Broughton Firefighters

Bolton Mountain Rescue Team

Neil Daly — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:34:33 +0000

Firefighter Chris Greenhalgh from Broughton Firefighters Manchester UK, Green Watch, lives in the town of Bolton which is about 10 miles north of Broughton. He is also a member of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team (BMRT).

BMRT are a voluntary search and rescue service for the West Pennine Moors, but besides searching for missing or injured hill walkers and people involved in mountain biking and climbing accidents, (which is usually the first thing pictured when the phrase “mountain rescue” is mentioned) they are also heavily involved in other happenings.

Their past callouts have involved crashed aircraft, hang gliders and parapenters. Generally, however, where there is a problem locating victims, or the terrain surrounding a casualty is difficult to access, it is likely that your mountain rescue team is involved.

Several times a year they also provide standby rescue cover for events held within their area. They can often be spotted at orienteering events, fell races, sponsored walks, and mountain bike races.

They are a key resource to the other emergency services, our specialist skills being recognised and respected by Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire Police who utilise them (along with other teams) to help in search and rescue operations, alongside use by the Ambulance services. The team also works with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, assisting at high-line rescues (structures as well as the more familiar rock faces and steep ground) and moorland firefighting operations.

Besides their upland moorland area, they also operate throughout the lowland areas of Bolton, Salford, Wigan, Trafford, Manchester South, and the western half of Bury. They are also called upon to assist other teams in North Manchester, the eastern half of Bury, Tameside, Rochdale, Oldham, North Cheshire and South Lancashire.

Chris organised a training day with us at Broughton Fire Station so we could familiarise ourselves with the type of equipment they use and also to give us an insight to the work they do.

Gas Tight Suit Training

Neil Daly — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:32:33 +0000

Should we be mobilised to an incident involving hazardous substances, special protection will be required. Four gas tight chemical protection suits are carried on each fire engine. They are a ‘Cover All’ suit that that completely envelopes the wearer and their breathing apparatus. Below you can see the dressing and decontamination procedures at a training exercise.

The Decontamination Procedure

A cordoned off area is selected down wind incorporating a suitable drain, as in the middle and right hand pictures. A length of hose is laid to the drain terminating in a controlled coupling to provide a constant flow of water. A hose reel is laid to the drain terminating in a soft brush. A bucket of disinfectant is provided. The crew decontaminate each other with the equipment provided. Following disrobing the suits are examined by a Hazardous Materials Officer then sent away for test or disposal.

Light Portable Pump Training

Neil Daly — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:30:05 +0000

Although it is called a Light Portable Pump, I can assure you it is not light. Below are some pictures of the crew training at Heaton Park Boating Lake putting the equipment through it’s paces. The maximum depth is 2.5 to 3 foot.

Angus 1200 Light Portable Pump
Engine:- 848cc Petrol Driven
Output:- 1247 L/min at 7 Bars
Priming System:- Exhaust gas ejector
Cooling System:- Indirect Closed
Pump:- Single Stage Double outlet.
Weight:- 116kgm

Road Traffic Collision Training

Neil Daly — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:16:20 +0000

Each year nationally the Fire Service attend thousands of road traffic collisions to render assistance to persons trapped in the wreckage of their vehicles. It is therefore important that we train on a regular basis to meet these demands. Below are some pictures of a training session. The scenario is of an unconscious person trapped in the car with suspected neck injuries and one person beneath the car who is not breathing and has no pulse.

The vehicle has been stabilised and the casualty under the car has undergone rapid extracation due them not having a pulse and not breathing. Due to impact damage the car doors are jammed, one of the crew leans through a rear window to assess the driver and stabilise his neck.

As the driver is trapped, other crews assemble the Holmatro hydraulic cutting/spreading tool. (see below for facts and figures)

The spreader is used to burst the door open. The casualty is constantly being assessed with their C spine being immobilised and receiving oxygen therapy.

With the door now open others were able to hold the casualties head whilst trigger climbed through the window to gain a better position for neck stabilisation.

As the plan is to extracate the casualty on a spine board, it beneficial to create as much space as possible. To do this the door posts have to be cut and the roof taken off. Note the blue casualty shield between the casualty and cutting operations.

Now the other side.

After all the posts are cut the roof is easily removed.

Trigger still stabilising the casualties head and neck.

And finally out they come on the spine board.