Ambulance service makes plans to deliver defibrillators by drone; Women in Avon Fire and Rescue describe ‘sexist’ culture

Every weekday morning we bring you the sector’s freshest news stories, starting today with the news that the Welsh Ambulance Service is moving closer to using drones to fly defibrillators to patients, thanks to a new partnership with the University of Warwick and SkyBound.

There’s also a story on how women employed by Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AFRS) have described a widespread culture of sexism and bullying.

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Ambulance service makes plans to deliver defibrillators by drone

The Welsh Ambulance Service is moving closer to using drones to fly defibrillators to patients.

The Trust has partnered with the University of Warwick and SkyBound to explore whether drone-delivered defibrillators could make a difference to someone in cardiac arrest. More via Emergency Services Times

UK police have ‘robust’ plan in place for Arsenal soccer match

British police will have a “robust policing plan” in place for a soccer match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich in London on Tuesday evening, a police statement said.

“We’re aware of online and media reports in relation to calls to target matches across Europe and here in London,” London’s Metropolitan Police said. More via Reuters

Tom Whiting to leave IOPC for new role at General Dental Council

The Acting Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is joining the General Dental Council as its new Chief Executive Officer and Registrar.

Tom Whiting joined the IOPC in February 2019 as the Deputy Director General, Strategy and Corporate Services and was appointed Acting Director General in December 2022. More via Emergency Services Times

Northamptonshire officers acted appropriately in search for missing man prior to fatal collision – IOPC

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has found that Northamptonshire Police officers acted appropriately in responding to welfare concerns for a man who died in a road traffic collision soon after.

The collision happened at around 1pm on 1 March 2023 on the A45, close to the A14 junction near Thrapston, and involved a Ford Kuga driven by 52-year-old Mark Meagan and a DAF truck driven by Paul Straker from Hertfordshire, who was aged 40. Both drivers were sadly pronounced dead at the scene. More via IOPC

Ambulance service reaches disability awareness award finals

The West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has made it to the finals of a disability awareness award.

The service’s University NHS Foundation Trust is nominated for the Disability Confident Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace Award in the Disability Smart Awards 2024. More via Yahoo! News

Women in Avon Fire and Rescue describe ‘sexist’ culture

Women employed by Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AFRS) have described a widespread culture of sexism and bullying.

It comes after a female firefighter won an employment tribunal on the grounds of sexual discrimination last year. More via BBC News

NFCC launches new national risk methodologies to support community risk management planning

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has released the last of a series of standardised tools to support UK fire and rescue services (FRSs) in their community risk management planning (CRMP). More via Emergency Services Times

How Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is driving down false alarms

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has changed the way it now responds to automatic fire alarm call outs (AFAs) to residential and domestic properties, by only attending if there’s been a 999 call to confirm there is a fire or signs of fire.

This change, introduced last month, covers AFAs at properties including hotels, boarding schools, care homes and any other residential types, including those that contain single private dwellings. More via Surrey News