Protecting and improving the health and wellbeing of fire and rescue personnel and all those working in the emergency services sector, is set to be a major theme of The Emergency Services Show, which returns to Hall 5 and the outdoor area at the NEC, Birmingham from 27 to 28 April 2021.
Health & Wellbeing is the exclusive focus of one of the show’s four dedicated CPD-accredited seminar theatres, alongside the other key areas of Lessons Learnt, Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies. Seminar programmes will feature an impressive line-up of innovators and senior speakers from across the international fire and rescue community. Topics covered are set to include tackling historically neglected health and safety issues, the effective use of PPE to minimise exposure to carcinogens and other hazards, as well as the unique mental health challenges facing the emergency services and first responders.
“Protecting firefighters from physical and mental health harms requires improved equipment and better training as well as cultural change to tackle complacency within organisations,” says event director David Brown. “The Emergency Services Show uniquely brings together all these elements in one event where you see and handle innovative technology and equipment, share experiences and learn from each other.”
The free-to-attend event features over 450 exhibiting companies and organisations as well as live demonstrations, simulated training and seminars. Visitors can source the latest kit and discover emerging technologies, whilst networking with partner agencies with whom they could collaborate at future fire and rescue operations.
Leading suppliers and innovators in protective fabrics, uniforms and PPE exhibiting include Ballyclare, Bristol Uniforms, Gore, HAIX, Jolly Safety, PBI, Respirex and Stedfast. Visitors can also see the latest in medical equipment, firefighting and rescue tools and equipment from Audax, Draeger, Magnum, Medtree, MSA Safety, Panasonic Toughbook and many more.
Two seminar theatres are dedicated to Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies, showcasing how the fire and rescue sector can use data and technology more efficiently.
“Technology and innovation are enabling fire and rescue services to tackle increasingly complex challenges, and the suppliers of that technology play a key part in collaborative solution building,” explains David Brown. “Visitors from the fire and rescue services can have unique access to the expertise of these suppliers and discuss their individual requirements with their research and development teams.”
The extensive indoor and outdoor exhibition is a one-stop shop for sourcing all the latest services and equipment required for emergency response and keeping the public safe from threats such as fires, explosions, floods, road traffic accidents and terrorist attacks. Exhibiting companies include leading names in search and rescue, extrication, communications, IT, protective clothing and uniforms, vehicles and fleet, vehicle equipment, outsourcing, training, community safety, and water rescue.
New technology on display will include connected vehicles that serve as mobile communications hubs, satellite communications, ruggedised mobile computers tablets and phones, data, cloud storage, wearable tech, connectivity, UAVs/drones, hybrid and electric vehicles, body-worn cameras and other video capture systems.
Vehicle suppliers who have already booked to exhibit include Angloco, EmergencyOne, Jaguar and Land Rover, Hercules Trucks, Rosenbauer, Volvo, WAS and Yamaha. The UK’s Venari Group will also use the show to launch its latest vehicles and firefighting equipment.
Excelerate Group will be sharing its knowledge of the fast-changing landscape of resilient communications. Sales and Marketing Director Nicola Savage says: “The world of communications is about to undergo a massive transformation. Satellite capability is moving rapidly and 5G offers really exciting potential. These market trends will revolutionise the way the emergency services use data, the way they procure and their operational models. It is so important to get ahead of the game and plan for the future to ensure that responder technology integrates seamlessly.”
Virtual Reality technology is also set to feature strongly, and was highlighted by the HMCIFRS report as an area where the fire and rescue sector was demonstrating real innovation; using VR for staff training as well as educating the public on the dangers of fire and other risks including reckless driving.
Just as important are the enabling ICT applications being showcased, including control room systems, data management, mobile apps for emergency service and public use and the multiple technologies now being used to speed and aid collaboration throughout the emergency services. Such expertise can be accessed from the Microsoft Partners Policing Pavilion which will form part of the new Future Policing feature being introduced to The Emergency Services Show this year.
Live Challenge Competitions
The popular Extrication Challenge hosted by West Midlands Fire Service will return again this year. Running on both days of the Show, the competition enables visitors to get up close to the action. Competing teams will carry out extrications from simulated crash scenes. Best safe-working practices will be in the spotlight as skills including incident command and control, safety and scene assessment, extrication, professional pre-hospital care and expert use of rescue equipment are put to the test.
The First Aid & Trauma Challenge will again see teams facing a realistic trauma scenario with just 10 minutes to assess, treat, ‘package’ and handover the patient to a medic.
In 2019 The Emergency Services Show attracted a total of 8,300 visitors from the fire and rescue, police and ambulance services plus partner agencies, including government departments, HM Coastguard, RNLI and other first responders, making it the biggest event in its history.
For 2021, The Emergency Services Show will for the first time be co-located with The Fire Safety Event, The Health & Safety Event, The Security Event & The Facilities Event, creating the UK’s largest event focused on the protection of people, places and assets.
The Emergency Services Show organisers are working closely with the NEC venue team to ensure visitors enjoy a safe and secure visit, in line with the event industry’s All Secure Standard risk-assessment-based framework of Covid-19 secure industry best practice and guidance. The NEC Venue Protect programme has put in place comprehensive social distancing measures and enhanced cleaning and sanitisation and supports testing and tracing.
All fire and rescue service, including Defence Fire & Rescue, airports, refineries, pharmaceutical and industrial brigades are invited to attend. To minimise contact and ensure smooth and efficient entry flows, all visitors are required to register in advance both for free entry and free parking at: www.emergencyuk.co.uk
