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Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) has invested in the future safety of its firefighters by purchasing over 200 new Breathing Apparatus (BA) sets from a North-East based company.
The 220 specialist BA sets will start being received by TWFRS later this month from Draeger Safety UK Ltd, who have offices in Blyth, Northumberland. Draeger Safety UK has been awarded the contract after a thorough tendering process.
BA sets form an essential part of TWFRS’s incident response armoury, and are primarily used in scenarios involving dangerous atmospheres, for example, in fires, chemical incidents, and confined spaces.
The investment in the new safety equipment has been a necessity to replace the existing BA sets that have come to the end of their natural operational life.
This significant investment is part of TWFRS and the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority’s continued commitment for Service-wide improvements as outlined in the 2024-2027 Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP).
“The new BA sets will ensure inclusivity for all of our crews, and the investment reflects our strategic goals of effectiveness, efficiency, and people. The equipment is paramount for life-saving rescues when firefighters need to enter fires or other hazardous environments. As a former firefighter myself it is encouraging to see continual development and improvement of breathing apparatus sets.
“Dräger are one of the leaders in their field and are able to deliver significant benefits to our firefighters including weight reduction that helps to ease firefighter fatigue, enhances flexibility, and supports a diverse range of body types. This will all ensure that our operational personnel can perform effectively during high-pressure incidents.”
Peter Heath, Chief Fire Officer for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.
The current equipment has been keeping firefighters safe for over 15-years, and it has been decided to replace these sets with Dräger’s latest PSS Airboss system.
This new equipment represents a major step forward in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of TWFRS firefighters. The new system will provide the advanced functionality and ergonomics the service needs to meet the challenges of modern firefighting while also supporting a diverse workforce.
Thisprocurement process involved extensive market research and supplier demonstrations. The new BA sets will be fully implemented within the service by April 2025.
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