Timely and relevant, visitors flock to The Emergency Services Show

Throughout the first day at The Emergency Services Show, visitors were spoilt for choice for CPD-accredited content across five different stages.

Featured above, former BBC Environment correspondent, David Shukman hosted back to back panels framed around his book, The Response. After an unprecedented five-heatwave summer, the first panel was right up to date with a discussion about how well the fire and rescue service is responding to wildfires and increased risk from heat. It wasn’t just about the capability to get on top of wildfires, but also a conversation about preparation and where the service should be in influencing behaviour change and messaging.

Resilience is a strong theme at this year’s show with a whole new conference-style stage dedicated to the topic. Resilience 360 saw the head of the UK Cabinet Office’s COBR unit speak about the key issues of the day.

I chaired three sessions. The first on firefighter PPE where Protecting the Protectors stage sponsor, MSA Safety, assembled a great panel to look at the factors that go into creating PPE that is fit to form and adaptable to a changing climate. By adding in the boots from HAIX and the waterproofing capability of Gore, this panel go into the detail of standards and why comfort has to be balanced with durability.

In contrast, I had a fireside chat with disaster planner, Lucy Easthope. Returning to the show three years on from her last appearance, the conversation was feisty and filled with insights about what emergency planners face every day. Fuelled by biscuits and the desire to change behaviour so that we can all be prepared, Lucy was full of advice, anecdote and a powerful enthusiasm that’s hard not be affected by.

Ending the day with two of the UK ISAR team who were deployed to Venezuela as part of the rescue efforts after the devastating earthquakes earlier this year, I was left humbled by their work. Gavin Brown and Gavin Kearsley shared stories of what it’s like to land in a country with 10 hours notice to deploy, a packed bag ready to keep them going for up to two weeks and a team camaraderie that is almost palpable.

These three sessions – out of 77 across the show’s two days – demonstrate the huge spectrum of the work of the emergency services and why The Emergency Services Show and The Emergency Tech Show are the place to be to hear them for free.

The programme continues today.

It’s not too late to register and come and join us at the NEC in Birmingham. Register to attend here.