Wight Building Materials recently teamed up with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to assist in potentially life-saving training. The aggregates business provided an old truck which was used by fire crews to practice techniques to remove trapped casualties from vehicles. A total of 8 firefighters from the Ryde and Newport stations carried out the training at Wight Building Material’s HQ at St George’s Down, Blackwater. It was the 2nd such training exercise WBM has supported this year as the company looks to build on strong links with the rescue service. In the Summer, firefighters used the 32m high WBM asphalt tower in a training scenario involving a ‘casualty’ needing to be brought down from height using rope rescue skills. Early next year further exercises are planned including another vehicle-type rescue and also using WBM’s unique environment to practice mud rescues. Newport Station Manager Mark Caplen said:
“Exercises like this are vital in developing and maintaining our skills and getting valuable experience. “This kind of scenario gives you a level of realism you can’t recreate on the drill yard or classroom – they help us keep people safe. Thank you to Wight Building Materials who we worked closely with again to arrange the scenario and allowed us to use their site.”
WBM general manager Steve Burton said:
“Once again we were delighted to help the Island’s firefighters hone their skills at our HQ using one of our old trucks that would otherwise have been scrapped. “We are fortunate both the space and the equipment to assist the service and we look forward to working again with them in the future. It’s another way we as a business can contribute positively to life on the Island.”
Last Tuesday evening, firefighters from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service teamed up with blue light colleagues from Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and HM Coastguard in completing a multi agency exercise on Betty Haunt Lane, as previously reported by Island Echo.
