NEWS
FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE
MORE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC THAN
EVER BEFORE
A
record 43,000 people were rescued throughout the
UK for the period, a 6% increase on the previous
year. England saw 36,000 rescues, with 2,000 in
Wales, 1,500 in Northern Ireland, and 3,500 in Scotland.
There were substantial increases in the number of
rescues carried out by firefighters in Durham, Staffordshire,
Bedfordshire, Essex and Norfolk.
The research found that the increase is largely due to an
increase in non-fire rescues, such as flooding, hazardous
chemical spillages and road traffic collisions – there were
around ten times more rescues at non-fire incidents than
fires. Over 39,000 rescues were carried out from non-fire
incidents for the period to March 2017.
It is however recognised that firefighters continue to
make a significant intervention in fires, with almost 4,000
people rescued from fires last year.
New research from the Fire Brigades
Union (FBU) has found that firefighters
rescued more members of the public
than ever before during the period April
2016 to March 2017.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:
“These record rescue figures show the immense
value of the work of firefighters, who perform a critical
public service, and who now turn out for an increasingly
varied range of rescues. The public recognise the value
of this work. Our members are much appreciated by the
communities they serve, where they tackle a range of
hazards, protecting lives, homes and businesses.
“We have been collecting these important rescue figures
and publishing them annually for more than ten years
- the Westminster government stopped publishing fire
rescue statistics at the turn of the century. The FBU wants
government bodies to publish official, comprehensive
statistics on all rescues, showing the value of firefighters to
their communities.”
You can find a briefing detailing all rescues by region, and the % change from the previous year at:
www.fbu.org.uk/publication/fire-and-rescue-service-matters-december-2017-record-number-rescues-shows-value
NHS TRUST AND IMPERIAL COLLEGE
LONDON FINED AFTER DEATH OF
HIV RESEARCHER DAMIAN BOWEN
Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust and
Imperial College London have been fined
after the death of lone worker Damian
Bowen.
S
Image: Stock
8
HSE INTERNATIONAL
outhwark Crown Court heard how Damian Bowen was
asphyxiated whilst working with liquid nitrogen at St
Stephens Centre Laboratory, Fulham Road, London -
owned by Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust. He lost his life
whilst decanting liquid nitrogen which he was using to freeze
blood samples for transport.