Fire crews fight blazes and virus
STAFF at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service have joined the fight against coronavirus by administering nearly 11,000 vaccinations.
A total of 169 staff and crew members from the service volunteered to temporarily switch from their normal day job and focus on the fight against Covid-19.
Up to May 3 their efforts included:
■ 10,707 vaccinations delivered by TWFRS staff;
■ 4,772 hours spent supporting Tyne and Wear vaccination sites;
■ 3948 deliveries of essential items for vulnerable people;
■ 724 food parcels packed for vulnerable people in the region;
■ 456 vaccines delivered to care homes. The fire service has enabled its workforce to be able to respond to calls for assistance from the public as well as community partners across agencies, local authorities, voluntary organisations, NHS England, and the broader health sector.
Staff have taken on a variety of different community roles including administering lateral flow tests, marshals, vaccinators, and resource managers.
The site locations have included the Nightingale Hospital in Sunderland, Newcastle Racecourse, the Vertu
Motors Arena (the home of Newcastle Eagles), St Thomas More Catholic High School and Whitley Bay High School.
Chris Lowther, Chief Fire Officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “One of the defining memories that encompasses the community response to the pandemic has been the way people and organisations including the emergency services have rolled up their sleeves and have gone over and above the call of duty to help others.
“I am proud of the way our crews and staff have come together and generated a wonderful community spirit.
“We have seen people gaining new skills that can be used to help fight the battle against this terrible disease.
“This shows the high level of empathy and caring being shown by all of our colleagues in the North East, and up and down the country.
“These actions have been delivered alongside our day-to-day roles.”
People can also continue to collect their lateral flow home testing kits from service headquarters in Washington (between 9am-noon) and Gateshead Community Fire Station (between 1pm-3pm) on Monday and Thursdays.
For further information about the work delivered by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, go to www.twfire. gov.uk