Firemen to rescue of 100 patients too fat to move

FIREFIGHTERS rescued morbidly obese people more than 100 times in the past three years.

Scotland’s fire service carries out an average of almost three ‘bariatric rescues’ a month, according to statistics revealed by Freedom of Information laws.

In many cases, they were called to help paramedics who are unable to move very sick, morbidly obese patients.

Animal harnesses, bariatric stretchers and hydraulic winches are among the equipment used by firefighters – who are also often required to lift obese patients by hand.

Health experts have warned that the numbers will increase as ‘the obese get obeser’. In recent years Scotland has faced an obesity epidemic, with 65 per cent of adults classified as overweight or obese in 2014.

The figures reveal that 111 bariatric rescues have been undertaken by firefighters since January 1, 2013, although the real number is likely to be higher as they do not include the Strathclyde area.

The Highlands and Clackmannanshire were the regions with the highest number of obesity rescues, at 29 and 23 respectively.

However, the fire service was unable to estimate how much each rescue cost.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said of the figures: ‘The tragedy is that they will grow in the years to come. Although the number of obese individuals may be levelling off, the obese are getting obeser. These are the people having to be winched from their homes with serious medical problems.’

A fire service spokesman said: ‘While the transportation and care of bariatric patients is a medical issue, we do provide assistance to our partner agencies.’