Thursday 28 March 2024
 6.9°C   ENE Moderate Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Fire fighters could attend medical emergencies

FIRE fighters in Shetland could be set to take on extra responsibilities including responding to medical emergencies in return for a pay rise.

Members of the community safety and resilience board were told at its latest meeting in Lerwick on Thursday that it is part of a nationwide move to diversify some fire fighters’ roles which could also see them focus on areas like environmental events and terrorism.

Fire fighters would re-train for these roles in return for a 20 per cent pay rise over a four year period.

The scheme could provide a boost to Shetland’s rural areas where people who suffer a cardiac arrest, for example, often have to wait a long time for an ambulance or medical help to arrive.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service area manager for Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles Iain Macleod said the proposal reflects a change in demand on fire fighters.

“We’ve had a model in place within the fire and rescue service that has served the country well for 70 years, but we have to admit that the risks are changing,” he said.

“The emerging risks are terrorism, environmental in terms of flooding and extremes of weather, but also we recognise that the fire service has a wider role to play in terms of its responsibilities to the community.

“If we can support our colleagues in other agencies by delivering services such as out of hospital cardiac and potentially ongoing medical response, you can imagine that within a rural community such as Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, coverage by ambulance and medical intervention is a very challenging environment.

“So if the fire and rescue service are closer and they’re appropriately trained, and then you can expect that actually in the future the fire service will be responders, supporting the community, making people safer and providing that emergency intervention.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

 

The role could be similar to first responders for the ambulance service, who attend medical emergencies in more rural areas while an ambulance is on its way.

Last year a year series of meetings were held across Shetland to encourage more people to become first volunteer responders.

Meanwhile, the community safety and resilience meeting also heard that an extra 15 people have applied to become retained fire fighters in the isles following recruitment campaigns.

Many stations in Shetland, such as Brae, Bixter and Fetlar, have struggled to meet its staffing complement in recent years.

But Macleod said the fire service still needs more bodies in its ranks.

“We need more people to come forward for their communities,” he said.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.