Hampshire Firefighters Join Ambulance Crews to Battle Covid Surge
Hampshire’s emergency services have teamed up to save lives amid a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. Firefighters from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) have volunteered to be redeployed with South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) for an initial four-week stint. Their mission? To support the NHS and help keep the public safe during this critical period.
Fire Station Becomes Vaccination Hub as Pressure Mounts
Throughout the pandemic, HFRS has been pulling out all the stops, including transforming Basingstoke Fire Station into a community vaccination centre. But with cases spiking and healthcare under pressure, the ambulance service urgently called for extra hands to cope with soaring demand.
Firefighters Step Up as Covid Co-Responders
HFRS and SCAS have a long-standing partnership dating back to 2004, working together through the Co-Responding scheme where firefighters attend life-threatening medical emergencies ahead of ambulances. These fire crews are already trained in Immediate Emergency Care (IEC), making them perfect frontline reinforcements.
“I’m proud to be supporting our NHS colleagues by driving ambulances,” said Firefighter Ben Carter from St Mary’s Fire Station. “I volunteered during the first lockdown, and it has strengthened my skills and given me a deeper respect for what paramedics do. My wife works in the NHS, so we both know how hard everyone is working.”
Joint Effort to Support NHS at Breaking Point
HFRS Assistant Director of Operations, Area Manager Dan Tasker, praised the volunteers: “These firefighters are the definition of everyone playing their part in the fight against COVID-19. I couldn’t be prouder of our teams stepping up to protect the local community.”
Paul Jefferies, Assistant Director at SCAS, added: “We are hugely grateful to HFRS. Nearly 20 firefighters across Hampshire and neighbouring counties are already helping us by driving ambulances and assisting clinicians with care on scene. Another 20 will join soon to bolster our 1,900-strong frontline staff during these demanding times.”
He continued, “Our fire service colleagues have undergone specialist driver training from SCAS but bring plenty of existing skills. This partnership not only supports local communities but also strengthens our working relationship and mutual learning opportunities.”
Together, Hampshire’s fire and ambulance services are banding together to tackle the COVID crisis head-on and deliver vital care to those who need it most.
