Figures reveal number of obese people rescued

‘New actions need to be taken forward and existing actions need to work more collaboratively...’

Obesity remains a big problem in the Medway Towns with fire crews called out to assist with the rescue of severely overweight people more times than in any other part of the county.

Firefighters across Kent were summoned to assist paramedics move 185 people last year, more than one every two days.

Of these, call outs for bariatric assistance in Medway accounted for more than a quarter (48).

And while this was seven less than in 2018 it was still 65% higher than 2017.

Firefighters often have to remove windows, doors and even parts of buildings to extract obese people from their homes.

Rescuers are trained to safely lift individuals using body slings, lifting equipment and slide sheets.

The fire service says it has equipment available capable of lifting 500kg (78 stone) on specially designed stretchers and vehicles.

Now the service has even purchased three “Bariquin” rescue dummies so firefighters can train for complex casualty manoeuvres.

Last month two crews were needed in Gravesend to lift a “severely overweight man” suffering from respiratory problems out of his house.

A Freedom of Information request to Kent Fire and Rescue Service revealed there had been nearly 700 call outs across the county since 2013.

The figure has risen sharply from 21 recorded seven years ago. In 2018, incidents reached a peak at 253.

Medway recorded the highest total number of emergency extractions last year with 160, followed by Thanet with 107 and Swale just behind on 74.

The area with the least call outs was Ashford with 25, followed by Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, both 32.

Earlier this month a report and “across-the-board package” was discussed by Medway Council in response to the rise in childhood obesity.

Figures show increases in overweight and obesity rates among those aged between four and five and 10 and 11.

Last year, just under 23% reception class pupils were considered overweight and just less than 10% obese.

A report by the council’s head of health and wellbeing Scott Elliott read: “If Medway is to be successful in tackling obesity, new actions need to be taken forward and existing actions need to work more collaboratively to ensure all existing resource is used effectively.”

On average crews rescue an obese person every two days