Surrey firefighters have taken on new roles to support the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. Five firefighters from Godstone, Guildford, Camberley, and Reigate have completed specialised training to become Ambulance Assistants, enabling them to work alongside paramedics on the frontline.
These five operational firefighters successfully finished SECAmb’s clinical care and advanced driving courses. This training equips them to manage medical emergencies and respond to urgent calls under the supervision of lead clinicians. Their involvement could include crewing ambulances and assisting paramedics directly during emergency situations.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Kasey Beal expressed pride in the team, stating, “I’m really proud of the adaptableness shown by these individuals. They’re taking on vitally important roles and changing the way they work to help meet these new priorities to ensure the people of Surrey are safe.”
Joe Garcia, SECAmb’s Executive Director of Operations, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, saying, “The additional support provided by these individuals is really welcomed. I thank them for stepping into this role and providing us with greater resilience.”
This initiative is part of a national three-way agreement that has been thoroughly risk-assessed by the Fire Brigade Union and fire service to ensure both safety and effectiveness in these expanded roles.
Key points of the initiative include:
- Firefighters trained to respond to all medical emergencies
- Operating under SECAmb lead clinician supervision
- Supporting ambulance crews during the COVID-19 crisis
- Part of a nationwide teamwork agreement
With fire crews now serving as Ambulance Assistants, Surrey’s emergency services are strengthened in their response to the pandemic, ensuring better support for the community during this critical time.
Originally published by UKNIP.
