Mocked up accident to be staged in town centre
AMBULANCE, POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES LINKING UP FOR HIGH-PROFILE TRAINING EVENT AFTER SPATE OF FATAL ROAD INCIDENTS
accident on Saturday. Inset, a mocked-up car accident SWADLINCOTE has been chosen as the stage for a mock road accident training event for emergency service staff – after there were six crashes in the area in which people have died this year.
Police officers in South Derbyshire are joining forces with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service staff to stage the live mock incident in Swadlincote.
The event will be staged on The Delph tomorrow and will be sure to turn heads as shoppers head into town. The event will allow emergency services to practice how they deal with such serious events. Passer-by are being encouraged to watch the event talk with staff.
It comes as there were three fatal car crashes in South Derbyshire last month, including one involving young motorcyclist Lucas Whitnall, from Coalville, who worked in Swadlincote. The 17-year-old died after a collision involving a lorry on the A511 Ashby Road, in Woodville, on November 6.
Acting police Sergeant Joe Stafford, who is co-ordinating the mock accident, said: “Since January this year there have been 47 fatal road traffic collisions in Derbyshire, six of which have been in South Derbyshire.
“Having spoken with my colleagues in the other emergency services we are keen to warn people of the common causes of such accidents to try to help prevent further heart-breaking incidents.
“We will have a mock-up of an accident in The Delph area of the town centre where people will be able to come along and watch a demonstration of how we all work together at such a scene.
“Officers from all the organisations will then be on-hand to discuss the dangers of the fatal-four to help people avoid being involved in such an incident.”
Samantha Westwell, paramedic and ambulance operations manager for Derbyshire, said: “Serious road traffic collisions can have a huge impact on a wide range of people – from the physical and mental impact on those injured and their loved ones, to the emotional impact on emergency service personnel, hospital staff and bystanders.
“Events such as this are an excellent way for us to demonstrate what happens in the aftermath of a serious road traffic collision, and the decisions we can make as drivers and passengers to prevent such incidents from happening.”
Driving at excessive speed, under the influence of drink or drugs, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile telephone while driving are the ‘fatal four’ key causes of collisions involving death or serious injury in the UK.
The emergency services will be at The Delph from 10am with the demonstration due to start at 11am.