Member Article

Draeger Safety UK supports firefighters across the country

Draeger Safety UK has sponsored one of the country’s biggest and most prestigious fire and rescue events for the first time.

Draeger Safety UK, a Blyth-based supplier of fire and rescue services across the country, has shown its support for the men and women who risk their lives every day by sponsoring the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation Challenge.

The organisation has historic links with fire services and search and rescue organisations, providing them with breathing apparatus, gas tight suits, helmets and other top of the range equipment for almost 50 years.

The national UKRO Challenge, now in its 23rd year, is hosted by a different fire and rescue organisation each year. The 2012 challenge was hosted by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and, in another first, it featured a water challenge where teams were required to use boat-handling skills to rescue a casualty.

Teams from all over the UK competed in the challenge, which demonstrates the extremely high standards of fire and rescue services and the many and varied skills required to carry out such a demanding, safety critical role. This year, 90 teams competed against each other in a series of simulated rescues, including vehicle extrication, trauma casualty, rope rescue, water and urban search and rescue challenges.

Draeger Safety UK offered extra support to hosts Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue by providing them with the Drager Sicor VFR Pro helmets, which are one of the lightest helmets in their class. Lincolnshire are well aware of how using such equipment can lead to success on an international level, having won the World Rescue Organisation’s 2011 European Rescue Challenge.

All teams taking part train all year to reach the pinnacle of professional standards, but they also continue to provide life-saving protection to countless people across the country by fighting fires, attending road traffic collisions and carrying out vital search and rescue operations as well as dealing with a whole host of other safety incidents.

Phil Saxton, sales and marketing director at Draeger Safety UK, said: “Sponsoring the UKRO Challenge 2012 was an easy decision for us and we were happy to provide a financial contribution. Working so closely with our fire and rescue services gives us a fantastic insight into how they work and how tremendously skilled they are. Supporting events that celebrate and promote this is very important to Draeger.

“The UKRO Challenge also gives the public an opportunity to see their own local heroes in action and to learn more about fire safety. Anything that helps to keep people safe is very close to Draeger Safety UK’s heart and company ethos so we’re delighted to support such a worthy cause.”

Dave Ramscar, Chief Fire Officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “I would sincerely like to thank Draeger for their incredible support of the UKRO national challenge in Lincolnshire, and for their support of fire and rescue teams across the country. Without this support we wouldn’t be able to put on such a fantastic event for challenge teams who train all year to hone their skills and take part in the challenge.

“Their presence at the challenge confirms their support and gives teams the opportunity to engage and feel part of a fantastic fire and rescue community”

Draeger Safety UK were on hand during the event, demonstrating their thermal imaging cameras and rescue portfolio to fire and rescue service personnel and members of the public. They also attended the sponsor’s dinner.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Draeger Safety UK .