Thirty-five people from blue-light services, voluntary sector rescue organisations and the public have been presented with Brave@Heart Awards recognising acts of bravery. The awards were presented by the First Minister at a special event held at Edinburgh Castle. Continue reading Brave@Heart: First Minister presents bravery awards
Edinburgh is to benefit from a new project to install life-saving defibrillators in strategic sites across the city.
The Lord Provost launched the appeal in partnership with St John Scotland at a City Chambers reception last week to support the roll out of twenty Public Access Automated Emergency Defibrillators, or PAAEDs, across Edinburgh over the next twelve months.
The project will see the Edinburgh Committee of St John Scotland deploy the devices and create local partnerships with three key groups of participants: Donors, Hosts and Guardians.
The Lord Provost Donald Wilson, who has been made an Officer of St John, said: “By making it easy for businesses and people who want to help, this ground-breaking initiative will increase the provision of defibrillators in Edinburgh and install the machines in key sites like community centres, churches, tram and train stops.
“Not only will St John Scotland increase the number of these incredible devices in Edinburgh, but they will make sure the machines are maintained. Their volunteers will raise awareness of how simple they are to use so that eventually, nobody in Edinburgh should need to think twice before using one in an emergency.
“Having been involved in pushing the City Defibrillator Project off the ground I am delighted to see it deployed. Without a doubt it is thanks to the awareness raising of the Jamie Skinner Foundation that this project exists and that countless lives will be saved.”
Major General Mark J Strudwick, said: “As Prior of St John Scotland, I am delighted to see our Edinburgh Committee progress this extremely valuable, lifesaving project for the city to this stage. We look forward to garnering support from the local community in Edinburgh to turn this initiative into reality.”
Businesses, voluntary organisations, civic institutions and individuals will be able to provide funding for public access defibrillators by applying online at the newly launched St John and the City website.
St John Scotland will place the life saving devices at strategic sites – known as Hosts – across Edinburgh, taking into account the volume of people in the immediate vicinity.
Guardians will operate as a team of volunteers who will regularly monitor all the defibrillators ensuring they are in place and in working order. A member from the Edinburgh Team of St John Scotland (known as a Coordinator) will be responsible for the Defibrillator Register, ensuring the register is up to date and all the PAAED locations are mapped out. This information will be shared with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The framework has been developed following a pilot project undertaken in early 2015 which saw St John Scotland successfully partner with Network Rail to provide necessary support for hosting four PAAEDs at Waverley Station. One year on, these defibrillators have been deployed four times, and used to tackle two heart attacks, demonstrating the benefits of having immediate access to lifesaving and easy to use equipment in public places.
The easy-to-use units can prove vital in the event of someone suffering a heart attack. It is hoped that the delivery of PAAEDs will be achieved through a combination of developing partnerships with organisations, businesses and other enterprises and through direct fundraising from the citizens of Edinburgh who wish to contribute to their well-being.
Public information and education forms a vital part of the project, as it is important that Edinburgh’s citizens are aware of how easy it is to use an automated defibrillator in the case of an emergency. This education will be achieved by communicating through a variety of channels, such as fundraising activities, media coverage and the dedicated project website: www.stjohnandthecity.org.uk
A disaster scenario saw firefighters from a specialist rapid response team rescue ‘casualties’ after a simulated building collapse in Aberdeenshire. Continue reading Scotland’s international rescue firefighters in specialist exercise
Wet weather plays a part in ‘quieter than usual’ 5 November
People who chose to attend organized Bonfire Night events helped to protect their communities by ensuring firefighters were able to quickly get to real emergencies on Guy Fawkes Night. No major incidents were reported in Edinburgh, but sadly crews in Larbert, Govanhill and New Cumnock were threatened and attacked while trying to keep the public safe. Continue reading Madness: fire crews attacked while protecting communities
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is appealing for the public’s help to ensure that 2014’s Bonfire Night is the safest ever for Scotland:
Bonfire Night is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for the SFRS with the number of emergency calls typically seeing a 40% increase throughout the period. SFRS is up to four times busier on 5 November than any other night of the year.
From 2009 to 2012, the number of secondary fires, which includes bonfires and refuse fires, averaged 1118. In 2013 there was a significant drop in this number to 517 bonfires on November 5th, with an overall drop in secondary fires of around 40% compared to 2012. SFRS aims to maintain and improve upon this decline in calls for Bonfire Night 2014.
The Service is appealing to the public to stay safe this Bonfire Night by attending organised events rather than staging their own bonfires or fireworks displays.
Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, Director of Prevention and Protection for the SFRS said: “This year we want Bonfire Night to be the safest one on record. I’d ask every member of the public who is thinking of holding their own bonfire or fireworks display to attend an organised event instead. These events are well organised, much more spectacular than a DIY display and most importantly it’s much safer for you, your family and friends.
“When our crews are called to attend bonfires it means we have to divert resources away from other emergencies and life threatening calls – that could end tragically for anyone who truly needs our urgent help.
“We want everyone to be able to celebrate on 5 November and have fun, but in a safe way that doesn’t require the intervention of the emergency services.
“In the run up to Bonfire Night 2014 our Service personnel will be going to schools across Scotland to teach children about the dangers associated with bonfires and fireworks.
“We can all play a part in making this time of year safer. It is against the law for fireworks to be sold to children and young people. If you are aware of this happening please report it to Police Scotland or Trading Standards. We would also encourage the public to report unsafe or dangerous bonfires or bonfire materials and any suspicions of deliberate fire setting. In doing this, we can keep our communities safer together.
“The public are requested to pass on any information about who may be responsible for fire setting to Police Scotland using the 101 non-emergency number or Scotland Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.”
Daren Mochrie, Director of Service Delivery at the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “Every year our ambulance crews and hospital departments treat people for severe burns and other firework night related injuries. Fireworks are safe when used properly but the consequences can be tragic and life changing if the appropriate precautions are not followed and we recommend that people go along to a professionally organised display.
“In the event of someone suffering from a burn or scald, you should act quickly and:
The majority of minor burns and scalds can be treated at home and if unsure you can contact NHS 24 on www.nhs24.com/SelfHelpGuide or phone 111 for further advice. If injuries are serious, seek urgent medical help and call 999 and ask for ambulance”.
Superintendent Danny Hatfield, Head of Prevention and Interventions, Police Scotland, said: “We want people to listen to safety advice and attend organised events so families can keep safe and enjoy the Bonfire celebrations. The best way of keeping safe is to attend official bonfire events which will also help reduce the number of unnecessary call outs for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
“We can all play a part in making this time of year safer while having fun. Remember it is against the law for fireworks to be sold to children and young people. Please help us keep people safe by reporting any concerns to Police Scotland by calling 101.”
SFRS have produced lots of guidance and safety tips about Bonfire Night 2014, available online now at http://bit.ly/SFRSbonfire2014.
Advice includes information about bonfire and fireworks safety (including a bonfire and fireworks safety leaflet available for download) along with links to our TV, radio and press advertisements.
SFRS will be offering tips on staying safe in the lead up to Bonfire Night through our social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.
There was some alarm flew – and some wild rumours – when a fleet of emergency vehicles attended an incident at Edinburgh College Granton Campus yesterday at around 1pm. At one point eight ambulances, police cars and fire appliances were on site.
However Edinburgh College later confirmed that all was well. A spokseperson explained: ” This was a fainting incident, likely the result of gardening activities below an open window. Emergency services came out as precautionary measure, but all clear.”
Pleased to clear that up …
Hundreds of people are expected to attend the annual emergency services open day on Saturday 13 July from 11am – 3pm at McDonald Road fire station.
Hosted by the newly formed Scottish Fire and Rescue Service this free day welcomes locals to enjoy a selection of displays, demonstrations and fun activities run by the stations’ firefighters and other partners.
Firefighter Neil Bertram from McDonald Road fire station has organised this event for the last 4 years. He said: “The emergency services open day is always a great day out and it’s FREE! Last year we had almost 800 people through our doors at McDonald Road Fire Station. Located off Leith Walk, Edinburgh.
“The Police, Scottish Ambulance Service and Coastguard will all be represented on the day. It’s a great opportunity to come along, see an operational station and find out more about the emergency services and the role they play in keeping our communities safe.
“From our side we will have fire appliances on display. The height appliance will be working throughout the event, our community safety vehicle (CSV) will also be used and staff from our Community Safety team will be on hand to give advice and answer questions on Fire Safety in the Home and offer free visits. The training centre will be carrying out fire extinguisher and fire blanket demonstrations. The public will also have the opportunity to wear a Breathing Apparatus set and enter our breathing apparatus training pod, allowing people to get a taste of navigating in zero visibility to rescue a casualty.
“The feedback was great from the public last year, so NEW this year will be displays from crews demonstrating their working at heights skills and one of the `Phoenix crews` who are our young firefighters and they will be demonstrating ladder and pump drills.
“We also hope to raise money to help both our chosen charities again this year who are, `The Fire Fighters Charity` and `Hillview Children’s Unit` who offer intensive support and respite to children and young people persons with disabilities.
“Hopefully the weather will be kind to us again this year and we would urge people to pop along for what promises to be an educational, enjoyable and most importantly, family fun day out.”
An investigation has been launched following the discovery of a man’s body after a fire in a Muirhouse flat yesterday. The body of the man in his 50s – named locally as David Robson – was found at the house in Oxcars Court by emergency services shortly after they arrived on the scene at about 12:35.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police were called to an address in Oxcars Court around 12:35 on Tuesday in response to a fire that had broken out. The body of a man in his 50s was discovered within the flat. Inquiries are under way in order to establish the circumstances of his death.”
