sfrsMore than a dozen Public Service students from Burton South Derbyshire College gained hands-on experience of the work carried out by firefighters and paramedics in a car crash extrication exercise.

The youngsters, aged 16-18, visited Burton Fire Station on March 27 to take part in an extrication training with the help of a local crew.

Also included in the day was an introduction to the planning and management of major incidents and an explanation of the role of firefighters and paramedics in road traffic collisions.

The young people were also shown various techniques on how to approach and manage the scene as well as how to stabilise the vehicle and casualty.

Following this, the students were able to try their hand at extrication with the help of fire service volunteers, who acted as casualties, meaning they could get used to using cutting equipment. Paramedics and a vehicle from West Midlands Ambulance Service were also on site to assist with the ‘incident’.

The session was part of the students’ Planning and Management of Major Incidents module.

Burton Crew Manager Paul Marshall said: “We are very keen to support the next generation of people who will be leading the way when it comes to delivering vital – and often lifesaving – public services. These students are the firefighters, nurses, doctors, soldiers and police officers, among other important roles, of tomorrow.

“They will be learning some of the theory as to how we extricate people who are trapped in vehicles as well as having a go at the practical side of a rescue operation. The session should give them a real insight into the sort of work that firefighters, and our colleagues in the emergency services, are involved in on a regular basis.”

Victoria Tufail, West Midlands Ambulance Service Community Response Manager, added: “This is a great opportunity for the emergency services to demonstrate particular elements of their roles to the students.

“The exercise will not only provide a great insight into the differing roles within the emergency services but it will also provide the students with an opportunity to ask any questions that they may have, helping them with their future career paths.”

Course Leader Rob Stevenson said: “The college is very pleased to be working with the fire service and other emergency services in this real world exercise. To do this as a career is the ambitions of the students, so to be given an opportunity like this by the services is a great privilege.”

An extensive feature on extrication will appear in the next issue of FIRE magazine. You can subscribe here: http://www.pavpub.com/fire-magazine/