The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has released a range of updated risk assessments which will allow firefighters and other staff to continue work on Covid-related activities – while taking on more. And the Cleveland Fire Brigade, UK is ready, willing and able to help.
Firefighters and staff at Cleveland Fire Brigade have been going the extra mile throughout the pandemic to support and protect local communities and vulnerable people.
Chief Fire Officer Ian Hayton said: ‘I am proud of the hard work, professionalism, commitment and flexibility of all of our staff during these unprecedented times. They have shown an enormous resourcefulness and versatility and willingness to help others. Quickly adapting and responding to support our communities in a range of new and different ways. I am proud to lead such a dedicated workforce.
‘Our key priority continues to be protecting our communities, particularly the most vulnerable and at risk, and we are happy to step up and make a positive difference during these difficult times.’
The Brigade has been involved in a range of activities during the pandemic, including:
- Working with NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group in storing and distributing vital PPE equipment to GP surgeries across Cleveland
- Supporting the four local authority vulnerable persons’ hubs in each district – delivering essential items and collecting and delivering prescriptions from pharmacies to vulnerable residents
- Making phone calls to lonely and isolated people and delivering essential items as part of our Befriending Service in Hartlepool
- Delivering training to care-home staff on effective use of PPE and supported staff on testing and training on infection prevention and control.
- Assisting Middlesbrough Council in delivering emergency food parcels to vulnerable families and carrying out temperature checks in shopping centres
- Making hundreds of phone calls to provide fire-safety advice and referring or signposting vulnerable residents to support
- Use of our welfare unit at Covid-19 mobile testing centres
- Disseminating vital government and PHE safety messaging to the public
- Providing business advice and support
- Offering free safer homes advice over the phone and online and continuing to fit smoke alarms for the most vulnerable where necessary
- Supporting our partners in the Local Resilience Forum with a range of activities.
Carl Boasman, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Protection said: ‘Continuing to support the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic is vital and we are delighted that these new NFCC risk assessments will allow our staff to work more widely with our partners to support our communities.
‘The safety of firefighters and staff is paramount and these risk assessments clearly set out how we will keep our people safe while carrying out this work.
‘Firefighters in many services are already supporting the vaccination effort and this will provide much-needed support to our NHS colleagues who are facing unprecedented demand. These new risk assessments will allow us to, amongst other things, support the roll-out of testing and vaccinations.
‘We will continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) and wider partners. We are all in this together.’
For more information, go to www.clevelandfire.gov.uk
