Extrication Challenge returns to the Emergency Services Show 2019

Organisers report on this year’s Emergency Services Show, the UK’s largest event for the emergency services featuring over 450 exhibitors, live demonstrations and seminars

Returning to Hall 5 at the NEC, Birmingham on September 18-19, the Emergency Services Show is the UK’s largest event for the emergency services. It is free-to-attend and features over 450 exhibiting companies and organisation as well as live demonstrations and CPD-accredited seminars covering Drones, Emerging Technologies, Health & Wellbeing and Lessons Learnt.

Extrication Challenge

Popular returning features include the Extrication Challenge hosted by West Midlands Fire Service and judged by United Kingdom Rescue Organisation and the First Aid & Trauma Challenge. Both challenges showcase the use of the latest technology and equipment, while the Extrication Challenge in particular is also a highly interactive and immersive experience for participants and show visitors alike.

Extrication evolutions consist of a series of realistic RTC crash scenarios throughout the day, utilising live casualties along with special props and make-up effects. Scenarios are live-streamed to a large display from an aerial drone. Various national fire brigade crews compete with the intention to become the highest qualifying regional team. These top teams then go on to compete in national and international championships.

Fire services pursuit to achieve the ‘gold standard’ is undeniable. With an ever-increasing number of varied and technical rescues taking place, along with the ever-advancing technology found in new vehicles, there is a profound need for education and investment in an effort to both reduce overall rescues and ensure that those rescues which do take place are time effective and of the highest professional standard.

Entry to the Emergency Services Show and parking at the NEC are free.

To register to attend visit: www.emergencyuk.com

 

The Simulation Centre

Among 50 organisations exhibiting at the show for the first time this year, the Simulation Centre will use two 95-inch screens to give visitors a taste of its immersive and dynamic virtual training facility at Coventry University with ten-metre curved screen. Demonstrations will feature highly realistic emergency scenarios that respond dynamically to user inputs. XVR Simulations on the stand will recreate a recent multi-agency exercise held at the Simulation Centre, which visitors will be able to participate in and receive informal feedback on their performance. It will also be possible to trial the centre’s social media simulator which safely recreates realistic and interactive social media and media coverage of emergency events.

 

 

Support for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service to streamline and enhance the Thames Valley Fire Control Service

Infographics has announced it has successfully streamlined and enhanced the mobilisation processes used by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service within the Thames Valley Fire Control Service

By integrating FireWatch and Capita Vision, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) can now automatically share intelligent vehicle availability data between systems, and remove manual processes.

This latest phase builds on work undertaken as part of the wider deployment of Infographics’ FireWatch Fire Service Management platform, which connects RBFRS’ data, back office teams and front office operational staff to deliver a ‘complete picture’ of live organisation status.

The integration provides a level of live, connected management information and increased efficiency not achievable with separate silo systems. The result is a reduction in administration and enhanced mobilisation process within Thames Valley Fire Control Service.

The FireWatch-to-Capita Vision integration includes sharing directly via FireWatch this information, and the impact of live changes on vehicle needs and availability, with data coming from across the following areas:

  • Real-time, integrated HR, training, fleet and availability
  • Vehicle level availability status based on resource needs and priority calculated to the minute
  • Graphical county-wide availability map status and change notifications of the same data
  • Mobile-optimised client, with booking on/off duty facility and real-time status views
  • SMS-based workflows and booking on/off duty processes with crewing exception notifications for managers.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service plan to deploy Infographics’ latest version of the FireWatch Capita Vision interface as part of a future FireWatch upgrade. This will deliver a bi-directional interface, with FireWatch processing live incident data from Capita Vision to provide a ‘closed loop’. It will also further streamline processes around time and attendance, and pay and maintenance of competency with event-related processes initiated automatically in the FireWatch system.

Jim Powell, Area Manager for Service Delivery at RBFRS, said: “Through the integration of our FireWatch and Capita Vision systems, we have streamlined some of the ways that data is shared and used in the organisation.

“We are committed to investing in information and communication technology that helps to improve the efficiency and resilience of our service.”

Russell Wood, Commercial Manager at Infographics, said: “We are delighted to have assisted Royal Berkshire to successfully deliver this project. By working closely with multiple UK fire services and Capita to provide a standard set of bi-directional mobilisation interfaces, we are able to enhance further the operations of our customers.

“FireWatch already connects departmental data, teams and processes to provide an integrated and accurate ‘big picture’ of resources and status. This same pre-calculated and integrated data is now available to Capita Vision and other mobilisation systems, and the collection and processing of event-related data can also be greatly streamlined in the other direction.”

For more information visit: www.infographics.co.uk

 

 

New head of Safety Components’ European sales

Safety Components, Inc. (SCI), a world leader in technology driven fabric solutions for high performance, flame resistant fabrics, is pleased to announce the addition of Marta Doménech Catarina to its Protective Fabrics team

Marta comes to Safety Components from Alfredo Grassi, S.p.A. where she was the Technical and Commercial Manager for Spain. During Marta’s 20-plus years of textile experience, she has amassed a broad range of experience in sales, marketing and customer service as well as distribution and product development. Marta studied at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, in Terrassa, Spain.

As the European Sales Director, Marta will be responsible for supporting garment manufacturers, distributors and end use customers in the expansion of SCI protective fabrics for use in industry leading firefighting, wildland, rescue and industrial garments.

Joey Underwood, Senior Vice President, Safety Components, said: “Marta displays an incredible passion for understanding and meeting customer needs in terms of support, sales and delivery requirements. Her track record of success within the industry, along with her professionalism and ability to put her customers first, has earned tremendous respect from those customers, her partners and peers alike.”

Commenting on this new chapter of her career, Marta stated: “I am thrilled about the new responsibilities and challenges that lie ahead. This position will allow me to work closely with international manufacturers and distributors, while also working with local fire brigades and industrial customers to assist them in maintaining the highest levels in personal protection. I am confident that our team and our technological expertise, along with the Safety Components portfolio of innovative high performance, FR fabrics, Safety Components will continue to grow its global position in protective fabrics for years to come.”

 

 

Delivering shared command and control services for Surrey and West Sussex fire and rescue services

Capita reports on being selected to deliver a shared software solution for Surrey and West Sussex fire and rescue services, which will allow all mission critical command and control functions to be managed across both services from one platform

Following a detailed assessment of the options available to both fire services, the current Surrey Fire and Rescue Service VisionDS solution will be expanded to encompass operational fire control, mobilising, call handing and incident management for West Sussex, creating a single combined system.

This approach will enable West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to exploit an innovative and proven operational system with minimal disruption to its working practices, as well as delivering a cost-effective option that offers best value to the citizens and communities of both Surrey and West Sussex. Capita has closely engaged with both services to identify ways to support collaboration and deliver best value.

George Greig, Chief Delivery Officer, Capita Communications and Control Solutions, said: “The extension of Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s command and control management to include the West Sussex region not only makes good financial and operational sense, it will also provide a seamless platform across both regions.

“Our team worked very closely with both fire services to make sure our solution is ideally placed to meet their needs and deliver mission critical and life-saving services for people across both counties.”

Steve Owen-Hughes, Chief Fire Officer, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are delighted to be able to support this exciting initiative with our colleagues in West Sussex. The support offered by the Capita team has been both welcome and highly valued and we look forward to completing this project and maintaining our positive and strong working relationship with them.”

Gavin Watts, Chief Fire Officer, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We’ve seen first-hand how effective this platform has been for our neighbouring service, and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership with Capita to implement the system for West Sussex. This is a proven operational system which will not only deliver an effective mobilising solution but also provides the basis for a collaborative approach to managing data and information.”

 

 

Fire panel wins Health and Safety Innovation award

Kentec reports on winning the Fire Innovation of the Year Award at the second National Safety and Health Excellence Awards for its next-generation 16L Taktis analogue addressable fire panel

The awards took place at a Gala dinner held at the Birmingham NEC in April. The Fire Innovation of the Year award celebrates products or services that demonstrate genuine innovation and differentiation to other products in the market place. Products must have been launched after January 2017 and have independent fire testing to support performance claims.

 

 

From left to right: Sean Lock, Comedian and Presenter; Liz Millward, Kentec Marketing Manager; Peter Bone, Kentec Training and Technical Support Manager; and Mark Sennett, event organiser

 

Beating ten other nominated fire products and services, the Taktis 16L extends the standard Taktis fire panel to 16 detection loops to provide up to 144 zone indications.

A spokesperson for the awards says it was this scalability that impressed the judges: “It supports more than 2,000 detection devices and can network up to 128 panels, making it ideal for the largest sites such as schools, hospitals and retail.”

Kevin Swann, Managing Director at Kentec, says the fact that the awards were judged by their peers within the fire industry is very gratifying: “We are thrilled that Taktis has been recognised with this prestigious award that is considered an important industry accolade,” he says.

“The Taktis 16L has been built with both the end user and installer in mind. As a truly Open Protocol panel it offers installers and their customers maximum flexibility in systems’ design, site-customisation and in the third-party devices that they specify.

“It also protects legacy installations, enabling the extension and replacement of Syncro network systems using the Taktis bridge functionality, as well as future investment since the panel is future proofed with a highly impressive road map of additional functions, features and integration possibilities.”

This win follows the company’s Manufacturing Innovation Award at the 2018 Made in the South East Awards.

 

 

Quality is critical for sprinkler systems

Leading supplier AEI Cables is highlighting the need for the highest quality of cabling for use in sprinkler systems increasingly being specified for use in new modern buildings

AEI Cables response follows a call from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Chartered Institute of Building to make the installation of sprinklers mandatory in all residential buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools and care homes taller than 11 metres. The same organisations have also called for sprinklers to be retrofitted where possible.

Graham Turner, of AEI Cables, said the issue of providing continuous power to sprinkler systems is a key component of improving fire safety in buildings nationwide. “Buildings such as tower blocks, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, airports and those areas with large numbers of people moving about need cabling which will continue to operate in a fire and provide power for the highest fire protection of 120 minutes.

“This ensure fire and rescue services can safely evacuate people and that sprinklers will continue to operate in the event of a fire.”

The new generation AEI Cables’ fire performance cabling ensures critical fire-safety circuits can continue to operate in the event of a fire from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes. The Firetec Total Fire Solutions offers enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories and technical support from one source.