London Fire Brigade is fitting improved first aid equipment, including defibrillators to all of its fire engines, fire rescue units and fire boats.
The introduction of the improved first aid capability and training – known as Immediate Emergency Care (IEC) – will mean that as part of normal firefighting duties firefighters attending incidents will be even better prepared to treat casualties who need immediate medical care until paramedics can take over.
In circumstances that prevent early access for paramedics, such as blocked access or unsafe structures, and where firefighters are the first emergency service on the scene, these new capabilities - in particular the defibrillators - will significantly increase the chances of survival for casualties. Injuries sustained at major incidents require early on-scene intervention and IEC will provide firefighters in London with the specialist skills they need to carry out this vital first aid.
The increased capabilities that the Brigade now has, such as water rescue, line rescue and urban search and rescue, reflect the changing demands and role of the fire service and the need to continually improve the systems that ensure the safety of firefighters undertaking these roles. It is vital they are able to look after one another at incidents and the new IEC equipment will also enable the Brigade to provide the very best first aid care it can for its own staff.
The plans are supported by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) and the Brigade has worked in partnership with London Ambulance Service’s paramedic trainers to develop the training package for its firefighters. IEC will therefore enable fire crews to provide emergency treatment to casualties to the exacting standards prescribed by the London Ambulance Service.
Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, which runs the London Fire Brigade (LFB), Val Shawcross said: “The London bombings saw many of our crews providing immediate emergency first aid treatment to those who were injured alongside London Ambulance Service staff. The introduction of the new Immediate Emergency Care capability will mean the Brigade has the most up to date trauma care available in any UK Fire and Rescue Service. It will help us to provide the very best first aid care for both the public and our own firefighters at incidents and ultimately help us to save more lives. This is a really important service improvement for London Fire Brigade, which also demonstrates how we are working with our emergency service partners in the capital to make London a safer city.”
Clinical Practice Manager for the London Ambulance Service Mark Whitbread also welcomed the move: “Our staff are saving more patients who suffer cardiac arrests and stop breathing than ever before, but in these situations every second is vital so having first aid equipment available on Fire Brigade vehicles is a very good idea. Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation while we’re on the way can double a person’s chance of survival and being able to use a defibrillator to restart their heart can further increase their chances by more than a third. These machines have already been used to help save lives at railway stations, airports and in other public places, so we know there are some real potential benefits for both London Fire Brigade staff and members of the public,” he said.
As well as defibrillators, the improved first aid equipment will include a number of other new items such as suction devices to maintain open airways, cervical spinal collars and improved wound dressings – all of which will be stored, along with the LFB’s current first aid equipment, in a specially designed IEC backpack on LFB vehicles.
Note to editors:
• The Immediate Emergency Care capability will be introduced to around one quarter of the Brigade’s vehicles each year, with the full roll out of equipment and staff training being completed within the next four years.
• Once 50% of all watches on a fire station are trained they will be issued with a fully stocked IEC backpack with the aim that 100% of every watch receives IEC training within 4 years
• London Fire Brigade is working with the Government on the possibility of rolling out a similar Immediate Emergency Care scheme to Fire and Rescue Services nationally
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
