Emergency services test their response

Emergency services from Cheshire and Greater Manchester descended on the soon to be opened A555 link road in Cheadle on Friday (16 August) to role play their response to a major incident.

Rhodri Jones watch manager for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s Cheadle Red Watch organised the multi-agency exercise which would give firefighters, police and North West Ambulance Service the chance to test their combined cross-border response in preparation for the new road opening.

On the day volunteers from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took to their posts in cars, minibuses and by a moped so that emergency services could test their skills in working out how to rescue safely, and treat those involved.

Firefighters were first on scene of the serious six vehicle collision, triaging the actor-casualties who ranged from walking wounded to deceased.

They dealt with chaotic scenes calmly and methodically assessing each situation and casualty. The police arrived and helped them with the casualties and contained the scene to make sure police collision investigators could scrutinize the cause of the collision.

Ambulances then arrived and as the police and firefighters helped to free the casualties, paramedics tended to casualties. The response from all emergency services was a practiced and choreographed display for onlookers.

Watch Manager Rhodri Jones, who is also on-call crew manager for Cheshire working from Wilmslow, explained that it was important to identify opportunities such as the new A6 to Manchester Airport link road to try out the joint response to large scale incidents in a safe environment.

Watch manager Rhodri Jones went on to say: “The objective is to be able to practice collaborative working between the services in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, comparing procedures and equipment. I hope it reassures the public that we are committed to keeping our skills polished so that if the time comes, and you’re in a serious collision, we’re able to rescue you safely and give you the life-saving treatment and support you need at a truly traumatic time. The new A555 will be a major addition to the Cheshire and Greater Manchester road infrastructure and it was imperative that the combined emergency services were able to come together to test our collective response in the event of an accident.”

Watch Manager for Wilmslow fire station, Ryan Swindells said: “These opportunities don’t come along too often, so when we know a road is nearly completed but yet to be opened to the public we seize on the chance so we can get a real feel for how we would be best responding to an incident in that environment. As this road is just on the border we would be attending to assist our colleagues in Greater Manchester, so this has been the ideal opportunity to test our skills and knowledge of each other’s working practices so that you can rest assured when you need us, you’re in safe hands.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to remind all those using the new road and roads in Cheshire East to drive safely. Think about your speed, and concentrate on your journey.”