Page 3 - link magazine

Awards for firemen 3
The Westlea firemen who came second in a National Extrication competi-
tion in August, as described on the front page of the September Link HOMEOPATHY
magazine, received certificates from the Chair of Wiltshire County Council toie. ',y
Mary Salisbury at a presentation evening on 20 September. Holistic & Natural
Also presented that evening were cheques totalling £921 raised at the ea', /f,9a ea
Swindon premier of Backdraft at the MGM cinema. The Medicine That
From left to right, Sister Ann Francis of the Odstock Burns Unit, Wiltshire Chief X Ca e%vre&/
Officer John Craig, Mary Salisbury, chair of Wiltshire County Council, Neil Works
Wright, chair of the Wilts. Fire Service Benevolent Fund, George Simmonds of the
Wilts. Air Ambulance Service and John Kiel, manager of the MGM For consultations For local, quality
and appointments introductions in
in West Swindon, the Swindon area
telephone contact
Manjit Virik on
© Swindon 487761
871621
Link Centre Charity Market . Saturday 19 October
Bargains galore at the stalls arranged by a variety
of community groups at the monthly charity market.
r
To book a stall, telephone the Link Centre on 871212 ext 234.
RARCXATS
Oaso,a Rospfta! Bapns
rs, 1 P507-00 GOGGLEBOX 1
and Scyeg 1
Po,iu.
Specialists in video
Link Magazine gets in firemen's way
and TV repairs
All three Swindon fire stations took part in a disaster exercise in September Free home estimates
to test the ability of firemen to administer first aid and stabilise casualties
when they first arrive at an emergency. The Link magazine was invited to all work guaranteed
take part. Service from 8am — 9pm
'Come along and act as an interfering press photographer and generally
get in the way' I was told. NO CALL OUT CHARGE
Two carriages had been provided by British Rail and the firemen
responsible for setting up the exercise had taken delight in smashing it up TeI:S indon 813485
during the morning. When I arrived they were daubing drama students
\~NINIV 1.11
from NEW College with blood made from a mixture of powder paint,
briefing them on the injuries they had and
how they were to behave; slumped on tables,
twisted as if thrown like a doll in an accident,
shivering in shock.
Members of the Casualty Union were also
present, making themselves up with dreadful
injuries of broken bones and deep cuts.
Students had been recruited to act as the
interferingpmssas well sol helped the brigade
photographer who was also expected to shoot
video. This was a good move as the 'press'
were soon told to move back from the train so NOW ON ams
that the rescue could take place unhindered.
Being an 'invisible' observer meant that I was
able to see the firemen at work assessing the
injuries, administering first aid and working
out how to remove the casualties.
Seeing them training to cope with accidents 'ik 1
and emergencies was impressive. The blood 1
spattered about and wailing from the students ?Will' 104
made the scene lifelike but it wasn't until one
screamed 'I'm injured, why are you taking
photographs' that the gap between role play
and realism was closed. From then on, the
quiet professionalism and the sweat pouring
off the firemen tookonadifferentappearance.
The fire crews had been training hard on the most successful cable T.V. operator in the U.K.
individual aspects of casualty care and Telephone 615601 now for more details
or alternatively call into our showroom in Edgeware Road
removal from emergency situations. The
(opposite the rear entrance to Woolworths).
exercise in teamwork which brought it all
togetherwas lateradjudged a success, giving
Swindon's fire crews valuable experience in WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A DISH!
preparation for the real thing.