| The donation is to ensure that West Yorkshire’s firefighters are using the most-advanced rescue and recovery equipment |
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Services has received a specialist scoop stretcher from Ferno, the world leading manufacturer of medical equipment to the emergency services.
Cleckheaton-based Ferno has donated a Scoop 65 EXL to West Yorkshire’s firefighters to help them develop their training programme and to ensure they are using the most-advanced rescue and recovery equipment to save lives.
Ferno’s Scoop 65 EXL is a new and innovative alternative to the traditional spinal boards and significantly reduces the risk of spinal injuries when transferring patients from the scene of an accident.
The scoop stretcher can be split vertically into two parts, with shaped 'blades' towards the centre which can be brought together underneath a patient. The two halves are placed separately, either side of the patient, and then brought together until securing clips at the top and bottom both engage.
Traditional spinal boards are usually placed alongside the patient who is then “logrolled” on to the stretcher in a procedure which could make a spinal injury worse.
Ian Charlesworth, Community Fire Safety Officer at West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said: “We’re very grateful to Ferno for the donation of their innovative Scoop which will help to improve the on-going training of our fire crews, ensuring that they can confidently operate equipment used by their colleagues in the Ambulance Service counterparts who they often work alongside.”
The West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service serve a population of more than two million people over almost 800 square miles of terrain varying from urban cities to rural areas.
Chris King, Ferno Business Development Manager, said: “Ferno works alongside many of the UK emergency services and we are more than happy to support firefighters on our home patch with the donation of our Scoop 65 EXL which will significantly reduce the risk of spinal injuries when West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service carry out their duties.”
The Ferno scoop is ideal for use in the many different situations firefighters find themselves working in, especially as it is easily manoeuvrable in enclosed spaces.
Jon Ellis, managing director at Ferno, said: “We are really pleased to have been able to help the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service. The Scoop 65 EXL stretcher is an essential piece of equipment in order to carry out rescue and recovery missions. Our stretchers are ideally suited to demanding search and rescue environments and made from strong, durable materials which offer greater safety and comfort to both patient and rescuer.”
Ferno has been trading for 40 years and is recognised as the global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of emergency patient-handling equipment and mortuary products. The company exports to more than 95 countries worldwide and employs 80 staff at its site in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire.