Alfa Drop Box has designed and created the first Immersive Training Mobile pods for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue to deliver their Safe & Sound educational project into the community.
The design is the brainchild of Phil Gibbs, Managing Director and Head Design Engineer for Alfa: ‘We wanted to design something which could be a one person set up. Having spent much time during the R&D process working out how we could get one of our boxes to fold out using actuators and winches, I am over the moon with the products we have produced’.
The revolutionary fold-out products offer over 30sqm of space in the ginormous F2 double fold-out pods. The TF1, folding out on one side is fitted with tiered theatre seating allowing all students to participate in the sessions.
Staffordshire FRS wanted the latest green power source and to achieve this Alfa fitted a bespoke combination Fischer Panda and Mastervolt battery system with backup solar panels and mains hook-up. The pods are each fitted with heating and air conditioning units, three immersive projectors, lighting and operating equipment. This silent, green option ticks all the boxes and eliminates the need for fuel on board and noisy generators.
Inside the pods are like stepping into a different world of comfort with a hint of luxurious finish, with wall-to-wall vehicle carpeting and everything finished to the highest standard. Helen Wood, Project Lead & Education Manager for Staffordshire FRS said: ‘The kids love it, they call it the Tardis. The layout allows us to have a large number of children in the pods performing all aspects of our “What to do in an emergency” programme.’
Helen and her team deliver the programme which involves CPR, making 999 calls and fire safety in the home as the immersive content. Helen added: ‘The children sitting on the tiered seating love to shout to the children participating; it’s a great way to involve everybody but keep control at the same time.
‘The feedback from teachers and schools is absolutely brilliant; they find it completely new and express they cannot teach this sort of thing in the same way in schools. We have managed to reach well over 1,000 students in six weeks using just one pod. Imagine what we will be able to do with all four – we can’t wait!’
This mobile educational system has allowed Staffordshire to meet its education policy and prevention strategy.
Alfa Drop Box is delighted to announce this project is also being considered in other Stations and regions within Fire & Rescue.
John Aldridge, Principle Consultant for Alfa and previously Principle Officer of a Local Authority Fire & Rescue Service has identified how services can make considerable cost savings by utilising the Primemover for operational support applications in combination with educational pods in an integrated approach to delivery which provides value for money. He said: ‘This is revolutionary innovation to all but eliminate manual handling and ensuring all pods are wheelchair accessible.’
Applications – Pods
There are five basic designs that are a starting point for any application:
Flat bed
Standard Box
T Box
TF1 – Folding out on one side
F2 – Folding out on both sides.
Each application is designed with the end user in mind. Alfa’s design team work with the end user to create and achieve the best application to suit any business. The pods are a blank canvas and from the five basic template designs, Alfa Drop Box will create bespoke products that will always be fit for purpose.
Using high-quality, lightweight materials, their skilled in-house fabricators manufacture each section of the U-shape chassis for the Primemover and the pod application. Combining the latest green technology for standalone power source and intelligent communications systems, Alfa work with specialist partners to offer the latest innovative products, keeping their clients one step ahead of competitors.
Inspection, testing, training and operation is paramount for any completion sign-off and delivery. Full on-site driver and operation training is available. Easy pod setup is key and is a one-person operation in most applications, the main aims being to eliminate manual handling, to help improve health and safety procedures, to enable wheelchair access for all and to reduce costs.
For more information, go to www.alfadropbox.co.uk
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