Firefighters ‘could be called out to heart attacks’
A consultation has been launched which could see firefighters responding to medical emergencies in Scarborough such as heart attacks and falls.
The consultation, by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, look sat how the service could increase its role in looking after the health and wellbeing of people across the region.
Assistant chief fire officer Owen Hayward said: “There are some exciting opportunities for the fire and rescue service to do more in the areas of health and wellbeing. The aim of this work would be to provide some additional resources to support health partners to deliver their services.” The three key areas being considered are:
Early intervention: promotion of general health and well-being advice such as stop smoking, alcohol reduction, cold homes advice.
Supporting health and social care interventions: e.g. using fire service staff to fit hand rails in people’s homes where this would be cheaper to health partners than their current arrangement.
Use of skills and assets for appropriate and timely emergency response: e.g. training staff to respond to heart attacks, falls and other home emergencies in a medical role or forcing entry into buildings for medical emergencies.
A spokesman said: “We would like to know your views on the suggested areas of development. If you would like to comment please complete the short survey available on our website by 6pm on April 30.”
Go to www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/ news-events/ public-consultations/ health_ consultation/