Take a look at what’s on the agenda at the Emergency Services Show which returns to the NEC Birmingham today.

Fire and safety professionals and industrial brigades from around the world are invited to the award-winning The Emergency Services Show, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham from 21-22 September. The event offers the perfect opportunity to meet and collaborate with the entire UK emergency services community, as well as to discover innovative technologies, handle the latest kit, share experiences, and exchange best practice.

Showcasing how technology and innovation are transforming emergency response for all first responders and blue light services, The Emergency Services Show features more than 450 exhibitors. Extensive learning opportunities are on offer with over 90 free CPD accredited seminar sessions, while visitors can also see skill in action as fire and rescue teams from across the UK compete in the Extrication and Trauma Challenges.

The free-to-attend Emergency Services Show will be the biggest yet, with 20% more floor space than ever before. Visitors can source new technology and products from the leading names in the industry. Well-known brands on the exhibition floor include Angloco, Draeger, Emergency One, Excelerate, Firenet Systems, Flamepro, Ford Motor Company, Hunter Apparel Solutions, Interspiro, MAN Truck & Bus, MSA Safety, PBI Performance Products, PGI Safety, Rosenbauer, Venari, Vimpex, Wolf Safety and more.

Fire safety exhibitors include MSA Safety, displaying its range of firefighter safety equipment, while leading PPE suppliers showcasing their latest product ranges include Agentis Workwear, Delta Fire, Draeger, FlamePro, Godiva, Interspiro, and Goliath Footwear.

Emergency One, Rosenbauer, Terberg, and Volvo Trucks are among manufacturers bringing their latest fire appliances to the show. Angloco will demonstrate its aerial ladder platform and other fire fighting vehicles in the Outside Area. Emergency One will be showing its new fully electric fire vehicle, the E1 EV0 fire appliance, built for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The zero-emission electric vehicle has the same capability and equipment as a diesel model and is the first to feature an innovative all-electric rear drive axle installation. It has a range of approximately 220 miles with an 80% charge, while the optional onboard smart charger provides resilience at protracted incidents.

Leading designer and manufacturer of vehicle propulsion solutions for commercial and emergency service vehicles Allison Transmission will showcase its heavy duty fully automatic transmissions, and its latest electrified propulsion systems.

Other leading vehicle suppliers at the show include Ford Motor Company, Venari, Mercedes Benz Trucks, Volvo Trucks and Yamaha Motor Europe as well as a wide range of chassis manufacturers and specialist vehicle converters including Cartwright Vehicle Conversions and Wilker UK Ltd. Isuzu will be displaying its new pick-up, the All-New Isuzu D-Max.

The show also features providers of all types of in and on-vehicle ancillary equipment and systems including lightbars; vehicle livery; battery management and driver training. Standby RSG will display its lighting, hazard warning systems products and solutions and VUE will be showcasing its fleet risk management solutions – CCTV and telematics hardware and easy-to-use software systems.

Emergency and rescue vehicles of virtually every other type, including search and rescue appliances, fleet cars, motorbikes, boats and UAVs or drones will all be on display. Survitec will be unveiling their new 420 GP/GPM Fast Rescue Boat. Featuring a one-of-a-kind rapid single-point inflation via one 9L Cylinder used in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), it is designed to meet unique operational demands and is the only 4.2M boat that can inflate this way.

New technology on display will include connected and smart vehicles, satellite communications, GIS and mapping technologies, UAVs/drones, ruggedised mobile computers, tablets and phones, data management and security, wearable tech, connectivity solutions, body-worn cameras, and other video capture systems, as well as the latest hybrid and electric vehicles. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the technology and experience how these solutions can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational response.

Further innovations on show will include the latest protective fabrics, medical equipment, firefighting equipment, and rescue tools. Delta Fire will be launching its new Delta DF-7X Variable Foam Branchpipe along with new additions to their Pro-Series branch range. Point South will be showcasing the Airstar Sirocco lighting balloons – scene lighting for emergency teams. Keela will be displaying its new maternity panel that can be zipped into PPE for wear during pregnancy.

The Extrication and Trauma Challenges return as an interactive experience for participants and visitors. Hosted by West Midlands Fire Service, they showcase the latest rescue technology and trauma response equipment in action.

In the Trauma Challenge, teams of two will experience visual and audio inputs from a trauma scenario that has been set up and filmed especially, in an ‘immersive’ tent. In the Extrication Challenge competing teams from across the country will perform extrications from a series of realistic RTC scenarios featuring heavy and complex damage. Action will be captured from a variety of camera angles and broadcast live to a large display screen at the show. Both challenges will be judged on best safe working practices, command and control, safety and scene assessment, extrication, professional pre-hospital care and expert use of rescue equipment.

The Emerging Technologies Theatre will showcase how fire and rescue services can manage and leverage data and technology more efficiently and effectively. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will run immersive VR training exercises. Paul Christensen, Senior Advisor to the National Fire Chiefs Council, and Professor at Newcastle University will examine the risks of RTC EVs to first responders. How the IoT is improving domestic fire safety is the subject of a session presented by Aico UK.

In the Lessons Learnt Theatre experiences of, and responses to, real-life UK and International incidents and emergencies will be shared, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Grenfell Tower fire and the Manchester Arena bombing. In addition, representatives from FIRE AID, The National Fire Chiefs Council and the FIA will discuss their collaboration to support fire and emergency services in Ukraine. Further sessions will examine the impact of the record-breaking summer temperatures.

New for 2022, the First Responder Theatre aims to improve the collaboration between the emergency services and security industries and is themed around the actions necessary to optimise emergency services response. With topics including the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 and Martyn’s Law, leading security associations will be presenting key findings and strategies meant to strengthen the relationship between the two sectors.

The popular Health & Wellbeing Theatre will address physical and mental health for firefighters. A panel of first responders and experts will share their expertise of mental wellness, health and nutrition, workforce diversity, equality and inclusion, and the latest digital support platforms, whilst providing key practical takeaways. Wellness and Behaviour Change Coach at The Fire Fighters Charity, AJ Whitaker, will explore ageing and associated life transitions such as menopause and retirement in a session entitled ‘Maturing Healthily’. She will share ways in which fire and rescue workers can plan and manage their personal health choices as well as finances.

In the networking hub of the show, The Collaboration Zone, over 80 emergency services, voluntary groups, charities, and NGOs will be sharing details of the support they offer. Organisations involved include The Fire Fighters Charity, British Cave Rescue Council, Institution of Fire Engineers, British Fire Services Association, British Firefighter Challenge, UK Firefighter Sailing Challenge, the Fire Industry Association, MTB Search & Rescue, and Fire Aid. Visitors to The Fire Fighters Charity stand can experience five minutes of relaxation in its wellbeing area.

Entry to The Emergency Services Show and parking at the NEC are both free. Registration for the event is at www.emergencyuk.com

This article was originally published in the September edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.