Young actors add drama to road traffic demonstration

Keeping people safe on the roads in winter is the work of councils, police and firefighters.

To dramatically bring home the dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs, or taking insufficient care on the wintry roads, a road traffic accident reconstruction was staged by firefighters, police and ambulance on St Paul’s Square in Bedford from 7.30 pm on Saturday 27th November.

Fire crews, trained in using powerful cutting equipment to dismantle vehicles, took a car apart allowing access to the trapped “victims”. Bedfordshire Police then “arrested” the driver and “breathalysed” the driver. The driver and victims were played by actors from Biddenham Upper School which, supported by Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, has produced a number of theatre productions related to road and fire safety. Specialist make-up depicting injuries was the Bedford College theatrical department.

The event can be viewed on-line at www.local-news.tv

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service Northern Area Commander Tony Rogers said : “We have carried out these demonstrations in previous years in Ampthill and Biggleswade - they are very effective in bringing home to onlookers the reality of being in a car accident caused by drink driving, speeding or simple carelessness. We expect a big crowd for this show.

“Fire crews rescue seven times as many people from wrecked car as they do from burning business - so making people drive safer is important to our organisation.”

Beds Police will be continuing Operation Jackdaw doing roadside tests for drink driving during coming months. They will also be giving out wrist bands to “designated drivers” entitling them to free soft drinks in participating pubs and clubs in Bedford and Luton.

Bedfordshire Police’s annual clampdown on drink/drug driving is led by from the Roads Policing Unit. It is Codenamed Operation Jackdaw and under this police will be doing roadside tests for drink driving during coming weeks. They will also be giving out wrist bands to “designated drivers” entitling them to free soft drinks in participating pubs and clubs in Bedford and Luton.

Chief Inspector Jane Aspin said:“We take driving under the influence of drink or drugs extremely seriously and are stepping up our patrols during the Christmas period. Our aim is to breathalyse more drivers than ever before during this campaign and if you drive whilst over the limit it is only be a matter of time before you are caught.

“We will increasing both high visibility patrols and covert patrols, including our ANPR teams, to catch drink drivers. We are also using Bluetooth technology to send text messages to enabled mobile phones giving anti-drink drive messages.

“We are urging those going to Christmas parties to ensure they have a designated driver. To help we are offering wristbands to designated drivers and they will receive free soft drinks in selected pubs in the Town Centre. Proof that they are the designated driver is needed. Officers on Friday and Saturday nights will be patrolling car parks around the town to offer the bands to the drivers that they see.”

“Collisions involving alcohol devastate the lives of victims and their families and ruin the lives of offenders, who could face a lengthy driving ban or imprisonment and have to live with the lifelong guilt of having killed or injured someone through their reckless behaviour. Offenders can also lose their job, home and their livelihood,”

“If you know someone who is about to drive under the influence of drink or drugs we actively pursue any information we receive. Call 01234 841212, or text to 07786 200011 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

Bedford Borough Councillor Colleen Atkins, Executive member Bedfordshire and Luton Combined Fire Authority, said: "Drink driving appears to increase over the Christmas festivity period. Working with our partners, we want to reduce road traffic accidents and the tragedy of death. We hope that by seeing someone being cut out of a crashed car will bring the message home to drivers not to drink and drive, not only during the festive period, but throughout the year and therefore reduce the number of people being needlessly injured in road traffic collisions.”

Cllr David McVicar, Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Healthier Lifestyles, Central Bedfordshire Council said: "By working with our partners we hope to raise awareness of the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol particularly at Christmas time when this offence appears to increase. By focussing on this issue we aim to reduce drink driving not only during the festive period, but throughout the year and therefore reduce the number of people being needlessly injured in road traffic collisions.”

Statistics from Amey for Bedfordshire and Luton:

75% (256) of drivers involved in injury collisions who failed a roadside breath test between 1/1/2004 – 31/12/2009 were under the age of 40.

These collisions resulted in 372 casualties. In 26% (66) of these collisions, the driver was recorded as uninjured but these collisions had caused injury to 88 other people – 2 of which were fatal.

National Statistic:
“If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash, than a driver who hasn't been drinking.” http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/focusareas/driving/drinkdriving?whoareyou_id=&page=Overview

ends

Issued on behalf of all participating partners and agencies by Manners PR for Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service. www.bedsfire.com Jacquie Manners (01234) 326198

Notes to Editors:

Amey is a leading provider of public services. The company takes a unique approach to the design, management, and maintenance of the UK’s vital assets and services such as transport, roads, railways, bridges, schools, airports, public spaces, and offices. Amey has a proven track record in delivering outstanding stand-alone services, as well as pioneering a leading integrated service model. This means we have the unique ability to integrate our offering both horizontally, across different services, and vertically, from design to delivery.

Fire crews provide emergency aid to A & E department in power failures

Fire crews used equipment made available for major chemical decomtamination incidents to provide power, shelter, light and heat at Luton Hospital A & E after power problems were reported on Tuesday 30th November.

When the hospital experienced some power outages, staff there asked Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service for help.

BLFRS Southern Area Commander Dave Fothergill, Station Commander Kevin Moores from Stopsley and colleagues decided to make this equipment available to make sure patients and paramedics had a reserve location at the A & E. Working with consultants and A & E they had the facilities made available should the situation worsen.

The tents, which are actually units for showering off chemical contamination, are part of a catalogue of items which make up a regional and national jigsaw of equipment used by fire crews to deal with a range of major incidents.

AC Fothergill said: "This demonstrates good dynamic response thinking - we have this equipment to use ostensibly for chemical jobs - but in fact was useful for helping the hospital on this bitterly cold afternoon, evening and all through the night."

The crews left the scene Wednesday morning (1st December)

Fire Service links with 18,000 students in Bedford

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service supported the Bedford College Achievements Evening by sponsoring the Sport & Public Services awards category.

BLFRS has close links with the College and its students who are a gateway to the wider and diverse community of Bedfordshire.

On 25th November, a packed Bedford Corn Exchange heard how its student successes are in the top 5 % in the country.

Soon after achieving its Outstanding Ofsted status, Bedford took over Shuttleworth College in Central Beds. That merger has become a model for how to integrate twvery different colleges and improve the standards and services of both.

The College has secured £2 Million to redevelop the workshop block on the Cauldwell Street campus, its new BROOKS hair and and beauty opened on the High Street and The Mansion House at Shuttleworth was relaunched as a quality conference and weddings venue.

Bedford College has won the right to use the Olympic logo - which was particularly apt as the Outstanding Student of the Year was 2012 hopeful sprinter Deji Tobias, who is the fastest under 20 year old in the UK. Deji is taking a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Development, Coaching and Fitness.

School links

Together with the Bedford Charity, Bedford College is one of the sponsors of the Bedford Academy which is one of the few secondary schools in the UK to be awarded millions of pounds for a new building project. More than 900 pupils from upper schools attend vocational courses at the College.

Business boost

Working closely with local employers to help ensure students have the right skills for employment is key to the contribution the College makes to the local economy. “We are an engine for growth for the local economy,” said Principal and Chief Executive Ian Pryce, “We want Bedford College to be a badge of honour on the CVs of students when they apply for employment.”

The support by local businesses, hundreds of whom work with the College, was demonstrated by the commercial sponsorship of the prizes at the Achievements Ceremony.

What would you do if.....

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue is supporting a campaign to encourage the public to “be prepared” for emergencies.

Called “What would you do if...” the project has been promoted via local media and a postcard campaign.

As part of the promotional activity a visit to a Fire Station has been offered as a prize in a competition which runs until 10th December 2010.

Entries can be made on line via the website www.whatwouldyoudoif.co.uk

The campaign is being run under the banner of the Beds and Luton Local Resilience Forum which is one of a network of multi agency organisations across the UK. Under these LRFs fire and rescue service work with police and ambulance and other agencies to prepare for emergencies which can impact upon the wider community - such as floods, long term power failures and so on.

“When confronted with flooding people will often dial 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service. The service will respond if lives are at risk from flooding, for instance if there is the danger of electrocution or a elderly person is trapped in their home.

“However protection of property remains the responsibility of homeowners who should, if they are in a flood risk area, have their own stock of sand bags or the modern equivalent.”

Fire and Rescue Service gets tough on tobacco as cause of house fires

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service and other local agencies joined forces yesterday to launch the Luton Tobacco Control Partnership (LTCP).

The partnership aims to improve the health and quality of life for local adults and children and is encouraging comments on a draft five year strategy.

The strategy covers 2011-2015 and sets out measures to prevent peoplle taking up smoking, motivating and helping them to quit and protecting communities and families from the harm caused by tobacco.

Consultation on the draft strategy runs until 17th December 2011 and comments are welcome.

Tobacco is one of the most challenging public health issues it
causes around 246 deaths in Luton every year, impacts negatively on the local economy and contributes to social problems. It is estimated that 40, 278 people in Luton smoke: that's about 1 in 5.

In the last year, tobacco-related materials were linked to 111
local fires.

Community Safety Manager Terry Daniels joined the launch to represent the interests of BLFRS in discouraging cigarette-related fires.

Download a copy of the strategy and consultation questionnaire from
www.luton.nhs.uk or www.luton.gov.uk/LTCP

For more information or a draft copy of the strategy for comment,
contact Olena Sawal, Luton Tobacco Control Partnership Coordinator on 01582 532 056 or email olena.sawal@luton-pct.nhs.uk

Partnership members include the Council, NHS Luton, Luton Community Services, Bedfordshire Pre- School Learning Alliance,Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, Luton and Dunstable Hospital Trust, Luton Drug and Alcohol Partnership,Integrated Youth Service, British Heart Foundation, Bedfordshire & Luton Education Business Partnership, South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust(SEPT) and NHS Bedfordshire - Oral Health team.

The charity QUIT, which presented a lively and interactive session on tobacco facts at the launch, has now visited all secondary schools in Luton to highlight tobacco-related issues to young people.

Winter warning - stay safe

Christmas - celebrate with caution says Fire and Rescue Service

Tis the season to be merry - but make sure you and your guests stay safe and well.

*Having a party? Make sure there are plenty of ashtrays inside or that people outside don’t put drop lit cigarettes in wheelie bins or on piles of wrapping paper near the back door

*Guests staying the night? Make sure everyone knows how to get out or where door keys are kept in case of fire in the night

*Lights, candles - take action ! Keep Christmas candles away from furnishings and over hanging decorations. Switch off Christmas lights at night.

*Stuck for that special gift? Buy and fit someone a smoke alarm - it could save their life.

Winter Warnings

When winter draws near so do additional dangers from fire in the home.

Bedfordshire and Luton FIre and Rescue Service is warning people to take care as the temperatures drop.

*Check your electric blanket is safe - old and worn ones should be replaced.

* Traditional open fires and more fashionable log burning fires are more popular now fuel prices are rising. Be sure to have your chimney swept before lighting up.

* Portable heaters pulled out of the cupboard in winter should be kept away from fabrics and furnishings and unplugged at night

* Power cuts - always keep a battery torch handy - and take care with candles and tea lights at ALL times

*Always have a working smoke alarm - if you cannot fit your own the Fire and Rescue Service will do it for you call 0800 043 5042

Warning over train track fire

Firefighters were called to deal with a fire alongside the railway track off Belmont Road, Flitwick on the evening of November 3rd. Smoke was drifting across the tracks which were busy with commuter trains.

A 999 call was received at 19.02 and two crews from Ampthill, followed a crew from Toddington, were despatched.

Rail authorities closed down the tracks and isolated power whilst firefighters used high pressure hoses to put out a fire which had stretched along 40 metres of trees and hedgerow. Crews were at the scene for an hour.

Station Commander Andy Draper who attended the incident said it was believed the fire was started by children or young people: “Without the fast action of crews the fire would have spread to a larger wooded area of bigger trees which could have caused the rail tracks to be closed for longer.

“Special safety measures have to be taken to allow fire crews to work alongside the track - and this includes stopping trains which is a great inconvenience to many people.

“It goes without saying that playing near railway lines is dangerous and playing with fire, just a deadly. We hope that parents remind their children to play safe so they stay safe.”