Press Release from Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service

Firefighters water training

Firefighters from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service have been getting their feet wet to learn vital life-saving skills.

A crew from Gloucester Fire Station took part in a two-day water-rescue training course at Buscot Weir, Lechlade, earlier this week.

The training, which is being rolled out across GFRS, which is part of Gloucestershire County Council’s Community Safety Directorate, instructs the firefighters on how to rescue people from water, mud, ice and other unstable surfaces.

The training uses a variety of specialist equipment and techniques.
Water rescue was introduced two years ago and firefighters from Lydney and Tewkesbury Fire Stations, who had been trained, made full use of their new skills during the July 2007 floods

During this week’s course, the eight crew members who took part learned how to rescue someone trapped in mud on the banks of the river and carried out a simulation of a submerged vehicle rescue using a floating platform in the middle of the fast-flowing weir

They also used an inflatable sled to rescue someone stranded in fast moving water and were able to practise swimming against the strong currents.

Floating rope lines were used during the training to help the firefighters secure themselves and their casualties to the river banks and also to guide rescue equipment.

The skills learned during the course will prove vital if the firefighters are called out in a water rescue situation. Gloucester Station Commander Tally Giampa, who organised the event said: “Rescuing people from water is nothing new to Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

“But with improved safety legislation, firefighters are now being provided with suitable protective equipment and training to carry out technical rescues quicker and safer.

“The July 2007 floods demonstrated the value of water rescue teams and the training at Gloucester shows how committed we are to developing these life-saving skills.”

Another group from Gloucester Fire Station will take part in the same course next week.
And crews from other stations in the county will be trained up in the coming months.

ENDS

Contact
Issued by Lisa Bonnell, Gloucestershire County Council Media Team, 01452 425226 lisa.bonnell@gloucestershire.gov.uk

25th March 2008

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