South Wales Fire & Rescue Service - Experts & Thought Leaders

Dräger is donating self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and helmets to the ‘Fire Angels’, two female firefighters who will be attempting seven marathons, in seven days, across seven continents – while wearing firefighter kit – as part of the ‘Great World Race’. The challenge is a part of their ongoing ambition to ‘change the narrative of what it means to be a girl’.  awareness for women’s issues The intrepid pair have already successfully skied across the Antarctic, pioneering a new route, in 52 days, 10 hours, and 30 minutes. After a short period of rest, the team realized the work they had done in fundraising and raising awareness for women’s issues was not over, “When we got back, I thought I’d never want to leave my home comforts again,” says Georgina Gilbert, of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and one half of the dynamic duo. “However, it didn’t take long before I started thinking about what else we could do to challenge gender stereotypes and help build women’s self-esteem and confidence.”  marathons planned The marathons are planned for seven days in November in Wolf’s Fang, Cape Town, Perth, Istanbul, Cartagena and Miami The marathons are planned for seven days in November, in the following sequence: Wolf’s Fang (Antarctica); Cape Town (South Africa); Perth (Australia); two in Istanbul (one in Asia and the second in Europe); Cartagena (South America); and Miami (North America).  Georgina adds that it was important to do the challenge in their firefighting kit, “We need more firefighting female role models to demonstrate what a rewarding career it can be for women. We could not miss the opportunity to visually showcase the female firefighter role across all seven continents.”  PSS® AirBoss SCBA Dräger is donating two PSS® AirBoss SCBA with Nano Compressed Air Cylinders as they offer best-in-class ergonomics and are incredibly light. The donated helmets will be from the HPS® SafeGuard range, which at just 1.25kg in its basic configuration, provides optimal protection with the highest levels of wearer comfort.   Liz Millward, Marketing Manager Emergency and Rescue Services Dräger says the Fire Angels are an inspiration, “We jumped at the chance to support two women proving themselves to be such extraordinary role models for current and would-be female firefighters, as well as women more generally,” she says.   designing for diversity Diversity is important, making sure that equipment is as comfortable as possible for all genders and ethnicities “Firefighters might not usually run marathons wearing firefighting equipment, but their roles do require them to wear them for long periods in high heat and stress environments.”  Liz says that designing for diversity is also important, making sure that equipment is as comfortable as possible for all genders and ethnicities: “This Great World Race challenge is an exciting opportunity to showcase the ergonomic benefits of AirBoss and SafeGuard,” she adds.  achievements and life experiences Fire Angel Rebecca Openshaw-Rowe, of the Mid and West Wales Fire Service, has previously rowed for Great Britain and competed in the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations for Wales. She says being a female has never limited her, “Both this challenge and the Antarctic one are predominantly completed by men., it was extremely difficult to find insurance for a woman to do the Antarctic challenge,” she says.  “However, women are built for endurance and indeed pain, and I am passionate about being a good example for other women and girls and hope my achievements and life experiences will show there are no boundaries.” The Fire Angels will base themselves on Dräger’s stand for September’s ESS show.

GMB Union has announced industrial action ballot dates for more than 15,000 ambulance workers across 11 trusts in England and Wales for strike action. Ambulance workers from London, East of England, East and West Midlands, North East, Yorkshire, North West, South Central, South East Coast, South West, and Wales Ambulance trusts will participate in the strike vote. strike ballots Thousands more NHS workers will also be balloted across other NHS trusts, with more votes set to follow Thousands more NHS workers will also be balloted across other NHS trusts, with more votes set to follow. The ballot opens on 24 October and closes on 29 November, and any potential strike action could occur before Christmas.  The strike ballots follow consultative votes across all the trusts in which workers voted strongly in favor of strike action. Workers are angry over the Government’s imposed 4 percent pay award, which leaves them facing yet another massive real terms pay cut.   Cuts and shortages  Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said “Ambulance workers have just had enough. They’ve not been on strike in decades, but they are at the end of what they can take. Pay has been systematically slashed for more than ten years and we now face the worst cost of living crush in a generation."  Rachel Harrison adds, "Meanwhile vacancies are at record highs and we have the worst A&E delays ever and it’s not even the winter flu season yet. But this is about more than pay and conditions. Cuts and shortages mean GMB members feel unable to deliver safe standards of patient care. Things can’t go on like this - something has to give.” 

A team of female firefighters is preparing for a record-breaking trek to ski Antarctica coast-to-coast with global Survival Technology pioneer Survitec as one of its sponsors. The six-strong Antarctic Fire Angels are undertaking the grueling expedition to showcase women's empowerment and tackle the stigma of talking about mental health. Gender equality awareness Martin Whittaker, Survitec CEO – Aerospace and Defence, said, “Protecting lives is at the forefront of everything we do at Survitec just like the Antarctic Fire Angels do in their full-time firefighting roles. We are extremely proud to support this worthwhile cause, which will do so much to raise awareness of gender equality and mental health.” The challenge taking place in November 2023 will see the team trek 1,900km (1,187 miles) on skis each pulling 85kg pulks (supply sleds) with all their provisions and equipment, in temperatures as low as -50°C and with wind speeds above 60mph. Trek team Antarctic Fire Angels aim to set a world record as the first all-female emergency services team to achieve this Covering 27km every day for around 70 days the Antarctic Fire Angels aim to set a world record as the first all-female emergency services team to achieve this crossing of the ice-covered continent. The team made up of serving firefighters from fire stations across South Wales, London, and Derbyshire is being sponsored by Survitec, a pioneer in Survival Technology. Survitec, which recently secured several new ‘blue light’ contracts, donated to the expedition. Positive impact on mental health Nakita Ross, of the Angels, said, "We are delighted to receive this support from Survitec. The inspiration behind the challenge is to smash gender stereotypes." "All members of the team want to set an example and prove to other women that everyone is capable of achieving amazing things whatever their gender. In turn, this will have a positive impact on mental health by showing that no one needs to feel marginalized because they do not fit in.” Training for the expedition Georgina Gilbert, of the Antarctic Fire Angels and a firefighter with South Wales Fire & Rescue Service, recently presented to a group of women at Survitec discussing the expedition. With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in travel restrictions and limiting the opportunity to acclimatize over the last two years, training had to be adapted to warmer climes in the UK, combining strength workouts with endurance activities such as running and cycling. However, the team has recently been in Norway training for the expedition and is due to head to Sweden in March. “We wish the team the very best and look forward to watching their progress as they work to achieve their extraordinary goal,” said Martin Whittaker.