Preparedness is a word which is becoming more and more common amongst the emergency services. Increasingly, they are called upon to handle dangerous situations and must face harrowing scenes on a daily basis; from multiple casualties in terrorist attacks in Manchester and London, to the heart-breaking events at Grenfell Tower.
Training can help teams to ‘prepare’ for emergencies but there is a limit. Nothing can prepare a fireman for the time when they will have to make a decision which will mean life or death. This is the decision no one wants to make, but which firefighters tackling the inferno at Grenfell Tower were forced to confront.
It is events such as those in recent weeks which remind the general public of the risks that firemen and women face. At any hour of the day, they could be asked to put their own lives at risk to save the lives of others.
We recently came across a written account of events at Grenfell, from one of the firefighters who was at the scene. It makes for difficult reading, but we think you will agree, our firemen and women deserve a round of applause and heart-felt thanks.
Read the full account on Save the UK Fire Service’s Facebook Page