Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service - Experts & Thought Leaders

A North East fire service is supporting a national campaign that calls on men and boys to end violence against women and girls. Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service (TWFRS) is once again taking part in White Ribbon Day (November 25th), which reinforces its association with backing the annual awareness day. This year, the organizers are looking to encourage individuals and organizations to #ChangeTheStory for women and girls, so they may live their lives free from the fear of violence. The charity campaign highlights that violence experienced by women and girls takes many forms in social and professional settings. TWFRS takes part in White Ribbon Day As Chief Fire Officer, I was proud to once again sign the pledge as it highlights the importance of White Ribbon Day" Two people who’ve recently made this pledge are Chief Fire Officer (CFO) - Peter Heath and Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) - Stewart Nicholson. They both signed the pledge board earlier this week which will be displayed at Service Headquarters in Washington, Tyne and Wear. Chief Fire Officer - Peter Heath, said: “As Chief Fire Officer, I was proud to once again sign the pledge as it highlights the importance of White Ribbon Day, and shows just how serious I regard the values of the campaign, and as chief will look to promote them.” Inclusion, safety and feeling valued Central to TWFRS He adds, “Inclusion, safety and feeling valued are central to our service and across the whole workforce, I want an environment that supports this. We all have a vital part to play in promoting the values of the White Ribbon campaign and together we can make a difference.” Peter Heath continues, “White Ribbon Day isn’t about solely singling out men and boys as such, as we want to look at the wider issues across society as a whole, and by doing so it allows us to implement change and not just to use a sticking plaster.” Addressing key issue of violence against women and girls Deputy Chief Fire Officer - Stewart Nicholson, said: “It’s imperative that we use the national platform of the White Ribbon Day to address the important issues being raised on Saturday.” As an organization where our primary focus is to help keep people safe from harm" He adds, “As an organization where our primary focus is to help keep people safe from harm – we must look to continue our support towards the campaign and use it as an opportunity to identify its key priorities, and see where we can further implement it within our day-to-day operations as a Service.” In some situations, behaviors and words in the home, workplace, or across society as a whole may seem harmless, but normalizing them ignores the short- and long-term effects on women and can lead to more extreme violence. Making the White Ribbon Promise The work of White Ribbon UK is aimed at encouraging everyone, especially men and boys, to make the White Ribbon Promise to never use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women. It is a promise that over the years has already been taken up by tens of thousands of people across Europe. White Ribbon Day and its wider activities are also supported by the blue light emergency service colleagues, who continuingly champion the prevention of violence against women and girls throughout the region.

Concerned Fire Chiefs are calling on the public’s support, as they re-launch a lifesaving campaign to protect Tyne and Wear’s most vulnerable. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service’s (TWFRS) Lifesaver campaign is aimed at encouraging the public to reach out and help save someone’s life. A simple telephone call, email or social media message could be the deciding factor that helps to change a friend or family member’s life forever. As part of National Safeguarding Adults Week this week, the service is encouraging members of the public to contact them, if they know someone who could be more vulnerable to fire. National Safeguarding Adults Week We can provide a number of preventative measures in some people’s homes" That could be because an individual has mobility issues, smoke in bed, are frail, pregnant or may have lots of clutter around their home. Everyone has a role in safeguarding, but many across the region will not know the important role that TWFRS can play in preventing fires, as well as extinguishing them. Area Manager - Paul Russell, Head of Community Safety for TWFRS, said “We can provide a number of preventative measures in some people’s homes. If you tell us someone you know is bed-bound and they smoke in bed, we can put measures in place.” Fire-retardant blankets provided He adds, “We can provide fire-retardant blankets, we can ensure smoke alarms are working, we can make sure our Fire Control know the occupant of that address is immobile and normally stays in a particular room in the house.” Paul Russell continues, “These are all things that can make a difference, but we will only know about them if the public tell us. It could be a relative, friend or a neighbor. If you think someone could be at greater risk in a fire then we need to know.” He further said, “We are working closely with partners in health and social care to get more referrals from partners but everyone can be a lifesaver if they pick up the phone and give us a call.” TWFRS works with local authorities and NHS Trusts TWFRS have been working with local authorities, housing providers, and NHS Trusts around the region to ensure that they are aware of the work that the fire service can support. Staff at TWFRS can put measures in place to make people’s homes safer, whether that is installing smoke alarms or providing fire retardant blankets. National Safeguarding Adults Week 2023 runs from Monday 20th November to Friday 24th November and the theme in 2023 is ‘Safeguarding Yourself and Others’.

A grateful pensioner has thanked firefighters who rescued him after his mobility scooter plunged down an embankment in South Shields. Syd McDonald, 90, has praised Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) after they helped to rescue him from Simonside Metro Station earlier in November 2023. Rescuing a 90-year-old The 90-year-old was rescued by firefighters after his scooter rolled on top of him, pinning him to the ground, on a steep embankment. The alarm was raised on Tuesday 7th November by a young lad who was passing by the embankment after hearing Syd’s cries for help. The incident took place near the metro station and outside the boundaries of the Metro line. firefighters and paramedics at the scene The retired articulated lorry driver was out getting some fresh air when he tried to turn the scooter The scooter was too heavy to lift, and Syd was in pain, so the passer-by called 999 before firefighters from South Shields and Hebburn Community Fire Stations, and paramedics were deployed to the scene. Syd, who is a widower, was married to his late wife Margery for over 45 years. They moved to Simonside in the early 1960s, where Syd has lived ever since. The retired articulated lorry driver was out getting some fresh air when he tried to turn the scooter around on the narrow pavement and plunged down the embankment. the safest way to rescue Luckily the steel fencing at the bottom of the embankment stopped Syd and the scooter from going any further. Once the crews arrived on the scene they were able to assess and devise the safest way of rescuing Syd after his accident. Syd McDonald, said, “The fire and ambulance service did marvelousus job that I will always be grateful for.” precautionary check-up Mr. McDonald was taken to hospital for a precautionary checkup to have his injuries assessed Mr. McDonald was taken to hospital for a precautionary checkup to have his injuries assessed, but he was later released nursing a badly grazed wrist. Syd light-heartedly commented, “I don’t make jobs easy for folk”. Syd was accompanied to the hospital by his good friend Ann Powell, whom he’s known for over years. emergency services On the day of Syd’s accident, Ann, 78, had just got home after visiting him earlier in the day. She dropped him a quick phone call to say she’d got home safely, only for a firefighter to answer the phone to confirm Syd had been involved in an accident. “I really did fear the worst. I thought that Syd had been badly hurt,” said Ann. “I was in bits when I saw the blue flashing lights. But what can I say, the emergency services were brilliant,” said Ann. Situation assessment “They were really careful in the way they moved Syd especially as he’d fallen awkwardly. But everyone worked together to ensure Syd was safe and sound.” Crew Manager Dan Jones of Blue Watch at South Shields Community Fire Station, said, “Syd was lying partially under his scooter which a passer-by had helpfully held up until we arrived. Two Firefighters descended the short bank to assess him while other crews moved the scooter off of Syd and up the bank using a rope and pulley system." medical checks We assisted Syd onto our specialist rope-rescue stretcher and used it as a sled which we hauled up the bank" “Once that was clear we were able to properly check him for injuries. Luckily he had only sustained a minor abrasion to his wrist so we assisted Syd onto our specialist rope-rescue stretcher and used it as a sled which we haul up the bank with ropes and pulleys." “Our Firefighters waiting on the path carried out further medical checks until the ambulance crews arrived and took over.” specialist rope rescue skills Crew Manager Jones added, “Both Blue Watch crews from South Shields and Hebburn Community Fire Stations helped with Syd’s rescue and were glad that his injuries were slight. We train constantly in our specialist rope rescue skills and they proved invaluable on this occasion." “It was great to see Syd up and about, and able to joke about the incident, although he does realize just how serious it could have been.” The Fire Service would always advise anyone operating vehicles such as mobility scooters to take extra care when maneuvering in tight or precarious spaces.

The importance of understanding the revised Code of Practice for Category 3 Control fire performance cables which reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases, and flame spread in the event of a real fire cannot be stressed enough. approved cabling These cables maintain the circuit integrity of a building providing power for essential services and fire-fighting systems for fire and rescue services to carry out a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. AEI Cables has won widespread support for our initiative highlighting the need for only using approved cabling for the range of critical applications of Category 3 Control fire performance cables. applications of Category 3 cables The applications apply to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Sunderland West, is supporting the initiative while other industry organizations have also expressed support including Electrical Safety First and national fire safety membership body The Institution of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO). The applications of Category 3 Control fire performance cables apply to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems, and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings including tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls, and stadia. Circuit integrity The revised Code of Practice for Category 3 Control fire performance cables under BS 8519: 2020 which covers how to select and install fire-resistant power and control cable systems makes various amendments and requires a complete understanding for those in the supply chain. The standard clearly references and clarifies the products and levels of performance that should be used. The new Code is intended to inform and guide designers, contractors, fire engineers, regulators, and enforcers including building control bodies, fire authorities, Health and Safety inspectors, and equipment suppliers and manufacturers. BS 8519:2020 standard BS 8519:2020 makes reference to three categories of circuits required to maintain their circuit integrity It is worth examining the standard itself. Indeed, BS 8519:2020 makes reference to the recommendations of BS 9999 and BS 9991, with regard to the design and installation of the electrical distribution systems for life safety and fire-fighting equipment. It also makes reference to three categories of circuits required to maintain their circuit integrity under defined fire conditions for varying fire survival times of 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes. Appropriate cable tests are identified for each cable category derived from applicable British Standards, assessing cable performance under fire conditions that might be expected in a real fire incident. Critical systems BS 8519:2020 also aims to ensure that the level of circuit fire integrity is not compromised by other components of the whole electrical distribution system, including cable glands, terminations, joints, and cable support systems. The revised standard supersedes BS 8519:2010 and includes added recognition of other critical systems, other than life safety or fire-fighting applications; added information on uninterruptable power supplies, and further detailed recommendations for the design and selection of the cable enclosure support systems. Use in buildings  It is for use in buildings that, due to their size, height, form, or use, require the installation of life safety systems There are also recommendations for internal and external fire stopping to maintain the switch room fire compartmentation and the need to cater to the thermal expansion of the cable protective enclosure. It is primarily intended for use in buildings that, due to their size, height, form, or use, require the installation of life safety and fire-fighting systems, for example, sprinkler pumps, wet riser pumps, smoke control systems, fire-fighting, and evacuation lifts or other systems as required by a fire engineering strategy. International standards AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control. The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60, or 120 minutes. Using the very latest in technology and science, the Firetec Total Fire Solutions range offers Mineral Insulated Cabling (MIC), Firetec Enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories, and technical support from the AEI Cables distribution facility at Washington, Tyne and Wear. Approvals  All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB. It also holds licenses from organizations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail, and LUL and works to international standards around the world. By incorporating this guidance into the selection of cabling for these critical systems, those people using these striking new buildings can move about safely in the knowledge that they are safe.