Rotarians told of changing role for service

Aug 21 2008 by Margaret Shaw, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Rotary Club enjoyed the company of two guest speakers at their latest meeting.

Jimmy Mochan and Malcolm Dickie outlined the changing role of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue. Both speakers have been temporarily taken out of their operational role in the service to undertake a training role.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue cover nine local authorities – including 23islands – and covers 7500 square miles. The population is served by 39 full-time stations and a number of retained stations where firemen are on call .

Competition to get into the service is fierce, with 450 applications for every job. Firefighters have to be thoroughly trained, which starts with a 12-week residential course followed by three years’ probation. Throughout their 30-yearcareer, firefighters continue to be assessed for their skills and fitness.

The main role of the fire and rescue service continues to be firefighting. Increasingly, however, the service is involved with providing a rescue service, with special training to deal with waterways, road traffic accidents and collapsed structure incidents.

Personnel are also now trained to provide immediate trauma care. In recent times, more specialist training is required to deal with chemical and biological incidents.

Past president Ian Bell gave the vote of thanks at the end of the talk.