became the NAPFM, in 1986. The association now has members from all UK police forces and is the innovator and owner of a wide range of procurement contracts and frameworks. Words: Chris Malkin, Chair of NAPFM Procurement Committee & Fleet Manager, Lancashire Constabulary & Paul Murphy MCIPS, Police Fleet Procurement Category Manager, Collaborative Police Procurement Programme, Home Office. The NAPFM has also established what is now the national fleet conference and exhibition, which covers all blue and amber light services and celebrated its 40th Anniversary last year. The exhibition is now the largest exhibition of its type in Europe. The NAPFM realised, in 1994, there were massive opportunities if they could achieve a national approach to procurement and aggregate spend from all police forces to secure greater discounts from suppliers and promote a collaborative approach. To deliver these savings and efficiencies the Procurement Committee was founded and this committee has worked tirelessly to provide more innovative and improved contracts for all police forces.
“The framework for the supply of new vehicles will be open to all government departments, both central and local government, as well as all emergency services.”
From L to R: Richard Flint, NAPFM lead on Vehicle Standardisation & Head of Transport, North Yorkshire Police; Graham Crow, Chair of NAPFM Technical Committee & Head of Transport, Northamptonshire Police; Dennis Ord, Chair of NAPFM & Fleet Transport Manager, Surrey and Sussex Police; Paul Murphy, Police Fleet Category Manager, The Home Office; Chris Malkin, Chair of NAPFM Procurement Committee & Fleet Manager, Lancashire Constabulary.
frameworks and contracts covering the following areas: supply of vehicles and parts; tyres; glass; disposals; fuel cards; and oils and lubricants. Following the demise of PITO, the NPIA took over until they themselves were absorbed into the Home Office in 2011 since when they have been the association’s partner in procurement. The Home Office has added further procurement expertise to the contracts and ensured they are closely aligned to the requirements of police fleets. Central to the operation of efficient, cost effective and sustainable police fleets, NAPFM concentrates its approach to the whole life cost of the vehicles, not just upfront cost. Typically a police vehicle will cost twice as much in fuel, maintenance, repair and use of tyres and glass than it will cost to buy. The toolkit of contracts provided by NAPFM and
the Home Office offers a cradle to grave route to procure, maintain, and dispose of all fleet assets. In recognition of the innovations and savings achieved, in 2010 the Central Government Procurement Award was given to the Police Fleet Framework for its joint work in delivering the framework. The award judges were impressed with the level of standardisation and the level of collaborative savings that could be achieved as a result. Key highlights of the current vehicle framework are listed below and overleaf: 1. Eight regional collaborations formed, to aggregate demand 2. Further competitions have saved money compared to framework prices –potentially £3.2m a year
At the time, some 20 years ago, this type of initiative had never been seen before in government departments and these early pioneers had discovered the art of collaboration decades before other government departments saw the realisable benefits for all and followed suit! These methods of aggregation and the route to market have now become a model for others to follow and the norm for large contracts in Government. Partnership success Despite setting up the Procurement Committee, NAPFM realised they needed procurement expertise and assistance to deliver their objectives and this came in the shape of the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO); the partnership was an instant success and has delivered national
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3. Longer vehicle life cycles are possible as capital expenditure budgets are reduced, supported by better warranty provision 4. Turnkey (ready to roll fully converted) cars offered for the first time.
The Police Fleet Frameworks are standard setting and have been commended by a recent NAO report as the pathway to be followed for greater collaboration and aggregation. The frameworks have also promoted standardisation through aggregated demand and the close working relationship with the National Policing Lead (formerly ACPO). Combined contracts More recently the Home Office procurement team has been collaborating with GPS, now the Crown Commercial Service (CCS). Building on this relationship, CCS is collaborating with the police and Home Office Commercial to use the fleet expertise to shape many of these new
procurement initiatives. The first of these new combined contracts to be delivered was for the supply of tyres, which incorporated specific police lots as there was an acceptance that the police ‘brand’ was ‘unique’.
“Working alongside operational policing, a dedicated team are drawing up national vehicle specifications for all police roles, which will be used as part of future procurements.” Currently work is ongoing on the framework for the supply of vehicles and parts, this will also have specific police lots to preserve the police brand and acknowledge the previous success of the earlier police frameworks. This framework for the supply of new vehicles will be open to all government departments, both central and local government, as well as all emergency services. The total value is estimated at £1.5bn; the police are the major stakeholder with a 30 percent share of the contract.
NAPFM is thriving So where is the NAPFM in 2014 amidst a landscape that sees the Government looking for greater savings from police forces, Police and Crime Commissioners involving themselves in the mix as locally elected representatives and operational police officers looking for answers to a myriad of issues? The association is thriving, boasting a wellestablished procurement committee, chaired by Lancashire’s Fleet Manager, Chris Malkin, that is working alongside the Home Office and Crown Commercial Services to protect police fleet interests and continuing to deliver innovative, successful and money saving contracts that promote collaboration and standardisation. There is an active Technical Committee, chaired by Northamptonshire’s Fleet Manager, Graham Crow, dealing with all manner of technical issues that arise from one of the hardest used vehicle fleets in the country. The association is also leading on the tricky subject of delivering national standard vehicle specifications.
Working alongside operational policing, a dedicated team of Richard Flint (North Yorks) John Gorton (Kent & Essex) and Andy Kelly (West Mids) working with David Wilkin (Director of resources at West Mids Police), are drawing up national vehicle specifications for all police roles, which will be used as part of future procurements. They are also working on the possibility of delivering a national specification for vehicle telematics that it is hoped could be offered to all police forces. NAPFM Chairman Dennis Ord said, “I am certain that, on the one hand with the bottom up action and commitment of everyone within the NAPFM, and on the other hand, with a tremendous amount of good practice carried out within other blue light and amber organisations, the Home Office and CCS, we will be able to achieve the objectives set us, by these challenging times… forces may think that they can go further individually but together we can go further – no challenge is too great if we all act together!” www.homeoffice.gov.uk
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Scotland the brave! The title of this article is an epithet that still resonates around the world for this small but proud country, which is still punching well above its weight in terms of history, culture and influence. And ‘brave’ is an apt way to describe the introduction of a brand new police fleet department for Police Scotland, which ‘hit the ground running’ at the force’s launch in April 2013. I recently travelled to fleet headquarters in Glasgow to see how well the department – now over a year old – is working in practice. Words: Roger Blaxall, Motoring Correspondent. Police Scotland was formed last year, as eight constituent forces along with the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and the Scottish Police Services Authority in Scotland merged into one body. The formation also brought with it the challenges of integrated vehicle fleet management. Amalgamations, with their vaunted promises of cost saving, improved efficiency and more effective front line delivery always look great on paper; delivering the changes though can be a completely different story. Head of Fleet Tony Chalk was handed the job of handling the ambitious merger plans; the word ‘daunting’ doesn’t adequately describe the challenges he and his team faced to ensure the project was delivered on time and on budget.
Tony Chalk, Head of Fleet, Police Scotland.
Amalgamation From his office in the former Strathclyde Police Fleet HQ in Glasgow, Tony Chalk related how the project was planned and came to fruition. Back in 2012, he told his team – and the nascent Scottish Police Authority, which would be responsible for the ultimate decision – that any amalgamation could go along one of four lines. In addition, with nothing set in stone, he at least had the luxury of a clean sheet of paper on which to sketch out a vision for making the new Police Scotland fleet ‘work’. “We had four options and each of them had to be costed, examined and discussed before a final decision was made,” he said. Option one was to keep everything in house. Option two, the most contentious, was to outsource the whole fleet operation. Option three, the boldest, was to have a full shared service with police, fire and ambulance as one unit. Option four was a hybrid solution of ‘in house’ and a full shared service.
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Cost effective and practical It was Tony’s job to look with his team at each option in detail and work with colleagues for the most cost effective and practical solution to be ultimately recommended for approval. As a former Ford apprentice and manager with one of the UK’s leading vehicle rental firms, Tony was well suited to the challenges ahead, and for over a year the ‘road map’ was discussed before a final recommendation was made to the Chief Constable and his command team and the shadow Scottish Police Authority, which by 2013 was being prepared for its responsibilities.
“Tony expects to replace some 300 vehicles a year minimum with liveried cars and vans disposed off every four years and covert vehicles every five years.”
to day maintenance, forward planning for vehicle replacement, breakdown cover and insurance – and more – all coming under the microscope. No small task given the fact that the old Scottish forces all had a heritage and histories of their own – presenting the fleet team with some unique challenges to maintain continuity yet bring in the new body with as little disruption as possible. Unique policing challenges Scotland, of course, presents some unique policing challenges. It has one of the most changeable climates in the UK and some of its most isolated communities; in short, its officers are expected to cope with everything from the snows of the rugged Cairngorms to the busy city centre beats of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. In one of his moves, Tony examined his ‘legacy’ fleet of police vehicles before making a critical decision to move to a solus supplier for the mainstay of its fleet – community beat cars and general-purpose vans.
Tony and his team had to evaluate and cost almost every aspect of a modern police fleet, from optimal staffing requirements (voluntary redundancy and early retirement were on the table) to the new Police Scotland livery (‘Semper Vigilo or ‘always vigilant’) along with the practicalities of day
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28 | ESTVEHICLES is a source of pride to the steering group, which recommended the final decision,” he said. Tony still has a hands-on role in his ‘new’ office, sited in the former Strathclyde fleet HQ on the outskirts of Glasgow where it moved nine years ago. It will win no awards for architectural beauty but it is well placed for the main M8 and M74 motorways, which means that Scotland’s biggest conurbations – Glasgow and Edinburgh – are in easy striking distance, with journeys to all 14 fleet bases in relatively easy reach; Tony’s longest trips are to Inverness, some three and half hours away. Tony now has some 149 staff working for him across the country, which include vehicle technicians, senior managers, one Head of Fleet and 16 admin staff.
Ford won the first contract, with Police Scotland ordering 124 Ford Focus 1.6 diesel estates and 58 Ford Transit Custom van models, boosting its fleet to 3496 vehicles. “We chose from vehicles approved by the UK National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) and after evaluation of the whole-life costs of the various models available, Ford won the contract,” said Tony. “The creation of Police Scotland has meant the centralisation of all purchasing for the police across the country, which improves standardisation and helps to reduce costs,” he said.
Vehicles are sent to Ford’s ‘one-stop shop’ facility, Ford SVP, in Essex, where they are stripped and equipped to the force’s requirements – everything from livery, sirens and blue lights, through to specialised equipment – before delivery to the customer ready for action. “Ford has supplied vehicles to the various regional police forces across Scotland for many years, and we welcome the opportunity and
benefits offered by the centralised purchasing decisions,” said Tony. “I was under no illusion about the size of the project and what was expected of me,” he confessed. “But I had the trust of the Chief Constable and his team along with the professional expertise of my colleagues to ensure we got everything ‘right’ before a final decision was made.” Failure not an option The move to amalgamate the Scottish police fleets wasn't without precedent in the UK; three forces did the same thing in England some years ago with the Chiltern Transport Consortium looking after the fleet needs of the Bedfordshire Police, UK Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Hertfordshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police. However, the Police Scotland move was much bigger and bolder – the new force is the second largest in the UK after The Met in London and failure was not an option for such an ambitious plan. An exhaustive process saw what Tony asserts is the best and most cost effective solution with the new ‘in house’ Police Scotland fleet best placed to serve the force. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and he can now look back with a certain sense of pride on just how well the move has been executed, although he admits like most police operational work, it’s still a case of ‘work in progress’. “I believe we got the basics right though and the feedback has been mostly positive, which given the size of the project
Liveried in silver In all, Tony is now responsible for 3496 vehicles and some 1100 pedal cycles – those legacy vehicles for response and neighbourhood officers include the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, now being phased out in favour of the Ford Focus estate due to the contract award, all of which are liveried in silver for ease of identification.
Officers use quirky electric Mitsubishi i Miev’s on university campuses, while a number of Ford’s Mondeo, Transit, and Transit Connect models along with the Vauxhall Vivaro, VW Transporter, Mitsubishi Outlander and Mercedes Vito are included in the core of the force’s response and neighbourhood fleet. For roads policing, standard vehicles are the Audi A4 and A6, Volvo V70 estate, BMW X5, and the BMW 5 and 3 Series. Operational support teams use the Mercedes Sprinter and IVECO Daily, while covert vehicles include models from all of the above. Finally, Vauxhall Movanos are also used as mobile offices, while BMW, Yamaha and Kawasaki supply police bikes. Cost efficient Cars, vans and motorbikes are run for around 120,000 miles and disposed of by a national contract with British Car Auctions closed auction with an audit trail of each sale. Tony expects to replace some 300 vehicles a year minimum with liveried cars and vans disposed off every four years and covert vehicles every five years. The Glasgow workshops boasts the latest equipment, with a selection of police cars fitted with black boxes and trackers; fleet technicians are well used to interrogating vehicle telematics to ensure the most cost efficient problem solving for a fleet where down time is kept to a minimum.
Police Scotland’s fleet department headquarters is on the outskirts of Glasgow.
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www.scotland.police.uk
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Support vehicle added to British Red Cross fleet A specially adapted vehicle to provide support to victims of fires, floods and power cuts has hit the road in Lancashire as part of the British Red Cross’s emergency fleet. The £40,000 Fiat Trigano Motorhome has been rolled out to replace its 13year-old predecessor in Leyland after 12 months of fundraising by the local community and £20,000 match funding from local firm Ainscough Training Services Limited. FESS vehicle. Photo: Matthew Percival (BRCS)
such as clothing, food and toiletries, as well as help with securing temporary accommodation and contacting insurance companies.
This is the Red Cross Unimog 4x4 vehicle usually used in international disasters deployed in Somerset to deliver fuel to villagers across Muchelney in January 2014.
The vehicle is part of the Red Cross’s Fire and Emergency Support (FES) service and is designed to provide an immediate safe-space and shelter for those caught up in a crisis. Alison Foy, British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Coordinator for Lancashire, said, “Hundreds of people across Lancashire suffer damage to their home following a fire, flood or similar incident each year, and our volunteers are there to provide free support to those in urgent need. In 2013 alone we attended 58 incidents and helped over 150 people. “This new vehicle will make it much easier to give that support, and we are so grateful to all those who helped to raise funds for it.” The vehicle is manned by a dedicated team of volunteers who are alerted to people in need of support by organisations like Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. They provide practical necessities
British Red Cross fleet The FES vehicle is one of more than 750 vehicles in the British Red Cross fleet used across the charity’s services such as event first aid, health and social care and emergency response. There are 150 ambulances, including 30 4x4 ambulances, and 2014 signals the completion of a major upgrade programme, which will see the arrival of new vehicles from the Renault Master series.
Peter Shinn & Mark Halliday, Fire and Emergency Support Service volunteers. Photo: Matthew Percival (BRCS)
Unimog steals the show Although the range of the Red Cross fleet is broad, there is one vehicle that routinely steals the show. “The Unimog always gets people excited,” said Simon Lewis, Head of UK emergency response and planning. “It’s an impressive member of our fleet and one that we’re extremely fortunate to have.” The Mercedes Unimog U1300L is stored at the Red Cross’s international warehouse in Bristol. This all-terrain vehicle can deal with water up to 1.2m deep and carry up to 2.5t of cargo. The giant vehicle has been deployed to overseas emergencies, such as the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, and played a pivotal part in the Red Cross flood response where it was used to deliver fuel and supplies to the local communities. “It is a formidable asset for us and was hugely important for our work on the Somerset Levels this Winter,” said Simon. www.redcross.org.uk
British Red Cross volunteers on a training course to learn the use and operation of motorcycles. Adele Gregory practicing out on the road section.
Patient transport vehicles to help elderly and vulnerable people get to and from hospital are also an important part of the fleet and are used by the Red Cross’s Independent Living services nationwide. The Red Cross’s six communication vehicles are also a key component of its mobile hardware. Kitted out with internet, satellite and radio connections, they can provide real-time updates, tracking and communication with other blue light services.
Volunteers in snow with a Land Rover 4x4, Nottingham. Photo: Bob Collier
Land Rover partnership
Launch of the all new style ambulance for the British Red Cross in Newcastle. Photo: John Millard/UNP
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Land Rover UK and the British Red Cross have launched a new partnership to deliver essential services to more than 13,000 people facing crisis in rural locations around the UK. This nationwide programme is part of the award-winning global initiative between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Land Rover, ‘Reaching Vulnerable people Around the World’. Over the next five years, Land Rover UK aims to provide more than £2m worth of support to 11 Red Cross Support at Home programmes in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, enabling the charity’s staff and volunteers to reach more beneficiaries. The partnership will help mostly older, vulnerable people reconnect with their communities and provide support with day-to-day tasks following a stay in hospital, for example. Supporting the delivery of the projects is a fleet of Land Rover vehicles, which help the charity’s workers and volunteers reach more isolated areas of the UK where otherwise more challenging terrain or more extreme weather conditions would hamper access. www.redcross.org.uk
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Moving with the times: how electric vehicles are working for the emergency services sector Transport is changing. In the drive for lower emissions we are being encouraged to drive Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) and more of us are beginning to hear the call to action. So far 2014 has seen an increase in pure electric vehicle registrations of over 250 percent on the same period last year. The move to lower emission transport is something both the automotive industry and government are passionate about achieving. It is why we have come together to launch Go Ultra Low, a communications campaign to give clear information on the benefits and practicalities of electric and other Ultra Low Emission Vehicles to both consumers and fleets. Words: Samantha Larner, Innovation and E-Mobility Manager, Go Ultra Low. The Go Ultra Low joint funded media campaign is a clear statement of intent by both government and industry. Government is doing its bit to support the transition to ULEVs – through tax benefits, funding charge-points, providing incentives and much more. The recent announcements on how the Government will support ULEVs from 2015 to 2020 committed a further £500m of investment, with clear ongoing financial support for the purchase and use of ULEVs. The car companies are also delivering an increasing selection of mainstream vehicles at competitive prices, making it easier for consumers, businesses and organisations to find the right car for them. Challenges and opportunities A successful campaign will bring challenges and opportunities for the emergency services. There will be the challenge of a wider range of technologies deployed on our roads but there are also significant opportunities at hand, and it is those we’d like to focus on in this article.
“The cars may be more expensive to buy, but significantly cheaper running costs can begin to build a compelling case for inclusion of these vehicles in fleets especially when their use is optimised.” At a time when so many public sector organisations are under intense pressure to find and make cost savings, a decision to invest in Ultra Low Emission Vehicles for your fleet may bring surprising rewards. Twelve nurses, for example… The Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) has estimated that the cost savings resulting from the inclusion of 15 ULEVs in its
After trialling the cars in 2012, last June West Midlands Police ordered 30 Nissan LEAFs to operate as ‘diary cars’.
fleet is £300,000 per annum, equivalent to the cost of 12 nurses. Analysis of CFT’s fleet showed that most pool vehicles only needed to run 30 to 40 miles a day, easily within the range performance of 100 percent electric cars. Consideration was given to infrastructure with a mix of fast and standard charge-points installed. A standard charge overnight allows for the car to slowly charge using the cheapest electricity rates available. The benefit of a fast charge is the added convenience if a top up is needed during the course of the working day. By allowing for both charging options CFT has enabled good vehicle utilisation rates, further enhanced by an online booking system for all their pool fleet vehicles to ensure vehicles are effectively deployed for the right journey. Cheaper running costs Making sure that fleet ULEVs are well utilised is vital if the cost benefits are to be truly realised.
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CFT has calculated that for every 100 miles a member of staff travels in an ULEV the organisation saves £14. This chimes with cost calculations conducted by Go Ultra Low. It is possible to drive a 100 percent electric vehicle for as little as 2p per mile. Fuel costs issued by the AA put 2013 petrol costs per mile between 12.67p and 21.80p depending on the engine size. That is £2 to do 100 electric miles versus £12 to £21 for the same journey powered by petrol. The cars may be more expensive to buy, but significantly cheaper running costs can begin to build a compelling case for inclusion of these vehicles in fleets especially when their use is optimised. Let’s consider purchase for a moment. The CFT secured funding from The Department of Health’s Energy Efficiency Fund and the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to invest in the vehicles, infrastructure and booking system. These are options open to other public sector fleets.
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ESTVEHICLES | 33 Indeed, OLEV has allocated funds to enable public sector fleets to take on ULEVs for at least 12 months. Funding will cover a fleet review exercise, the vehicles themselves and charging infrastructure and will be available to access later in 2014. It is a fantastic way to de-risk the introduction of ULEVs into your fleet. Plug-in Vehicle Grants Beyond this, businesses are able to access the Plug-in Vehicle Grants, providing up to £5000 off the purchase price of a car and £8000 off the price of a van. The grant is applied at the point of purchase with dealers completing the paperwork and buyers enjoying an immediate saving in the showroom. To date approximately 75 percent of grant recipients have been businesses and organisations, evidence perhaps that fleets are looking at duty cycles and total costs of ownership and increasingly seeing an ULEV opportunity to make savings. Add to this 100 percent first year capital cost allowances, a range of tax benefits for company car users and additional benefits such as no congestion charge and the case becomes even more compelling. Interestingly, last year, the biggest single order of ULEVs for a fleet was placed by West Midlands Police. After trialling the cars in 2012, last June the force ordered 30 Nissan LEAFs to operate as ‘diary cars’. Quoted on fleetpoint.org, Bob Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands Police, said, “The Leafs fit in perfectly with our operational requirements and will significantly cut our fuel costs while also reducing our carbon footprint.” In Portugal ULEVs have even been fitted with sirens, flashing lights and Policia markings so they can perform other police duties as well. Lower carbon footprint Not only are running and servicing costs lower, they can help organisations lower their carbon footprint. The environmental benefit was
something that was of interest to the West Midlands Police. In the 2009 report ‘The Future of Urban Transport’ published by the DfT the cost of poor air quality was put between £4.5bn and £10.6bn. Choosing to drive vehicles which are capable of being zero emission at the tailpipe can help local air quality issues now, and will have an increased impact into the future as the electricity grid becomes ever greener. Some organisations are already taking additional steps to enhance the environmental benefit of ULEVs. As well as adopting the vehicles into their fleet the CFT secured planning permission for a solar panel farm. Not only does this provide free and green electricity for the cars, the excess electricity generated is being sold back to the grid for approximately £10,000 per annum.
An important initiative over the coming months will be the amendments to the central Government fleet procurement rules. The intended changes will see more focus on ULEVs, with a requirement to consider their suitability for the fleet, ahead of conventional vehicles. While these procurement rules are not mandated throughout local authority or public sector fleets there is often a trickle-down effect. To help organisations make the right choices OLEV is funding the Plugged-in-Fleet-Initiative (PIFI). This scheme allows organisations to apply for fleet consultancy support through the Energy Saving Trust. It is free and provides a useful tool for fleets to ascertain if and how ULEVs could be appropriate. Doing the work to understand your duty cycles and vehicle needs is important if vehicles are to be successful in the fleet, but the work undertaken by the Energy Saving Trust also highlights how important it is to bring not just the Fleet Manager, but also the CEO and the vehicle users on board with the idea of ultra low emission driving. Positive response Oxford City Council has deployed ULEVs in its fleet. The response from staff has been overwhelmingly positive. Cemeteries Manager Trevor Jackson has found electric cars are the perfect way for his team to get around. He said, “I have been driving an electric vehicle for over a year now and have been very impressed. Its pick-up on acceleration is very handy for nipping across busy roundabouts in Oxford. It certainly attracts a lot of attention and I am regularly asked about what I am driving. I love it.” This is echoed by the experience of the car manufacturers, with any scepticism often being swept aside once people have the opportunity to experience the vehicles. It is one of the reasons the industry is encouraging extended test drives and government is de-risking the inclusion of vehicles in fleets – once people use them, they like them. If you’re thinking of ULEVs for your fleet you can find more information on the website below. www.goultralow.com
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LFB road tests first zero-emissions response vehicle London Fire Brigade (LFB) recently demonstrated its environmental credentials by road testing its first zero-emissions blue-light vehicle. With a top speed of 90mph and a range of between 80 and 100 miles, the BMWi3 is the first fully electric vehicle trialled by the brigade. During the trial senior officers used the car to attend incidents to test its performance and suitability. London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said, “Climate change and reducing our impact on the environment are issues that all big organisations like London Fire Brigade need to consider. We are at the forefront of the work being done across the UK fire and rescue service to meet those challenges and introducing electric vehicles into our fleet and charge points at fire stations is a key part of that. “Although fully electric powered fire engines may still be some way down the line we have been looking at electric cars for a number of years and they are getting closer to meeting our operational needs. With sustainability now an important consideration in how we operate, it is right that London Fire Brigade continues to considers all practical options to responding to emergencies.” Economically competitive To support its long-term aim of introducing more zero-emission vehicles as more models become available and the electric option becomes increasingly economically competitive, LFB recently secured £592,500 of Government funding
towards the installation costs of charge points at up to 74 fire stations and five other London Fire Brigade sites. Work is also underway to look at the possibility of making some of the charge points accessible to the general public. The Government funding for the charge-point sites will cover 75 percent of the total installation costs, with the remainder, along with operational and maintenance costs, being covered by the supplier. The procurement process to select a preferred bidder to install and maintain the charge points will begin shortly. The trial of the BMWi3 is part of LFB’s work to identify opportunities to introduce more electric
vehicles into its vehicle fleet. It is the latest in a series of electric and hybrid electric vehicles that the brigade has trialled, with six different types of cars and two types of van road tested to date. If the latest zero ‘tail pipe’ emissions vehicles trial is successful the possibility of introducing electric vehicles into the brigade as an alternative to the existing fleet cars will be considered further. London Fire Brigade aims to lead work being done on sustainable development within the UK fire and rescue service and is committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 32 percent from 1990 levels. www.london-fire.gov.uk
Hugh Grant unveils CFR response vehicle Actor Hugh Grant recently unveiled a volunteer lifesaving community car. Burntwood and District Community First Responders launched its new response vehicle at a ceremony, which was held at Burntwood Rugby Club on 2 May. Hugh, the scheme’s ambassador, carried out the honour in front of a specially invited audience, which included West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Actor Hugh Grant at the launch of the CFR response vehicle. Marsh, and Chairman, Sir Graham Meldrum, alongside alongside donations from the local community. many of the business representatives who have The vehicle, which was purchased from helped to raise vital funds for the charity. Staffordshire-based Autosales Group, has been The Burntwood and District CFR scheme was converted by VCS Limited to accommodate a established in June 2013 and currently has five whole host of lifesaving equipment as well as active responders with an additional three having green friendly, roof-mounted solar panels to members undertaking training. The scheme has assist charging the vehicle. recently managed to raise approximately £25,000, which has been used to purchase a brand new Making a difference ŠKODA Octavia Scout response vehicle. The Emma Wilkins, WMAS’ Head of Community money was partially made up of grants from the National Lottery and Staffordshire County Council Response, said, “West Midlands Ambulance
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Service prides itself on having many excellent community schemes in place around the region. In many illnesses or injuries the first few minutes are critical and simple interventions can be performed in order to save lives or prevent disability. Therefore in remote areas CFRs really can make a difference to a patient’s outcome. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers for their hard work and dedication; they have undoubtedly helped to save lives within their communities.” Generous contributions Paul Dadge, Burntwood & District CFR Chairman, said, “Replacing the car would not have been possible without the generous contributions from our local community, parish, county councils and businesses. Today is a thank you to all those who have helped us in the last few months.” Hugh Grant said, “The least I can do is unveil this car. The CFR scheme is clearly a brilliant thing and it’s amazing to think the car can save someone’s life.” www.wmas.nhs.uk
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Yamaha’s refreshed police motorcycle gets the thumbs up from riders and fleet managers The TV series Emergency Bikers has done wonders to convey to the general public the work of motorcycle-mounted paramedics, along with police officers attached to the various Roads Policing Units (RPUs), SERV and so on. Like any reality programme a few stars/characters have emerged, none more so than the Yamaha FJR 1300A. Words: William Old, a former police rider. Used by many of the riders on Emergency Bikers, the Yamaha FJR 1300A has shown itself to be the consummate professional in all situations. Proving its worth time and time again as a traffic beater, it enables all first responders to make response times a four-wheeled driver can only dream about. Over the past few years more and more public bodies (and business users) in the UK have been moving towards using the Yamaha, which is gradually taking hold of the market thanks to its bullet-proof engine and low servicing and running costs and hopes are high for the very latest machine to carry on the trend of its forebears. First choice for many The FJR has become the first choice for many police and emergency services across the globe and it is therefore no surprise that Japan Yamaha Motor Co has created a factory specification Professional Edition, which can easily be tailored to local specifications. The infrastructure on the Japanese bike is designed to accommodate the wide range of radio, lighting and siren equipment that is required in the emergency environment by all users. It also comes with the option of adding a factory IDR capable of recording 30 days of activity onto an SD card. In addition to the additional work equipment, rider comfort has not been ignored and there are many features that ensure long hours in the saddle are as comfortable as possible, reducing rider fatigue and thus improving the performance and safety of responders.
Time therefore to take a detailed look at this new machine in light of the fact that this is a fully homologated machine that has come straight from the factory and is just bristling with new technology. Bristling with new technology Like all current public service machines on offer, the Yamaha FJR is a development of a bike built for the general public who like motorcycle touring. Therefore, it comes with all the accoutrements as standard that this breed of motorcyclist want – full fairings, integrated luggage, long legged, comfortable mile-munching ability and shaft drive.
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Yamaha believes that just because a rider wants to tour and carry a reasonable amount of luggage and be comfortable, they do not want a bike that is slow, boring, or handles like a bus. The result of this belief is a bike that is fast and agile and will acquit itself well on a twisty road against a pure sports bike, as well as meeting all the other touring based requirements.
“From a rider’s perspective the bike is well up to the task of providing fast rapid response that is above all safe at all speeds.” So in essence it fits the police/public role very well. Something that will be comfortable for eight plus hours, fast enough to meet response times, without causing the rider a moment’s worry and capable of carrying the requisite amount of equipment needed to do the job! Since the early versions, Yamaha has evolved the basic bike into an even more sophisticated, modern machine that gives adequate performance. Not only that, but has good rider comfort with excellent safety features, is user friendly and has excellent build quality and that also applies to the police versions.
FJ range evolution The FJ range first appeared in March 1984 as an 1100cc machine giving 125bhp. By 1986 it had grown in size to 1188cc although there was no power increase, only a weight penalty. By 1996 it was no longer listed despite having built up a loyal band of devotees who had to be content with the engine surviving in a naked version called the XJR. However, the turn of the century saw it reappear as a sports tourer once again, now with an additional 100cc, but having shed a few kg. From there it has evolved, gaining ABS along the way as well as a few more bhp together with even better torque figures. Despite these improvements, in 2013 the bike gained even more useful items that fit in well with professional users as well as the normal buying public. So it now features Yamaha’s switchable Traction Control System (TCS) to provide reassuring and precise control in slippery conditions, which is particularly useful for professional users who have to operate in all and often inclement weather conditions. In addition, safe control of the bike is extended further by the addition of D-Mode switchable power delivery, which allows for Sport or Touring modes, tailoring the throttle response to the road and weather conditions. YCC-T, Yamaha Chip Control Throttle, also features on the 2013 model FJR, providing precise ECU control of the throttle without the need to maintain and adjust a throttle cable. The advanced electronics package is supported by a factory fitted dual battery system, which ensures
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38 | ESTVEHICLES the FJR1300 has the electrical infrastructure to support the bike’s features alongside the police specification electronics and radio equipment when stationary. Heart of the matter remains a fuel injected 1298cc liquid cooled, in-line four-cylinder 16 valve DOHC engine, mated to a constant mesh five-speed gearbox. This drives the rear wheel by one of the best shaft drives on the market. This is mounted in a diamond shaped aluminium frame that looks as solid and purposeful as it is. The front end is suspended by solid 48mm conventional telescopic forks that are adjustable for pre-load, compression and rebound damping. At the rear is a rising rate suspension system controlled by an adjustable single shock mounted behind the engine, which also features pre-load and damping adjustments. The machine rolls along on cast wheels shod with 17in wheels shod with modern grippy tyres and it is stopped by twin 320mm discs at the front and single 282mm disc at the rear. This is mated to an anti-lock system that incorporates a Unified Braking System (UBS), which balances out front and rear for controlled braking under all conditions. Comfort is provided via an adjustable rider’s seat, adjustable handlebars, heated grips (as standard) and adjustable side panels to channel heated air to the rider in cold conditions. The electrically operated screen is now bigger and even more adjustable than before, giving even more rider protection against the elements. Police model additions The police model comes with the additional hand guards and foot protectors, along with the new slimmer fit side cases. Steel reinforced nylon fairing protectors are part of the package as well to reduce crash/collision damage in the event of the bike even just falling over. A full factory fitted storage and rear radio box replaces what would have been the pillion seat, looking every inch part of the original styling and gives the rider everything they need for a day on the road, which is easily possible thanks to the 25-litre fuel tank giving a 200 mile plus range. A series of neat integrated blue LED lights along with a small flat rear unit give more light power than ever before and ensure 360-degree visibility to ensure rider safety from all angles. Neat weatherproof switches control the lights after the factory fit switch activates the emergency equipment. (An isolator switch in the rear box ensures no battery drain when the vehicle is parked, although a charging point is standard!) High rider protection Despite the high level of rider protection, in appearance the bike looks sleek and a lot smaller that it actually is, especially in the standard white colour even before the bright Home Office markings are applied. Sitting astride the bike you see the layout is clean and effective with all controls falling easily to hand. The dash is well laid out with the speedometer sitting centre stage and well within the rider’s sight. A side-mounted LED panel tells you all you need to know, including ambient temperature, which is useful in the winter. Other things covered are average mileage, machine temperature, petrol consumption/range and, of course, the time, along with the now obligatory gear indicator.
Once fired up the bike soon settles down to a steady idle within minutes and provides instant turbine smooth acceleration that will leave some sports bike riders looking for a few extra down changes to match the acceleration of the FJR. On the open road, only the odd downshift is necessary to have the traffic move from the front to small mirror images in the excellent vibration free mirrors. Road tests Official tests apparently show the bike has a true top speed of 150mph under such controlled conditions. However, in real terms the bike will easily double the legal limit with consummate ease and run continually above three figures, still returning well over 40 to the gallon. Town use sees the display record up to 45 to the gallon thanks to the lower running speeds. Here, you do get an idea of the heat build up beneath the fairing, although it never compromises the engine response and a quick alteration to the side bars efficiently release it.
Throttle response is always instant and predictable hot or cold allowing you to accurately plan all overtakes on the open road and filtering when in town. Switch into Sport mode and the throttle response noticeably quickens and this will probably be the emergency rider’s setting of choice when responding to calls. The bike’s overall balance is spot on and you can easily come to rest with both feet on the rests and sit there for some time before needing a steadying foot. Despite the bike’s size it is surprisingly nimble and will easily pick a path through all but the most congested traffic. It must be said, for a bike of this size, the steering lock is very good. Away from the congestion of towns or suburbia, pick a road full of twists and turns and you can easily roll from one side of the tyres to the other without concern. Boots can be scuffed at will with no worries of anything upsetting your line through the bends. Set the easily adjustable rear suspension onto the hard setting and the only thing you are likely to scrape is the bottom of the centre stand on a particularly bumpy road, but nothing will dig in! Predictable ride and handling I tested the bike with the panniers loaded up to the 10kg weight limit advised. At no time did the bike
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misbehave as a result of any of these tests, both on fast, open roads or on twisty back roads; its ride and handling remained constant and totally predictable. There was no discernible weave or any shaking of the bars and I felt comfortable all the time in real world riding conditions. Stability under all conditions is vital, especially given the problems a competitor had in this area a few years ago, which ended up with them virtually quitting the big bike market in the public sector. The same can be said about the bike’s braking capabilities, which inspire confidence at all speeds and with all loads. Off the public highway, members of the public agreed that the response lights and siren system were effective. From an operator’s point of view I would agree that both on the move and when static they attract the required amount of attention. At night the twin headlights were effective enough to ensure that poor lights did not compromise speeds. Certainly, coupled with the excellent comfort levels, you can spend all day or night in the saddle without any discomfort or loss of performance.
It certainly has the required physical presence and you had to be constantly aware as drivers seeing it approaching in the rear mirror did have a habit of applying the brakes rapidly, even without the words police being present on the demonstrator. A rider’s perspective My week long test clearly showed that from a rider’s perspective the bike is well up to the task of providing fast rapid response that is above all safe at all speeds. It is comfortable, manoeuvrable and you actually look forward to riding it, something several police riders I talked to said. On the basis of that, it could prove a useful recruitment tool as well for all services! It is a similar positive story when talking to a few of the fleet managers who run the bikes. Very little needs doing apart from regular servicing to keep the bikes out on the road doing the job for which they are intended, unlike their direct competition whose downtime is far greater even for mundane things like clutch changes. The Yamaha FJR 1300A Professional version already seems to be the machine of choice in every respect and this latest version is sure to prove even more popular and cost effective when considering whole life costs! www.yamaha-motor.co.uk
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Lean, green and on scene: making an efficient lightweight, aerodynamic ambulance A blue light service is constantly in demand, 24/7, 365 days a year. This leads to difficulties in reducing the carbon footprint of a vehicle that needs to be ready to go as soon as an emergency call comes in. Since the gauntlet was laid down to the NHS to cut its carbon emissions by 10 percent by 2015, Yorkshire Ambulance Service has been working to reduce its carbon footprint over the past few years through innovative technologies. One of our most recent successes has been the introduction of lightweight, aerodynamic ambulances to the fleet. Words: Alexis Keech MSc (MEng) BSc, Environmental and Sustainability Manager, Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) undertook a Carbon Management Plan in 2010 to identify ways in which they could reduce their carbon footprint. The Carbon Management Plan identified twothirds of the Scope 1 carbon footprint was from transport. With changing health care systems, decreasing budgets and a four percent increase annually in calls to the ambulance service, an urgent need was identified to decrease the carbon emissions as well as fuel consumption of the vehicles within our fleet. Green ambulance challenge The green ambulance challenge was created: Yorkshire Ambulance Service contacted Leeds University to see if they could come up with a solution to help to create a more efficient ambulance than what is essentially a yellow and green driven brick, in aerodynamic terms! A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis was initially carried out by a Masters student and a full-time aerodynamic assessor, who carried out a knowledge transfer between industry, the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and four Yorkshire-based ambulance manufacturers. The UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded a Knowledge Transfer Secondment partnership project between the YAS
and the Schools of Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds, which has enabled the YAS to identify significant opportunities for major carbon reductions from its fleet operations.
“Cartwright has integrated the traditional blue light equipment into an aerodynamic lightbar, with the resultant benefit of improved fuel economy and a reduction in the Carbon footprint of the vehicles.” The initial assessment looked at the aerodynamics of the box body ambulance. They used accurate CFD methods to predict the aerodynamic drag forces (ie the forces acting on the ambulances due to their motion through air) for
several different ambulance designs. The initial work showed that the aerodynamic drag forces acting on the common box-body ambulance designs could be reduced by up to 20 percent by using aerodynamic styling approaches common in other vehicle types, for example in Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). It was shown that the addition of lightbars on ambulance roofs leads to a 20 percent increase in aerodynamic drag. Using a novel roof design optimisation concept based on aerofoil shapes common in the aerospace industry, Leeds University were able to reduce the impact of the lightbars significantly so that they would only increase the aerodynamic drag by three percent compared to ambulances without the lightbars. Reduce fuel consumption It was quickly established that there was the potential to reduce fuel consumption through a more aerodynamic lightbar, but also to save more fuel and create more efficient vehicles through a lighter weight vehicle carrying less weight. The assessments established that there was a potential to reduce air drag by up to 29 percent by buying van conversions in preference to box body ambulances with a potential increase in fuel efficiency of up to 15 percent on aerodynamics alone. The analysis carried out by the University of Leeds over a four-year period has led to the development of a lightweight van conversion with an aerodynamic lightbar, built by Cartwright, with an aerodynamic design by the University of Manchester. Lightweight and aerodynamic The South Manchester-based ambulance manufacturer Cartwright secured the order to manufacture 43 Accident and Emergency ambulances from its Taurus Range. The entire design from Cartwright is bespoke to meet strict criteria required by Yorkshire Ambulance Service for their ambulances. The manufacturer’s engineers had to effectively integrate what was traditionally a five-tonne box body into a smaller van conversion. YAS specification insisted that the design adopted lightweight and aerodynamic technologies to improve fuel economy and reduce maintenance costs. An order was submitted for frontline A&E ambulances based upon a Mercedes Sprinter 4.6t super single van option, which changes the rear axle from a twin-wheel rear axle to a single-wheel, allowing for more space inside the ambulance.
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ESTVEHICLES | 41 Reduced Carbon footprint Cartwright and its Manchester University aerodynamist catered for this by developing the aerodynamics on the exterior of the ambulance, to include aerodynamic light pods to the front and rear, which replaced the traditional lightbar on the roof. Cartwright has integrated the traditional blue light equipment into an aerodynamic lightbar, with the resultant benefit of improved fuel economy and a reduction in the Carbon footprint of the vehicles. The curb weight of the new vehicles is 3.75t in comparison to the previous ones at 4.3t. The newly designed vehicle has an increased payload of 800kg through innovative storage and better material design, lightweight materials and lighter weight equipment. This design has provided a solution which meets both the clinical and aesthetic needs while meeting the strict CEN 1789 European safety standard for the construction of ambulances, becoming the first whole vehicle Mercedes ambulance van with European whole vehicle compliance and CEN Approval, built in the UK. When the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Fleet team identified that its ambulances were generally not the most aerodynamic or efficient vehicles on the road, the average efficiency for an ambulance was 16-18mpg. Since the new vehicles have been on the road (July 2013), they have been achieving efficiencies of an average of 21.18mpg, travelling in the region of 566 miles per week, each, giving confidence in the expectations of the initial green ambulance challenge.”
Midlands Air Ambulance unveils new helicopter
The Midlands Air Ambulance has officially unveiled its first wholly owned helicopter, which replaced one of its three leased aircraft. The newly registered ‘G-OMAA’ EC135T2e aircraft was initially built at Eurocopter in Germany before receiving its medical equipment fit out at Bond Air Services in Staverton earlier this year. The £4.5m helicopter undertook its maiden flight late February from Bond Air Services to Midlands Air Ambulance’s RAF Cosford airbase in Shropshire where it has been carrying out numerous helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) missions on a daily basis. Previously, Midlands Air Ambulance leased all three EC135 helicopters from Bond Air Services. The aircraft are based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, Tatenhill in Staffordshire and Strensham in Worcestershire. The service made a decision to replace the existing leased RAF Cosford aircraft with the new and wholly charity owned EC135T2e helicopter. The remaining two air ambulance helicopters will continue to be leased from Bond Air Services. This vehicle has now been manufactured and YAS has introduced 21 into the fleet. The new vehicles are Euro V and comply with all modern emissions requirements. YAS will introduce 43, even more efficient, Euro VI vans in early 2014 using the same aerodynamic and lightweight technologies to complement the more fuel efficient and lower emission engine. The trust then intends to transform its fleet by replacing 43 vehicles a year, saving CO2 and being more efficient with the innovative lightweight, better designed, aeroprofiled vans. YAS is working with its manufacturers to turn the blue lights green! www.yas.nhs.uk
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Strengthened sustainability Hanna Sebright, Chief Executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said, “The decision to purchase outright our own helicopter was made as part of our strategic plan to strengthen our longterm sustainability by reducing overall operating costs, and further investing in HEMS operations and pre-hospital care. “We are delighted to unveil our new aircraft, G-OMAA, which has been named in the spirit of our commitment to delivering the very best patient care and our ability to reach a patient within a matter of minutes. It has been a much anticipated and now welcome addition to our fleet.”
The purchase of the new helicopter was only possible thanks to the ongoing support the charity receives from the general public and local businesses as well as an extremely generous one off legacy gift in a will, from Mr Derek Bullivant. Commitment to patient care Jason Levy, Fundraising and Marketing Director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said, “As part of our commitment to patient care and to mark the arrival of our first purchased helicopter, we plan to extend our operation into the hours of darkness in the forthcoming winter months. This will enable us to fly 12 hours a day all year round, not just during the light summer days. The extension in operating hours will benefit the patient further as we will be able to undertake more patient transfers between lit helipads during the hours of darkness direct to major trauma centres and specialist hospitals across our region. “Extending our hours of service will come with a cost, which is why today (3rd April) we are launching our ‘GO MAA’ fundraising campaign and are appealing to the public to help us raise an additional £250,000 this year.” Currently, Midlands Air Ambulance’s three helicopters carry out HEMS missions during daylight hours, up to 12 hours in summer months and eight during winter. As part of the ‘GO MAA’ campaign, the service needs to raise an extra £250,000 to fund air ambulance missions between lit helipads during the hours of darkness. Jason concludes, “To extend our service we need the public’s support now more than ever, so be a hero and help fund our ‘GO MAA’ campaign, which will ultimately help to save more lives across the Midlands.” www.midlandsairambulance.com.
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LINTRAN TOTAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS No. 1 Consult, Design & Build Service. 25 years working with Police, Fire, Rescue, MOD & RSPCA K9 Alarm, Harnesses & First Aid
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Cambridgeshire welcomes first new fire engines for on-call crews in 30 years
New BSi standard for first aid kits in vehicles Having a first aid kit in the car can be a lifesaver; not only can it prove crucial in the event of a road crash, but also in less serious mishaps, which result in cuts, scrapes and burns. It can be difficult to judge exactly what you should have for your specific vehicle. The requirement for a bike, for example, which has one or two passengers, would be vastly different for a car carrying up to five people or a minibus or larger vehicle, which may require more than one kit.
Nine fire stations will be the first on-call crews at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) in more than three decades to receive new fire engines. The investment in frontline appliances will not only lead to increased capability for on-call firefighters and leading operational excellence, but also mean the service’s frontline water tenders and rescue pumps will be entirely Scania. Enhanced delivery Chief Fire Officer Graham Stagg said, “The investment in these new appliances and equipment for our on-call stations and personnel will, when responding to operational incidents, enhance the delivery of services to the communities they serve, especially in our rural areas. “These latest additions mean our first-away pumping appliances are now all Scania – a first for Cambridgeshire – and this is testament to the excellent working relationship between CFRS and Scania.” Enhanced rescue capability The new light rescue pumps are already on the run at Whittlesey, Yaxley and St Ives. The remaining six will go to Sawston, Cottenham, Soham, Chatteris, March and Ramsey in the coming months. Area Commander Maurice Moore said, “Providing this cutting-edge equipment, appliances and training for our staff shows our dedication to continue to strive and develop and in turn, means the residents of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will receive the best fire cover we can offer.” The pumps look very similar to traditional fire engines, carrying 1800-litres of water and a variety of ladders, but also hold additional equipment that provides an enhanced rescued capability. The vehicles provide the on-call crews with new pieces
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of kit, which includes air mats, rams, StabFast stabilising equipment, an electrically operated vehicle-mounted winch and an HGV platform to assist with road traffic collisions. Feedback from crews also highlighted the need for a multiintegrated body splint stretcher (MIBS), so this has also been added to the appliances. The engines going to two stations (Ramsey and March) will also carry additional in-water equipment to assist with flood rescue, owing to the type of incidents to which the crews often get called.
Scania fleet David Hall, Director of TruckEast Ltd, added, “We are very proud of our long-standing association with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and honoured to know that their entire fleet of frontline water tenders and rescue pumps in the brigade are now Scania. The Scania brand is widely associated with quality, longevity and low all life costs making it the number one choice for UK fire brigades.” Each new appliance costs approximately £240,000. The fire engine currently at each station receiving a new appliance will be cascaded through the service, used in reserve fleet or returned to the lease company.
Improved safety The BSi has published a new national standard for first aid provision within motor vehicles. The standard aims to improve safety for all UK motorists by equipping vehicles with a first aid kit scaled specifically to the size of vehicle and number of passengers, while providing the essential first response supplies needed to deal with a road side incident. The new standard, which came into effect on 3 February 2014, is a great move by the BSi, providing the guidance required by the average user in a comprehensive set of kits (small, medium and large) that contain everything from plasters for minor cuts to burn dressings and CPR face shields for more serious incidents. Steve Bray, Managing Director of Shropshirebased medical supplier SP Services (UK) Ltd, and Vice Chairman of the British Healthcare Trade Association, who was on the BSi Committee, said, “The work on developing these first aid kits was long overdue as both the type and volume of different vehicles on our British roads has changed significantly since the Department of Transport originally did a standard back in the 80s. We strongly believe these kits will help save lives and reduce the risk of patients’ injuries being made worse while waiting for an ambulance.” SP has made it one step easier by preparing a range of kits in a choice of hard or soft cases – so you can pick the one best suited for your own vehicle as well as refill packs so you can keep fully stocked.
www.cambsfire.gov.uk
www.spservices.co.uk/bs8599-2
Progressive approach Sir Peter Brown, Chairman of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority, said, “Injecting more than £2m into our fleet at a time when many fire and rescue services have to make cuts to their frontline is thanks to our progressive approach to managing our resources and making efficient savings. We are very pleased to be making this investment to benefit the residents of the county.”
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Surrey FRS’s ICU uses Primetech to deliver multi-agency communications Primetech’s advanced communications technologies (including High Definition incident ground video imagery, a fire sector first), and Aireshelta’s shelter system, have been combined to create a spacious new ICU for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), which proved itself highly capable in the winter floods. When Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s new ICU vehicle was deployed to provide communications support for the service’s wide-area, multi-agency flood rescue operations along its sector of the flooded River Thames in early 2014, the benefits of the service’s communications planning were apparent for all to see. Under very difficult conditions, the service was able to deliver very high levels of satellite broadband command communications, both for itself and for all local emergency services. This was as a result of in-depth strategic incident command planning by Surrey FRS, combined with the support of mobile satellite broadband supplier Primetech. Using Primetech’s Ka-band systems, the service was able to provide high levels of mobile satellite broadband capacity for emergency command teams from all local emergency services and agencies.
“Ka-band gave a much better broadband capacity than could have been achieved within the station.” But mobile satellite broadband, using the new Ka-band frequency (which delivers higher data capacity than the older Ku-band system) is not the only distinguishing feature of the Surrey ICU. The unit is also able to collect and transmit High Definition video imagery from around an incident ground, from body-worn and aerial cameras, a major breakthrough in command communications. Multi-agency command Surrey FRS’s new ICU was deployed to its Chertsey station (a few miles south west of Heathrow), which was the incident joint forward tactical operating base, for around two weeks in midFebruary, during the height of the flooding crisis. Based in the station’s car park, and connected into the main building, it was able to provide previously unobtainable levels of satellite broadband communications capacity in support of command and field teams from the fire and rescue service itself, along with police, ambulance and other agencies, the local authority and volunteers, as they battled to help local communities. When the new ICU was being specified the Ku-band had been looked at for satellite communications but it was thought that there might be capacity issues. At that time the Ka-band system was being developed, so the Surrey ICU team did a lot of work with Primetech to determine where the Ka-band system was going, supported by in-depth
Surrey FRS’s new ICU, with Ka-band satellite communications supplied by Primetech, can receive and transmit High Definition video, an industry breakthrough. Shelter is by Aireshelta.
testing. It was found that, even in the early days, the Ka-band receivers were working very well in Surrey and around the borders of Surrey. Working with multi-agencies was a key part of the planning for the ICU. There was a definitive user requirement stating what was required in terms of inter-agency liaison: being able to have access to the media, for conferencing, briefing crews, holding silver command meetings, and collecting information. All this went into the service’s specification, as it is now doing more ‘blue light’ preparation than at any other time, working closely with the police, the ambulance service and the local authority on interoperability. The project team worked with other agencies in defining the specification, and they are continuing to work with other agencies now. Incident ground WiFi Regarding incident ground WiFi, the vehicle already establishes a WiFi network, covering an area of up to 500m, depending on ground conditions and other buildings. It is very good around the vehicle and within the attached shelter, provided by Aireshelta. Incident ground WiFi is another area
that Surrey wants to enhance, and Primetech has now developed a Peli-case mounted portable WiFi unit using COFDM communications technology. One of the reasons Surrey chose Primetech for its ICU communications was the research and development capability and expertise the company provided. The company has been working with Surrey FRS to develop and improve systems, and support its requirements. Surrey wants to enhance the spread of its wireless network, and is already looking at a project to use tablet-style computers for sector commanders and other officers around the incident ground. Cutting edge technologies Commenting on Surrey FRS’s use of Primetech’s Ka-band mobile satellite broadband systems and High Definition video imagery, Henry Walker of Primetech said, “A key feature of Primetech’s approach to its markets is the introduction of cutting edge emergency management technologies and communications solutions, which deliver real benefits for fire, police and ambulance services, backed up by exceptional customer service.” www.primetech.co.uk
Surrey FRS’s new ICU supported multi-agency operations along its sector of the flooded River Thames, operating at the Chertsey station.
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OnStar coming to Europe OnStar has been a trusted partner of emergency services for 18 years. The company’s unique approach to this relationship is to work with emergency services, doing what is best for those in need with open lines of communication. With over seven million customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China, OnStar Europe, headquartered in the UK, will launch in Europe in 2015 starting on select Opel vehicles. Since OnStar’s inception in 1996, emergency services have been instrumental in developing its safety and security offerings, such as Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Assistance. This collaboration also resulted in processes to handle and triage emergency calls. This streamlined the interaction between emergency service personnel and the OnStar advisor, which minimises impact on the finite number of emergency responders and resources. OnStar is an embedded vehicle telematics system that combines cellular communications, global positioning system (GPS) satellite location and live human interaction to assist people in need. It is simple, easy to use and offers Automatic Crash Notification, a red SOS button for emergencies and a blue OnStar button for non-emergencies. Customers use a freephone number to request vehicle unlocks and Stolen Vehicle Assistance. How it works When a crash or button press is sent from the vehicle, location, voice and data are sent via the mobile system to a specially trained advisor at an OnStar call centre. Advisors triage the call and, if necessary, contact the 999 Call Centre. GPS satellites provide the exact vehicle location. The services provided are: • Automatic Crash Response: in the event of a moderate to severe crash, the OnStar system can automatically send a signal and transmit crash information to the advisor who assesses the situation, determines injuries and relays information to the geographically appropriate 999 Call Centre. The local emergency dispatcher sends appropriate help to the scene
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• In Vehicle Emergencies/Good Samaritan Calls: vehicle occupants can also request emergency help through the SOS button. The advisor determines the nature of the emergency and contacts the geographically appropriate 999 Call Centre if needed. These types of calls include medical emergencies and reporting incidents on behalf of others (Good Samaritan/Citizen) • Stolen Vehicle Services: the customer or police can request stolen vehicle assistance from OnStar. The company then coordinates with police to locate and track the vehicle and use services such as remote ignition block (which can prevent the vehicle from being restarted after it is turned off). Call triage Approximately 90 percent of OnStar SOS button calls are vehicle occupants pressing the button by mistake. The reasons for this vary; adjusting the mirror, repair shop fixing the vehicle and the
driver/passenger/child/pet pressed the button by mistake. OnStar advisors triage these calls by speaking to the occupant and do not call the 999 Call Centre. For SOS button calls, if voice contact cannot be made, procedures include recontacting the vehicle (including an audible tone) and triaging the call based on location (at owner’s home) and sounds heard (repair shop noises). The advisor can call the location and quickly attempt to verify the need for emergency assistance. If unable to verify help is NOT needed, the advisor will contact the 999 Call Centre and request a welfare check of the occupants. Moving vehicles with no response, unless sounds of distress are heard, do not result in a call to a 999 Call Centre. Emergency Services Ongoing Outreach OnStar’s partnerships with emergency services require hard work to maintain. Some activities OnStar proactively takes to nurture these critical relationships include: activities supported by dedicated team with emergency services background; maintain continuous dialogue; participate in emergency services conferences – stay visible and available for feedback; dedicated emergency services e-mail box (for US/Canada emergencyservices@onstar.com and specific addresses for other global regions) for nonemergency communications; and dedicated 999 Call Centre call back number (for communications with OnStar call centre about active emergency calls). www.onstar.com
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Need for due diligence when purchasing depot fuelling equipment The first priority for any emergency service is availability and resilience; this applies equally to the equipment deployed as well as the personnel. Readiness is an ongoing requirement. Behind this lies essential logistics, such as the provision of diesel supplies, storage across the operational network, dispensing and the stock management. Words: Stephen Hannan, Sales and Marketing Director, MIS Fuel Monitoring (Merridale). There is no room for sentiment when it comes to purchasing capital equipment. Customers need to be reassured that their investment is cost effective and fit for purpose. This means it must deliver efficient and reliable performance with the lowest lifetime costs.
Speaking on behalf of Merridale, a long-term and well respected supplier of fuelling equipment to the emergency services, I am concerned about a worrying trend where tenders appear to be trading off quality standards against price. There has been minimal emphasis to long-term reliability or accuracies of equipment specified. Also there has been less weight given to the credentials or experience of the chosen supplier and, as a result, we believe that some authorities have purchased low cost, inconsistent and less reliable fuel pumps and fuel management.
Track record for continuity While Merridale is happy to meet honest competition we are alarmed at the lack of due diligence. We would prefer to be rated against long-term reliability and through-life costs rather than meeting the short-term gratification of a low budget price. While new providers have entered and left the market, few of them have been able to match Merridale’s track record for continuity. Through our success, MIS Fuel Management has achieved financial stability as a business that underwrites the future of the company. Customers can be assured that future product support is sustainable and will be available as long as required. Product revisions are managed pragmatically to ensure that there is always a route to upgrade for every product development. As a result Merridale can claim that it does not have any so-called ‘legacy’ equipment or built-in obsolescence. That is not the Merridale way. Our track record speaks for itself. So this is not just PR hype it is part of our ethos. It is what we have done. One solution Merridale’s most important USP is the fact that it is a ‘one solution supplier’ that designs, develops, manufactures and supports all fuelling equipment within the UK. Customers are not faced with a mix and match approach or ‘shadow manufacturing’
Stephen Hannan, Sales & Marketing Director, MIS Fuel Monitoring.
that leads to inevitable confusion about responsibility for service support issues. Proof of Merridale’s stature in the market is evident. There are over 4000 customer installations in the UK. Judging by feedback and aftermarket sales we believe that around 90 percent of the units sold are still operational. www.merridale.co.uk
MG in road safety role West Midlands Fire Service has added an MG6 GT to its support fleet; the sporty GT Fastback is the perfect choice with award winning safety and security features, as well as class leading interior and boot space. The MG6 will join the Road Casualty Reduction Team, playing a major role in aiming to reduce the region’s driving accidents and helping to improve road safety. The brigade works in conjunction with the West Midlands Road Safety Partnership, a multi-agency partnership committed to reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the region’s roads through a variety of road safety events and campaigns across the West Midlands. Aimed at young drivers, drink-drivers and speeding motorists, the awareness campaign is taken into schools, colleges and to a large number of public events.
levels of safety equipment and has a huge boot to carry all of our kit. MG is the perfect partner for us, as the brand was founded on promoting safe driving for fast cars, with the slogan Safety Fast.”
Vital safety messages Watch Commander Sam Lewis of the Road Casualty Reduction Team, said, “The MG6 will really help us to get vital messages across about all aspects of road safety. It has sporty looks, high
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Impressive kit The MG6 boasts an impressive equipment list as standard on all models, with class leading space and MG driving dynamics available in both a sporty GT Fastback and GT Magnette saloon body styles, and both petrol and diesel variants. The range includes the new 350Nm, 150PS, six-speed stop-start diesel engine, which emits only 129g/km of CO2; making the MG6 diesel variant road tax exempt for the first year and costing only £110 a year to tax thereafter. www.mg.co.uk
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EMS (UK) Ltd. EMS (UK) are an Edexcel accredited training centre offering a range of medical courses delivered by pre-hospital medical professionals, including; IHCD D1 & D2 Emergency Driver Training IHCD First Person on Scene (FPOS) Basic IHCD First Person on Scene (FPOS) Intermediate Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Training Paediatric First Aid First Aid at Work Emergency First Aid at Work We now have dates available for the IHCD D1 &D2 Emergency Diver Training – June 30th 2014 – July 18th 2014 – July 28th 2014 – August 15th 2014 More dates coming soon! Please Contact us for more information on (01388)720512 or Learning@ems-uk.co.uk
Aspect leads the UK in delivering excellence in mission critical communications. Emergency services and public safety agencies across the UK rely on Aspect Aspect Radio Networks is ideally suited for providing individual or group calls. Trunk radios offers fast call set up time along with a wide range of advanced features and functionality. Examples of such features include emergency and priority calls, status messaging, dynamic regrouping of users, and data/text messaging. Trunk radio uses a digital control channel .
Features • Voice Communications • Data Communications • GPS Tracking • Control Room Monitoring • Job Scheduling • Fix Costs • Unlimited Calls • Fast Call Set Up 120 MS • Single Button Activation • One To One Calls • Group Calls • Analogue and Digital • Panic Buttons
Aspect has been designing radio networks for over 30 years above and below ground, all around the world For a Full Demonstration Call 07932 388921 email: aspect-radio-networks@outlook.com Handportable Operations
Mobile Radio Operations
Job Dispatch System
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Tyre safety remains under pressure Have you ever considered how difficult it is to maintain safe control of a fully-laden HGV when one of its tyres fails at high speed? If, like the majority of drivers, you assume that you’d simply steer onto the hard shoulder with ease then you could be in for a nasty surprise. Words: Stuart Jackson, Chairman of the not-for-profit road safety organisation TyreSafe. CCTV footage released by the Highways Agency captures the dramatic moment when a tyre fails on the front of an HGV, sending it uncontrollably into the central reservation causing chaos and extensive damage. Luckily, in this incident no-one was seriously injured but it does serve as a stark reminder about what can go wrong and why we shouldn’t take our tyres for granted.
“Drivers must also remember that as part of their daily vehicle walk round inspection they have a responsibility to check that their tyres are safe and roadworthy.” Sadly though, far too many fleets and HGV operators do neglect their tyres. Indeed, according to VOSA’s latest effectiveness report, tyres were the second most common prohibition defect for HGVs in 2012/13. Furthermore, the effects of such neglect is evident from data from the Highways Agency which reports that, between April and June last year, more than 3800 breakdowns on its network were tyre related, with almost 30 percent of these having an impact on live traffic lanes. Everyone responsible Despite these shocking revelations, many incidents can be avoided simply by improving the frequency and quality of tyre inspections. However, due to the complicated nature of fleet management, whereby many persons interact with the vehicle, it’s essential that everyone involved understands their role and fulfils their responsibility properly.
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Being on the frontline in terms of vehicle servicing and maintenance means that fleet workshops and workshop managers have a pivotal role to play in raising tyre safety standards. They must ensure that tyres are properly inspected and changed when necessary. Equally, businesses themselves have a duty of care to their drivers and must ensure they are provided with a safe working environment, which includes the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles. Therefore companies must ensure that a robust process is in place to ensure the regular inspection and maintenance of tyres. Drivers must also remember that as part of their daily vehicle walk round inspection they have a responsibility to check that their tyres are safe and roadworthy. Safety first Indeed, while safety should always be of paramount importance, the other big benefits to properly maintained tyres are that they offer longer tyre life and help to reduce fuel costs. Under-inflated tyres cause higher fuel consumption as the tyres have an increased rolling resistance, which means that the engine has to work harder and more fuel is used. Furthermore, when under-inflated, the vehicle’s weight is concentrated on the two outer edges of the tyre, causing it to wear much faster. Tread carefully Adequate tread depth is essential for good grip on wet roads as the tread pattern helps to remove water from between the tyre and the road surface. Drivers using tyres with insufficient tread depth, whether they are behind the wheel of an HGV, light commercial or even car, will face longer stopping distances, reduced grip and an increased risk of aquaplaning. Current tread depth legislation requires that tyres for trucks exceeding 3.5t gvw must have a
minimum of 1mm tread depth in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width and over the whole circumference of the tyre. The same regulation applies to re-grooved tyres. Like car owners, drivers of vans and LCVs under 3.5t gvw must have at least 1.6mm of tread depth across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference. Daily routine Each tyre should be given a thorough visual inspection, including any spares, as part of a daily vehicle inspection process. Any signs of damage, wear, bulging or cracking, should be addressed immediately as they could lead to similar potentially devastating consequences, such as the dramatic and terrifying high speed rapid deflation so graphically illustrated by the Highways Agency’s CCTV footage. Likewise, if a foreign object is found embedded in the tyre then it should also be removed by either the tyre service provider or a qualified tyre professional and any further issues rectified. Where does the buck stop? Tyre safety is the responsibility of everyone. Whether you’re a workshop manager, fleet manager or inspector, or the driver of a freight vehicle, you are legally and duty bound to ensure that the vehicle’s tyres are safe and legal. The road ahead Throughout 2014, TyreSafe will be working hard to help fleet operators improve their tyre care and maintenance practices. Extensive work in partnership with the Highways Agency and other organisations is already well advanced but any operators or individuals who would like to help support our work are encouraged to get in touch. www.tyresafe.org
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In focus: animal rescue from flooding As the UK was battered with coastal storms, tidal surges and widespread flooding at the start of 2014, it wasn’t only people who fell victim to the extreme weather, animals were put in danger too. The RSPCA saved more than 2000 animals from flooding, with its emergency hotline team answering 7476 calls to animals affected by flooding in the first quarter of 2014 – almost four times as many as the same period last year, when there were 1976 reports. While RSCPA inspectors worked flat out giving advice to owners on how to keep their animals safe from the water or how best to move them to safety, members of the charity’s water rescue team worked round the clock in all weather to rescue animals of all shapes and sizes from flooded homes and fields. Rescues included saving a tank of 40 fish from a flooded home, 30 chickens from flood water, stranded rabbits trapped in a sports pavilion in a royal park, three chinchillas from a waterlogged garage, cats found swimming through water as well as dozens of horses and cattle from flooded fields.
“Partnerships are vital to saving the lives of animals and their owners.” Additional services In Wraysbury, Berkshire, RSPCA rescue teams not only saved animals but delivered medication and food parcels to pensioners and worked with fire and rescue teams to check flooded homes for stranded animals. While there the Prime Minister David Cameron and opposition leader David Miliband personally thanked RSPCA crews for their efforts.
affected by flooding. These are in addition to our more day-to-day water rescues, such as helping injured swans on lakes or reaching dogs stuck on islands. “Our water rescue teams, rope rescue teams and boat crews work very closely with the police force, fire service, mountain rescue, coastguards, RNLI and the military. These partnerships are vital to saving the lives of animals and their owners.” This year the RSPCA became part of Defra’s National Flood Response Team after a Government grant funded water rescue training and equipment. Already officers from the charity have been called upon as part of the Government’s efforts to help cattle and horses affected by a tidal surge, which struck the east coast in December 2013 affecting Humberside and Suffolk. Equipment investment Superintendent Minty added, “The RSPCA has invested heavily in rescue equipment and staff training and are proud to be part of Defra’s flood response team; it’s confirmation that we do a professional job in extreme circumstances.”
Water rescue boats The RSPCA currently has 78 officers trained to be part of the water rescue team members and aim to have 100 officers trained by the end of the year. Water response team members undergo a oneweek swift water safety course at Plas y Brenin in north Wales with a refresher every year and a recertification every three years. In addition to personnel the RSPCA has a fleet of 35 inflatable boats, sea boats and portable rowaway boats to help rescue animals as well as deliver vital supplies such as food and water to stranded herds of horses and cattle. The RSPCA is now looking forward to having a stand at The Emergency Services Show 2014 at the NEC in September to show its capabilities and how the charity can support other agencies. Superintendent Tim Minty said, “I’m very proud of the RSPCA’s response to the recent flooding across England and Wales we are looking forward to attending The Emergency Services Show so we can talk to other agencies about our capabilities and how we can support them.” www.rspca.org.uk
Vital partnerships Superintendent Tim Minty, responsible for Technical and Specialism at the RSPCA, said, “It’s vitally important we have staff who are well trained to keep themselves safe while they carry out potentially dangerous water rescues. We seem to be getting more and more calls to help animals
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Rescue pole proves its worth As a voluntary search and rescue team and a non government organisation (NGO) Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team (WUKSART) has to raise every penny by whatever means it can to continue to provide its valuable services. One of the roles the team undertakes is that of providing safety and rescue cover for certain water related events throughout the year. The first such event of 2014 was the Wild Run event, which is one of the X-Runner race series. The Wild Run venue was a new location and approximately 2500 competitors took part in the 5km or 10km race circuit. The Wild Run circuit contained 25 obstacles of which three were water related. The main water obstacle was the 8m water slide, which finished off in the main lake where the competitors would then have to swim approximately 15m to the opposite bank. The water temperature was a very cool 11°C. WUKSART deployed five Swiftwater Rescue Technicians with throwlines and a 9m Reach & Rescue pole with a flotation collar on the end, which would help competitors out of the water if required.
“WUKSART provides response and operational support to the fire and rescue service and police in a range of situations.”
managed to grab hold of the pole with her hand, which at this point was the only part of her body clear of the water. The rescue pole was then pulled into the bank, which brought the woman to the surface. Another WUKSART technician then waded in to the water to make contact with her as the pole was being brought closer to the bank. Once the team got the woman out of the water she was checked over by a medic and eventually she carried on with her race.
The race competitors were released in waves of 250 every half an hour, with the elite group going first. The elite group came through the WUKSART point without incident as did the second wave, although a few competitors were assisted out of the water due to cold water shock.
communities, including flood evacuation; and underwater search capability. 999 Coastal Challenge Twelve operational team members of Watersafe UK Search & Rescue Team (WUKSART) will be attempting to circumnavigate the entire coastline of Britain in a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) in June 2014 to raise funds for both WUKSART and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI). This unique challenge will be to circumnavigate 1999 miles of British coastline in just nine days, nine hours and nine minutes. The event will start at the RNLI headquarters in Poole and in a clockwise direction will stop off at certain RNLI lifeboat stations situated at strategic points along the British coastline with the event eventually finishing again at Poole.
Throughout the day WUKSART assisted over 200 competitors out of the water and carried out two ‘true rescues’ both using the 9m Reach & Rescue pole.
Put to the test When the third wave came through WUKSART technicians were put to the test very quickly. A small group of women came down the slide together and as they entered the water one particular woman suffered severely with cold water shock. As soon as she entered the water she was gasping for air, which then obviously started to panic her. One of the WUKSART technicians was trying to talk to her and he repeatedly told her to swim to the yellow flotation collar on the end of the rescue pole, which was only a couple of metres away from her. At this point one of the women went completely under water, which was then starting to panic the rest of the other competitors in her group. Immediately the technician waded out further into the water and managed to submerge the rescue pole under water at her location. The woman
About Watersafe UK Watersafe UK’s 30 team members come from disciplined backgrounds, which ensures that they are all experienced at working as team members or team leaders in a variety of situations. The team trains twice a month and general training is divided into four areas: swiftwater and flood rescue training; rescue boat training; advanced training, which includes rope rescue and safe working at height; and trauma care and first aid training. As well as responding nationally to flooding under the DEFRA Concept of Operations, the team provides response and operational support to the fire and rescue service and police in a range of situations, including: water rescue incidents within Derbyshire and nationally; local and widespread flooding; searches for missing and vulnerable people; support during times of adverse weather conditions and at water related incidents; safe working at height and rope rescue operations; powerboat rescue operations; flood support to local
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Throughout the 10-day challenge a support crew will be liaising with the boat team, HM Coastguard and the RNLI and will be following the boat’s progress. The main aims of the Round Britain 999 Coastal Challenge are simple: • To complete the gruelling challenge in nine days, nine hours and nine minutes • To raise a minimum of £50,000 for the RNLI and Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team • To raise awareness of both WUKSART and the RNLI. www.wuksart.org www.reachandrescue.com
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Fire crews and HART paramedics team up for confined space training The Specialist Operations Team (Station 60) based at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service’s headquarters recently took part in a confined space training exercise with the region’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedics. Fire crews from Exmouth and Middlemoor were also involved in the exercise to ensure joined up working in a large-scale incident. The main aim of the day was for all agencies to work together bringing casualties from a point of danger to a point of safety, with everyone involved clear on their role.
Shopping centre setting Nigel Alford, Green Watch Manger in Exmouth, explained the scenario. He said, “We were called to a large-scale incident in a shopping centre and on arrival we were met by the owner of the centre who said he had suffered some kind of explosion. The
cause was not known although the building was undergoing construction. We first carried out a hasty search on the exterior of the building as there were a number of causalities reported. “We then rescued several casualties from inside and carried out a further in-depth search of the interior building. We had all resources on site to complete all the rescues and everything was carried out in a methodical manner.” HART team leader Terry Llewellyn liaised with the fire crews and Station 60 to decide where the paramedics go when entering the Hot Zone. He said, “To start with there was a lot of casualties, so we had to prioritise which needed the paramedics’ assistance and which were able to walk out and get themselves to the casualties clearance station. Once we knew who needed help we resourced the paramedics where they were most needed. “Training together works really well for all involved, we’ve previously completed several exercises so we have already gelled really well as a team. This means we now know who to talk to and who to commit to a particular incident.” Teamwork Nick East, Team Leader for Station 60, said, “The fire crews turn up first, as they would do, carrying out the surface rescues and begin to map the area. Then Station 60 and HART arrive and set up in a tight space to coordinate the amount of people
inside and outside the hot area. This is in case if another explosion were to take place we would know where everyone was. “When command control steps in there is a period of time when everyone is really busy then it calms down and then gets busy again. The formation between all the teams worked really well.” www.dsfire.gov.uk
London plane crash simulated in ‘largest ever exercise’ The London Fire Brigade hosted one of the largest and most comprehensive exercises in its history in May, with fire crews taking part in a three-day exercise based around a plane crash in the capital. The exercise aimed to test local and national emergency response procedures to a major air crash incident in London. Over 220 emergency service personnel took part, including specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from London and across the country, the Metropolitan Police Service, and London Ambulance Service. It was a unique opportunity for the blue light services to work together effectively to practice the life-saving skills that would be used should a major incident ever occur in the capital. The exercise was based on a scenario where a plane had crashed into a building by the river in east London. The exercise featured a real fuselage from a Boeing 737 plane, which a specialist rescue team from the London Fire Brigade painstakingly installed in the hanger of a large, derelict Victorian flour mill, known as Millennium Mills. Exceptionally realistic Using 400t of rubble, the team spent four weeks creating a ‘crash site,’ partially burying the plane’s
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fuselage under the rubble. This created a scenario that offered an exceptionally realistic representation of the aftermath of an aircraft crashing into a building. Real flames and smoke were used to make the scene look as convincing as possible and created an extremely challenging training environment for the rescue teams involved. Crash debris and working black box simulators were placed into the docks for the Met Police Dive team to recover. As well as the crash site inside the building, the exercise also played out in the docks outside, with firefighters trained in water rescue searching the
water for ‘survivors.’ and specialist police marine diving teams undertaking evidence recovery over the course of the two days. Coordinated response Agencies taking part include: London Fire Brigade water rescue and USAR teams; Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service, Newham Council, Emergency Planning and Air Accident Investigation Branch. London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said, “It is only through this kind of exercise that we can fully test our plans and ensure that all the agencies which would be involved can respond effectively together, in a coordinated manner. “Air traffic incidents are extremely rare, but it is my responsibility to ensure that our fire and rescue teams, working with the other emergency services, are ready in the unlikely circumstance that something catastrophic were to occur with a plane in the capital.” London Fire Brigade said that the exercise had been planned for over a year and is completely unrelated to the tragic incident involving Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which occurred in March. www.london-fire.gov.uk
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UKRO sets strategic objectives to advance professional rescue The United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) was formed in 2002 to address the growing diversity of complex technical rescues that emergency services in the UK are required to undertake. Its mission is advancing professional rescue and its vision is that UKRO sets the standards for complex technical rescue through regional and national challenges, which then supports services in delivering to that standard through educational and development opportunities, which ultimately improves outcomes for casualties. UKRO also recognises the benefits of extending its knowledge in this area to support education and development in other countries through its International Development Programme. Four strategic objectives In order to achieve this vision UKRO has established four strategic objectives, which will be managed and delivered by the UKRO Management Committee. The first strategic objective is to ensure national fire and rescue participation in, and support for, regional and national challenges, while the second strategic objective focuses on education and
development, to set the standard and advance knowledge of complex technical rescue. This is evidenced with the Rescue Challenge 2013, where a total of 600 competitors were at the event staged by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS), working with the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO). Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said, “The United Kingdom Rescue Challenge 2013 was a great success, highlighting the broad range of skills of the fire and rescue service and I would like to thank the UKRO for their help. Our staff worked really hard in planning and staging the event and the competitors that took part are a credit to the fire and rescue service and really show the depth of professionalism in our sector. Many had given up spare time to train and prepare for the event. “The Challenge was in a great location in Liverpool and the public visited the site and spoke to our officers about fire and road safety during both days. We also had school groups learning about road safety and safer driving at the event and a lot of media interest. It certainly helped to raise the profile of our fire and rescue service and the work our highly skilled people undertake.”
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The Chair of UKRO, Steve Apter, is pleased that challenge teams are cascading this training and education. He says, “As Chair of UKRO I am acutely aware of the benefits to services, teams and individuals through involvement with the national rescue challenge and the wider UKRO activities including our International Development Programme. As a CFO, I have seen my own service [Isle of Wight FRS] benefit greatly from participation through improved knowledge and skills and through improvements in equipment and more focused product development. Reading Merseyside’s experience as a previous host organisation is really reassuring and clearly demonstrates those benefits to the fire service and ultimately to the communities we serve.” Future development The third and fourth strategic objectives of UKRO are the provision of independent expertise, guidance and support for national and international rescue services, and the future development and growth of UKRO. With the continued commitment and support of UKRO volunteers, fire and rescue services, CFOA and sponsors who provide challenge equipment and funds, the future is exciting for UKRO, and the organisation is looking forward to meeting as many people as possible at The Emergency Services Show at the NEC in September to discuss how it can continue making a difference to the public and improving outcomes for casualties. www.ukro.org
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Arboricultural techniques in rescue Following rapidly on the announcement of the Lyon and Treepartner collaborative training programme is an invitation to emergency services technical rescue specialists to join a two-day technical symposium in September looking at the challenges faced when dealing with incidents involving tree climbers, or disruption to infrastructure by storm damaged timber.
may be required for a swift and professional response and the training needed to ensure successful outcomes. Working at height The symposium will introduce current methods of access used by arboriculturalists for work at height in the UK and will explain the differences in personal techniques, equipment, work methods (including using cutting tools at height) and rescue solutions compared to other methods. It will then address the significant practical difficulties faced by emergency services in dealing with storm damaged, unstable and hung up trees to gain access, egress or stabilising incident sites. Recent changes to the national training and assessment route relating for all the activities demonstrated will be discussed. The issues of working in suspension while using chainsaw/hot cutting or breaking equipment will also be discussed by members of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. Places limited The Lyon/Treepartner symposium will be based at the Lyon Work and Rescue training facility in Tebay, Cumbria from 4-5 September 2014. An evening meal at the local Westmorland Hotel will also be available where delegates will have the opportunity to network and review the day’s events. To allow delegates to observe the practical demonstrations close-up and discuss any issues raised, places at the symposium are strictly limited. Those wishing to register for details or to reserve a place in advance are asked to contact training@lyon.co.uk.
Combining the hugely popular format of practical demonstrations and informative lectures the symposium is intended to highlight the potential problems faced by emergency service personnel tasked with rescue in the arboricultural environment; the strategies and techniques that
www.lyon.co.uk
Scene lighting and protective cases for specialist rescue Peli area lighting systems can be used as scene lighting, particularly for extrication. In a recent extrication team training exercise Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service used the lighting units to illuminate the rescue and casualty evacuation.
Peli area lighting systems are rechargeable and portable, providing excellent light coverage with no trailing cables. The silent running lights ensure that the team members can communicate easily with each other. Bright, reliable light at an emergency scene is vital for the safety of rescue personnel as well as to illuminate and monitor a casualty. Peli cases Peli cases with custom foam inserts offer the optimum in equipment protection. Custom foam is extremely durable and ensures the contents are well organised, kept in their place and are fully protected. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service uses Peli cases to stow and protect power tools. Andrew Clifford, Watch Manager of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said, “Storing these tools in a Peli case ensures they are kept in perfect condition and can be accessed quickly when needed for extrication.” www.peliproducts.co.uk
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Le Maitre G300 celebrates 20 years as leading smoke and haze machine Le Maitre is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its renowned G300 Smoke Machine – an industry standard around the globe, which has been widely adopted by theme parks, theatres, cruise ships and, of course, the emergency services for breathing apparatus training. The G300 was Le Maitre’s second generation high powered smoke machine, following on from the Smoke Processor 3 series, and at the time of its launch was commented on by competitors as setting the standard by which all other machines would be judged. Le Maitre’s goal at the time was quite simple – to make a machine that was better than anything else on the market. This has clearly proved to be the case with sales still going strong and many of the unique features still not being able to be emulated by other manufacturers. Le Maitre came up with and patented its ‘Layered Block System’ called Genesis – hence the ‘G’ of G300 – which is used in all Le Maitre’s professional smoke machines to this day. The G300 was in fact to exhibit many firsts, including: the first digital smoke machine on the market; a sensor to detect when the fluid level was low; and microprocessor control. Operate continuously Another key development criterion was to create a powerful machine, yet one that could also operate continuously without having to turn off and reheat. Another first and a very much sought after feature.
“The G300 continues to be widely used in training and emergency simulation exercises.” During its development, haze was also becoming a big issue in the industry. Le Maitre took the ingenious and unique step of deciding to include a haze option in the G300. No other machine since has been able to achieve this combined functionality. Immense power Efficiency and cost of ownership were further considerations in the engineering of the new machine. A short heating pipe of just 1m allowed the G300 to be powered by much smaller wattage heaters than competitive models, but still give immense power. Competitors have not been able to emulate this and instead use cast block systems with 5m of tubing inside. Furthermore, while a G300 heater block can be dismantled and serviced or replaced, a cast block cannot, becoming scrap once it reaches the end of its life. Even if the heater still functions it cannot be removed from the cast block and has to be thrown away as well. As if all these features of this unique smoke haze
and machine weren’t enough, the G300 became even more versatile when Le Maitre introduced its Freezefog Pro. Combining the two units with liquid CO2 created a completely new low smoke generator system capable of producing spectacular volumes of a low fog effect. The G300 was an immediate success, and sales continue worldwide at high levels today. The theme park industry has been a major adopter of the G300. Disney Theme parks have used it not only as a smoke machine/hazer, but have also had it adapted to give a realistic steam effect. It was also used for the ET and King Kong rides at Universal. Preferred for training Fire and rescue agencies were among the first to purchase the G300, specifying it as their preferred machine for training. Four G300s were used in the Channel Tunnel to check the ventilation system, before it was opened to the public in 1994. It continues to be widely used in training and emergency simulation exercises such as the recent Exercise Deep Reach in the Glasgow subway, run as part of Scotland’s training for large-scale emergencies at events such as the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup. The G300 is NATO codified and used by the Armed Forces for training and also sold to the United States Navy. George Baggley, Glasgow Training Officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said, “Within Scottish Fire and Rescue we are continually
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reviewing our operational equipment to ensure personnel have the best available. The fact that we have used the G300 smoke machine since its introduction speaks volumes. From single appliance stations to our state of the art training centre the G300 is not only the only smoke machine we use but the only one we need. As the training officer for Glasgow I need a smoke machine that is reliable, adaptable and easy to use and this is the G300.” Safest smoke Combined with Le Maitre’s range of water-based smoke fluids, the G300 gives the safest smoke. The higher the pressure internally in the heat exchanger, the higher temperatures the fluid is heated to. This can lead to molecular charring causing free radicals to be formed. This in turn can lead to all sorts of unpleasant molecules being formed. Whereas with a low pressure system such as that used in the G300, the temperature is much easier to control and the G300 is able to produce smoke that had not been burned at high temperatures, which is often the smell that one associates with the high pressure type machine. Groundbreaking machines The brains behind the design and development of the G300, Dave Roffey, can be extremely proud of his creation. Dave is still working in R&D at Le Maitre today, and continuing to make groundbreaking machines for the company. www.lemaitreltd.com
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HAAGEN takes fire training on the Attack™
Personal safety solution from Argyll Companion, part of lone worker services provider Argyll’s SmartCare range, is a new personal safety app for smartphones, which provides a discreet method for summoning assistance during a time of need. The safeguarding service manages day-to-day risks including violence, aggression and unforeseen accidents. The app transforms smartphones into a personal safety solution, complete with an SOS button, which works independently of the password-lock function.
Argyll also offers the SmartClip device.
HAAGEN, a leading manufacturer of fire and safety training tools used worldwide, has released its latest fire training product, the Attack™ Digital Fire Training System. Hands-on training instructors have long searched for a way to train without the unpredictability of fire, especially when it comes to new recruits. In addition to instructors’ qualms about introducing new firefighters to the volatile nature of fire, introducing live flames into training buildings requires the approval of environmental agencies as well as compliance with local and national regulations. Many instructors are hard pressed to meet these conditions, especially when using an outdated training structure or when they have no access to safe and approved burn rooms. Realistic fire conditions The Attack™ was developed in conjunction with various fire and rescue service instructors, each with two problems to solve: the first was the need to create a seat of fire in various places such as: acquired training structures, old training buildings where live-fire is no longer an option or where they want to move the seat of fire for more varied training exercises. The second was to have a good way to create realistic fire conditions for training exercises such as positive pressure ventilation or rapid intervention training operations; where the presence of fire is an important element but fire suppression isn’t the primary objective. Feedback gathered from the instructors and trainees was instrumental in making the product as effective and as user-friendly as possible. The result of years of development and collaboration, this revolutionary training system allows instructors to
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conduct training in areas where live fire isn’t possible and to better prepare for both live-burn training and real fire situations. How it works At the heart of Attack™ is a waterproof panel that features five thermal sensors and generates interactive digital flames and sound effects to create a realistic and interactive seat of fire. Multiple panels can be connected wirelessly to create fire extension scenarios. The panel is portable and includes a weighted base with a refillable tank that works to keep the panel stable and upright during intense training scenarios. Attack™ is available with an integrated HAAGEN smoke generator.
Companion establishes the most accurate location available at the time of any incident by using a combination of indoor and outdoor location technologies. It then transmits this information and opens up a two-way voice call to Argyll’s Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) or nominated response service. It contains multiple fail safes and will always activate an alarm message and provide incident responders and support teams with vital location and incident data. BS8484 certification status means that the solution also ensures you can obtain a police response if necessary.
Training opportunities With Attack™ instructors can go over the nuances of fire fighting that cannot be done once a live fire is introduced into a scenario. Hose stream manipulation, nozzle control, team coordination, and emergency procedures can now all be taught safely and repeatedly. Using Attack™ allows instructors to train on fundamentals so that they can make the most of live-fire burns. This is especially important when introducing new firefighters to fire and smoke conditions in a safe environment. The system by no means replaces live fire. Attack™ makes it possible for instructors to transform how they conduct their training to create a more effective and realistic learning environment for their trainees. When faced with today’s environmental regulations and budget constraints, digital fire is the solution to many organisations’ training constraints.
An enhanced version of the app is being trialled by Greater Manchester Police in support of victims of crimes such as domestic violence, hate crime and stalking. Argyll also offers the SmartClip device, a lightweight product for when your smartphone may not be readily available. Users can press a concealed button on the device, which automatically connects them to the ARC. Argyll will be exhibiting at this year’s Emergency Services Show, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham from 24-25 September. For more information on Argyll’s services call 0141 280 3999.
www.haagen.com
www.argyll.uk.com
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Health software helps maintain Real time fire physical and psychological incident asset wellbeing of frontline staff tracking
system Software application and engineering company Red Ledge, an RFID (radio frequency identification) specialist, has formed a joint venture with fire and crisis management technology consultancy BSG Command Systems to launch iSCOPE™, an incident sector command-level system that uses RFID tags to constantly track firefighter locations, breathing apparatus air levels and other equipment assets in real time, across all zones of any incident.
2CRisk is an online software platform that provides emergency services with the ability to proactively maintain good health management practices across the workforce. With a proven track record of improving health management practices in Australia and South Africa, 2CRisk is now available in the UK. 2CRisk is the only online platform that focuses solely on occupational health and enables you to identify and manage health risk throughout the employee lifecycle – from placement medicals to ongoing health management including periodic medicals and health checks, injury and absence management, VO2 Max recording and ultimately exit medicals.
Typically for duty and workplace injuries the focus on health management has been on physical fitness, however, psychological wellbeing and injury is becoming of increasing importance. Aggregated data 2CRisk has developed the software specifically to help organisations address these areas and reduce the impact on staff and cost to the organisation. Not only does the software allow you to case manage on a day to day basis it also provides capability to aggregate all health related data, including days lost, most common injuries and absenteeism etc. Analysis of the aggregated data enables organisations to identify specific areas of health risk by location and occupation and develop proactive programs to mitigate the risk and reduce associated costs. Latest reports show that the cost of absenteeism in the UK is a staggering £31bn (July 2013), which equates to four times that of our global counterparts.
Absenteeism in the emergency services space is increasing and can be related to physical and psychological factors. Coordinated approach To help address the psychological factors, Ambulance Victoria in Australia has recently implemented 2CRisk to assist them in managing a highly proactive approach to staff wellbeing, including providing PEER Support to the 5000 strong workforce.
2CRisk is now available in the UK Ambulance Victoria has 100 volunteer paramedics who provide PEER support along with a network of over 90 psychologists that provide professional support. With the challenge of people working remotely, at hundreds of locations across the state, 2CRisk enables a more coordinated approach to managing all of the interactions. Positive contribution Great care has been taken to assure that any privacy and security concerns raised by staff, unions and psychologists alike have been addressed. Early indications show that this will make a positive contribution to the psychological wellbeing of Ambulance Victoria staff. If your organisation is looking at ways to tackle any of the issues mentioned in this article, and would like more information about 2CRisk and how it can help you, use the website below to find contact details. www.2crisk.eu
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RFID’s wireless technology does not require a line of site and can be used in extreme conditions. iSCOPE™ uses a quick-deploy portal to scan incoming and outgoing firefighters for the data held on their uniform or helmet RFID tag, which identifies them and also determines whether they have the skill set for the incident tasks they have been assigned. The system records all Airwave and other communications at an incident, and can also be used to call up the latest health and safety documentation for at-incident reference. iSCOPE™ can also be used in other public safety and security environments requiring incident asset management, including policing and industrial – worldwide. RFID-driven tracking applications in policing include scenes of crime, chain of evidence and the management and tracking of police firearms. www.redledge.co.uk www.bsgcommandsystems.com
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The latest must-have kit 1
TH1n Tetra handset – Airbus Defence and Space
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www.airbusdefenceandspace.com
The TH1n from Airbus Defence and Space is the thinnest and most lightweight Tetra handset available today. It is small enough to be slipped into a pocket, attached to a belt, or carried in a handbag. It has particular appeal for those wearing light uniforms because it can be carried discreetly. The TH1n suits a range of different roles, and will serve many who have found it difficult to find a radio of the right size and weight to fit their needs. It will be available through the National Airwave Framework Agreement. This multi-supplier framework is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Service and is open for use by public sector bodies using the Airwave service via the Bluelight portal.
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ARC ScanTruck – AJC Trailers www.ajc-trailers.co.uk
AJC Trailers, the Luton based manufacturer of the EasyCabin range of mobile and static welfare units, has launched a new product that is ideally suited for use as a temporary border control protection service in times of peak demand. This innovative mobile security system is ready to bring the latest scanning and control equipment directly to a protected area. The truck is driven straight to site and can be set-up and made ready to use in just a few minutes. The ARC ScanTruck will instantly begin work to safely screen baggage and personal belongings prior to entry to the location, helping to keep the surroundings and on-site personnel safe and secure. The ARC ScanTruck features a scanner area, fitted with the latest Todd Research Scanner, adjacent to a secure control room.
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Rescue Response Drysuit – Collins Drysuits
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www.collinsdrysuits.com
The new design Rescue Response Drysuit from Collins Drysuits is designed to be lightweight and easy to don, with the freedom of movement that is required by water rescue teams. It features a lighter weight nylon material on the top half of the drysuit with the new Aquaseal Zip by YKK. The bottom half of the drysuit is made using Heavy Duty Nylon material for strength where you need it most, with reinforced knee pads fitted as a standard. Key design features include: yellow lightweight nylon top; black heavy duty nylon bottom; front entry Aquaseal zip; latex neck and cuff seals; latex socks; reinforced knee pads; and reflective tape detail. The standard metal drysuit zipper is also available as an alternative. Collins Drysuits are manufactured 100 percent in the UK so bespoke options are always a possibility!
4 T800 8.1in rugged tablet – Getac The 8.1in Windows 8 Getac T800 tablet from Getac is designed specifically to boost productivity for mobile workers. With a thickness of 24mm and weighing just 0.88kg, the T800 is small enough to fit in a pocket or your hand, but still offers all the power and performance a remote worker needs. Getac’s SnapBack expansion system allows users to add expansions to the T800 such as an extra battery, increasing the operation use to greater than 16 hours. Mobile workers will also benefit from the fully rugged design, which has MIL-STD 810G and IP65 ratings, meaning the device can handle shock, drops and vibration to military grades while also being sealed against dust and water. w w w. e m e r g e n c y s e r v i c e s t i m e s . c o m
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The latest must-have kit 5
Street Naming and Numbering (SNN) module – GGP Systems
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www.ggpsystems.co.uk
Software developed by GGP Systems is making it easier and quicker to update essential address databases that are used by the emergency services, helping to reduce the risk of police, ambulance and fire and rescue services getting lost en route to an incident. The Street Naming and Numbering (SNN) module is the latest addition to the company’s award winning suite of Gazetteer Management Software, already used by local councils, police authorities and fire and rescue services. GGP SNN is designed to speed up and simplify the naming and numbering of new streets and recently built properties. GGP SNN has been developed in conjunction with several Local Authority Street Naming and Numbering Officers and is designed to address day-to-day requirements for document management, process automation and task generation.
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i1065 iPad® case – Peli
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www.peliproducts.co.uk
The new i1065 Hardback case protects your iPad 2, 3 and 4 from drops, knocks, scratches and mishaps, no matter where you go. This stylish case features an integrated easel to allow hands free viewing at multiple angles. The iPad slides into a rubberised insert, which holds the device snugly in place. Manufactured in tough ABS, the Peli i1065 case offers robust and durable protection, even in extreme conditions. This iPad case allows you to safely carry your tablet in all weathers and is equipped with a liner that offers protection from knocks and scratches. Featuring an easy-snap polymer latch, which remains shut under pressure or after impact, the i1065 case also has an integral automatic purge valve to keep water and dust out while balancing air pressure. ®
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Pocket Witness mobile app – Witness Box www.witnessbox.com
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Pocket Witness is a mobile app for lay and expert witnesses in courts, tribunals or inquiries. Due for release in June 2014 on Android and Apple devices, Pocket Witness is a clear, common-sense guide for witnesses in the public sector and beyond. It contains professional advice on writing a witness statement, preparing for court, keeping calm, key dos and don’ts and an extensive chapter on cross-examination (including barrister techniques). Pocket Witness will serve as a low-cost, high-value risk-management tool for police, firefighters and frontline ambulance workers who may give evidence in criminal courts, inquests and internal tribunals. It has been compiled and edited by a team of legal professionals and a top criminal barrister. This smart, compact app will give today’s witnesses a strong understanding of their role during legal proceedings and make sure they are not at a disadvantage when they step into the witness box.
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Latitude Rugged Extreme notebooks – Dell www.dell.com.uk
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The Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme and the Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme convertible notebooks from Dell are purpose-built to withstand hazards such as dust, moisture, drops, vibration, extreme temperatures and other punishing conditions faced by users in fields such as military service, public safety and first response. Data is protected from the elements with sealed doors and compression gaskets while enabling performance at high temperatures with fourth-generation QuadCool™ thermal management. The notebooks enable productivity anywhere with long battery life – up to 8.5 hours and 14 hours respectively – to power an entire shift. Features include: direct-view, outdoor-readable display for productivity in harsh sunlight; resistive multi-touch on the Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme for recognising intuitive gestures while wearing thick gloves; a rugged ‘flip-hinge’ convertible display with the Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme; and a full HD webcam with a privacy shutter.
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ESTCLASSIFIED | 63
VEHICLE MOUNTED BOILING WATER SYSTEM
Cold, wet and dehydration can reduce performance and impair safety. By fitting a ‘TeaMate’ water boiler, crews can make themselves a cup of tea, coffee or other hot beverage to keep warm and hydrated, therefore maximising concentration and keeping fatigue to a minimum.
KNEE & ELBOW Protection
Comprehensive range to suit every application Ergonomic design Comfortable and secure fit Reliable protection Tough and hard wearing Manufactured to the highest standards from selected quality materials marking throughout NATO Stock No: 22c 8415-99-8873869
Gotec Trading Limited Boulton Road Pin Green Stevenage Her ts SG1 4QL Telephone 01438 740400 Fax 01438 740005
• Compact commercial grade throughout. • Self contained fully automatic. • 24v and 12v models available. • Makes up to 9 mugs per filling. WHISPAIRE LTD Email: info@whispaire.co.uk Web: www.whispaire.co.uk T: + 44 (0)1794 523999 F: + 44 (0)1794 519151
WANTED photographs of Ambulances and Police vehicles from 1950's - present day. please call Paul Hill after 6PM on 01752 360315
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MAKE IT EASY WITH
HOT PACK™ Self-Heating Nutritious Meals In 12 minutes, you can create a delicious hot meal, with Hot Pack Self Heating Meals, anywhere you need it. Everything is in the pack to produce a satisfying hot meal without using any other equipment. Even cutlery and a dish are included! Choose from seven great tasting, ready to eat recipes: Chicken Casserole, Lancashire Hot Pot, Chicken Dopiaza Curry, Sausages and Beans, Spicy Vegetable Rigatoni, Meatballs & Pasta and Vegetable Curry. Make it easy. Enjoy a HOT PACK™ meal – anywhere! Contact Canland UK Ltd, Wellington House, Lower Icknield Way Longwick, Bucks HP27 9RZ Tel/Fax: 01844 344474 E.mail: info@hotpackmeals.co.uk Web site: www.hotpackmeals.co.uk
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All types of vehicles and equipment on display at The Emergency Services Show 2014 If you are responsible for specifying and procuring: vehicles and vehicle equipment; PPE; Communications & IT; first response equipment; medical equipment; and station equipment, you’ll find the free-to-attend Emergency Services Show, which returns to the NEC from 24-25 September 2014 provides you with a comprehensive showcase of the latest innovations and technology and convenient access to leading suppliers in one central location. The UK’s biggest emergency services event attracts over 400 exhibitors, including leading vehicle and equipment suppliers. These include vehicle manufacturers like Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo Cars and Isuzu; chassis makers Mercedes-Benz and Volvo Trucks; coachbuilders WH Bence Coachworks and John Dennis Coachbuilders; and specialist vehicle suppliers like AMDAC Carmichael, Emergency One, Supacat, Terberg DTS, Pickup Systems and Rosenbauer UK.
“The Emergency Services Show attracts visitors from across all the emergency services.” Yamaha will be displaying a wide range of vehicles, including the new FJR1300 Professional Edition motorcycle with improved electronics, handling and storage on the 2013 model (see pages 37-38 for more details). Visitors to the stand will also be able to see the Dorset Police VX Patrol ProWC, kitted out with Bluetooth comms, GPS navigation and LED strobe, two rescue ready engines for flood rescue teams and four-wheeled response vehicles for fire and ambulance applications. Bespoke installations As well as a wide range of vehicles, such as fleet cars, ambulances, boats, Incident Command Units and welfare units, The Emergency Services Show features providers of all types of in and on-vehicle ancillary equipment, including communications and IT, from providers like Primetech and Excelerate Technology; lightbars; livery; battery management; driver training; climate control equipment; generators; snow chains and more. Visitors can also see a wide range of bespoke vehicle installations from the leading conversion specialists. Hands-on and face-to-face The show also features demonstrations, seminars and free workshops. “The Emergency Services Show offers visitors genuine opportunities for learning and networking. Nothing compares to physically handling an unfamiliar piece of equipment and sharing knowledge face to face with industry peers with experience of using it,” explains Event Director David Brown. Yamaha will be displaying a wide range of vehicles, including the new FJR1300 Professional Edition motorcycle.
West Midlands Fire Service will be demonstrating its new rescue pumps.
A number of blue and amber light services will be displaying their latest vehicles and equipment, making it an ideal opportunity to share information and ask questions of those facing similar challenges across the emergency services and the wider public sector. The Highways Agency will be displaying its latest vehicles at the show and with all emergency and rescue services re-examining how best to coordinate and respond to flooding events, Cumbria-based Bay Search and Rescue will be showing its unique Hagglunds BV206 all-terrain rescue vehicles and its recently-acquired Airboat. The Airboat is based on craft used on the Florida Everglades and deployed by the United States Coast Guard. Powered by an aircraft-type propeller, the flat-bottomed vessel can be used in shallow water and even run over snow and ice. At 6m long and 2.4m wide, it has a 2000lb (over 900kg) carrying capacity. West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) will be demonstrating its new rescue pumps, developed as part of its strategic review of technical rescue, and its Brigade Response Vehicles (specially converted 4x4s, which help to keep standard engines available for higher-risk jobs). Both vehicles play key roles in the service’s intelligence-led, riskbased and dynamic response model. Visitors will also be able to learn more about WMFS’s prevention work, which tackles risk through intelligence and data. SAR showcase The latest search and rescue techniques will be showcased in the UK SAR Zone, which brings together the RNLI, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, RAF Search & Rescue, British Cave Rescue Council, Mountain Rescue England & Wales and the Association of Lowland Search & Rescue. Several of these organisations will also be presenting seminars during the two-day event.
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Meetings and events Running alongside The Emergency Services Show, in private rooms located in the atrium outside Halls 17 and 18, will be a number of AGMs and meetings, held by industry bodies such as CFOA National Resilience, The Emergency Planning Society, Airport Fire Officers Association, Fire Procurement Network and Emergency Services Mobile Communications Project (ESMCP). All attendees at these meetings will have convenient access to The Emergency Services Show.
Cumbria-based Bay Search and Rescue will be showing its Airboat.
Registering and getting there The Emergency Services Show attracts visitors from across all the emergency services as well as those from emergency planning, voluntary workers, service providers and all those interested in learning from the sector’s latest innovations and best practice. The NEC is physically linked to Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport and is directly accessible from the UK motorway network. Parking for visitors and exhibitors will remain free of charge thanks to sponsorship by Emergency Services Times. Following exhibitor feedback from the 2013 event, coaches will run from Birmingham International Station to the exhibition halls. This is a trade show only and not a public event. There will be no entry to under-18s. To register visit the website and click on ‘Register Now’. www.emergencyuk.com
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