News

News - September 2011
Emergency Services Show 2011
Rescue 3 (UK) will once again be exhibiting at Emergency Services Show at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on the 23-24 November.
The ESS is a fantastic event, which allows a key gathering of emergency and resilience professionals to discuss multi-agency collaboration, best practice, ideas and initiatives. The latest equipment, training solutions and innovations will be exhibited and this is a great opportunity to network and talk to industry experts. Over 350 exhibitors and 4000 visitors attended last year’s show and this years looks to be even bigger.
If you are attending please visit us on stand 147.

News - September 2011
Specialist Rescue Training Agreement Signed  
Rescue 3 (UK) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (DSFRS) and the River Dart Country Park.
The agreement gives Rescue 3 (UK) and its partner DSFRS exclusive rights to operate courses from the site.
Paul O’Sullivan, Manager Director of Rescue 3 (UK) Ltd, said: “The partnership with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and the River Dart Country Park ensures that organisations in the region will have local access to high quality certified training in water and flood rescue from one of the leading providers in the UK.” 
Rescue 3 (UK) and DSFRS will host a suite of courses at the Park for firefighters, other emergency responders, and commercial customers.
Group Manager Laurie Adams, of DSFRS, said: “River Dart Country Park is an ideal venue for our courses and is one of very few suitable places in the south west. The water is very clean and the geography of the river in that area mirrors conditions that we may find at real water rescue incidents.”
Roger Sell for River Dart Country Park said: “We are very excited to be involved with DSFRS and Rescue 3 (UK) to help train and provide the facilities that they require.”
Rescue 3 (UK) has recently expanded its training provision through the launch of two new Regional Training Centres, one in the South West and one in the North East, made possible by partnerships with DSFRS and Tees Barrage International White Water Course.
DSFRS has expanded its rescue capabilities over recent years, setting up four specialist rescue teams around the Service area. Each team is able to provide specialist skills at incidents including rescues from water. The teams will soon be equipped with powered rescue boats for conducting rescues from widespread flooding.
The exclusivity agreement excludes two existing clients organising water rescue courses, however the Park will not be taking any new clients.

News - July 2011
Rescue 3 Europe Instructor Trainer of the Year
Congratulations to Rescue 3 (UK)’s Lead Instructor, Matt McLay, who recently received the Rescue 3 Europe Instructor Trainer of the Year Award. The award was presented by Mike Turnbull, President of Rescue 3 International, at the Rescue 3 Europe Instructor Conference. Matt is a well respected and dedicated Instructor and this award is a recognition of his professionalism and expertise – congratulations to Matt on receiving this award.

News - July 2011
Rescue 3 (UK) delivers at Rescue 3 Europe Instructor Conference  
Rescue 3 (UK) recently participated in the inaugural Rescue 3 Europe Instructor Conference, held at the University of Durham campus at Stockton on Tees. They delivered three practical demonstrations: ‘Highline Rigging and Trackline Failure’, ‘Rescue from Vehicles in Water’ and ‘Industrial Rope Access’, and also presented at the conference: ‘In-Course Accidents – Post Incident Management’, by Paul O’Sullivan and ‘Searching Rivers and Floods’ by Chris Onions. The practical demonstrations showcased the facilities at the newly developed Tees Barrage International White Water Course, which features a purpose built flood rescue channel which will be used for Rescue 3 (UK) training courses, including Rescue from Vehicles in Water. The Conference was a major success, receiving outstanding praise from all the attendees and will become a regular event in the technical rescue calendar. For information about the next Conference contact Rescue 3 Europe.

News - February 2011
Management of Water and Flood Incidents
Castlegate Quay Water Sports Centre, Stockton-on-Tees
14th – 16th April 2011

Rescue 3 (UK) will be delivering a three day Management of Water and Flood Incidents on the 14th - 16th April, following the Rescue 3 Europe Instructor Conference, for swiftwater/flood Technicians and Instructors.

This course will build on existing swiftwater and flood rescue knowledge and will develop the understanding required to manage flood and water incidents, including night operations.

Course lecturers include:

• Battalion Chief Tim Rogers - Charlotte Fire Department, USA
• Martin Bills - Nottingham Fire & Rescue service, formerly DEFRA Flood Rescue National Enhancement Project

This course meets the training content for the DEFRA Module 5; ‘Water Rescue Incident Management’
 
Cost:    £ 675.00 ex VAT (fully residential - 3 nights, full-board, single occupancy)

For further details contact Rescue 3 (UK):
01678 522035 - info@rescue3.co.uk or click here to open the course flyer

 

News - February 2011
Rescue 3 Europe Instructor Conference 2011

The Inaugural Rescue 3 Europe Instructors Conference will be the first Rescue 3 conference held outside of the USA, and will bring together key speakers from Europe and the US.

The conference will provide a unique combination of lecture presentations, instructor updates and informative practical demonstrations including:

• Professor Mike Tipton - Immersion Hypothermia
• Battalion Chief Tim Rogers - Flood Rescue Operations and Management
• Highline Rope Systems Failure - Demonstration
• Rescues from Vehicles in Water - Demonstration
  

Alongside the conference there will be a specialist trade exhibition of safety and rescue equipment manufacturers and retailers.

Keynote Speakers

• Battalion Chief Tim Rogers - Charlotte Fire Department, USA
• Professor Mike Tipton - Portsmouth University
• Rodney Sebregts - Rescue 3 Benelux
• Laurie Adams - Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service & UK CFOA Inland Water Tactical Group
• Martin Bills - Nottingham Fire & Rescue service, formerly Defra Flood Rescue National Enhancement Project

Benefits of Attending

• Access up to date information relevant to a European audience
• Attendance will count as a Rescue 3 Instructor update
• Rescue equipment exhibition
• Networking opportunities with Instructors, trainers and practitioners from throughout Europe and USA
• Practical demonstrations of water and rope rescues at the new Teesside International White Water Course

For further details or to book a place click here

News - January 2011
Weir Safety Work Finished

Environment Agency Wales has finished safety improvement work on a weir where a woman drowned in 2005.

The weir on the Afon Tryweryn in Bala is part of a complex system which helps Environment Agency Wales reduce flood risk for towns and villages all the way down the Dee valley.

Specialist equipment at the weir allows the Agency to monitor river levels on a regular basis.

This type of weir is common throughout England and Wales but it created a dangerous circulating current which could trap anyone that was swept into it.

The main section of the weir has now been narrowed and lowered, and a downstream slope built, along with two new islands to help control the river’s flow.

The Agency now hopes this work will set a standard to improve the way similar structures are built and operated throughout the country.

The announcement was welcomed by Dwyfor Meirionnydd AM, Dafydd Elis-Thomas. He said: “This area is popular with local people who enjoy walking their dogs or taking a stroll on the path that runs alongside the river.

“As well as making this area safer, the work to redesign the weir and to change working practices in areas such as this is groundbreaking and will help others working near similar structures.”

David Edwell, Environment Agency Wales area manager for North Wales, said: “This weir is a vital part of the system to reduce the risk of flooding for people all the way down the Dee valley.

“And while this work has made the weir safer, rivers can be unpredictable at the best of times and it’s vitally important that people continue to stick to the footpath.

“As well as making the area safer, the work has helped anglers and wildlife by making it easier for fish to swim upstream. Salmon in particular swim up the Tryweryn to spawn and an eel pass has been built to help this declining species.”

The Agency’s investigation into the weir created new guidelines for its staff, emergency services and other organisations that work with similar structures.

These will now be used to help build and monitor similar sites, to identify how dangerous a weir may be and the safest way for emergency services to carry out a rescue.

The guidelines were produced jointly with Rescue 3 (UK) which trains emergency services and others to carry out rescues in water.

Emergency Services Show - 24-25 Nov 2010

Rescue 3 (UK) to launch two major new developments at Emergency Services Show

Rescue 3 (UK) will be launching two new major developments at The Emergency Services Show, on 24th & 25th November at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.

The first is the formation of their latest regional training centre; Rescue 3 (UK) in the North East, which is the result of collaboration with Tees Active, operators of Tees Barrage International White Water Course. The second is a strategic partnership with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service’s Access and Rescue Academy. Through these new partnerships Rescue 3 (UK)’s internationally certified and Higher Education accredited training courses can now be accessed at state-of-the-art training facilities in the South West, North East and North Wales.

The Emergency Services Show is the UK’s only event promoting multi-agency collaboration by bringing together everyone involved in emergency planning, response or recovery through a unique exhibition and two day supporting conference.

Rescue 3 (UK) will be exhibiting at stand 147.

To register for the Emergency Services Show 2010 or to learn more visit www.ess2010.com

Safety scheme gets underway in Bala - October 2010

Changes to local weir with fatal reputation

The Environment Agency of Wales has this week (Monday 27th September) begun work to improve the safety of a weir on the outskirts of Bala. The weir, on the Afon Tryweryn, is part of a complex water management system which helps the Agency to prevent flooding for towns and villages all the way down the Dee valley.

While the water flowing over it may appear calm, beneath it lies a hidden danger which could cause even the strongest of swimmers to get into difficulty. The weir, located near Bala Industrial Estate, measures the river’s rate of flow and specialist equipment enables the Agency to monitor river levels on a regular basis. This type of weir is common throughout England and Wales but it can create a dangerous circulating current which can trap anyone or anything that is swept into it.

In July 2005 a fatal accident caused the Agency to increase health and safety signage at the weir and consider safety improvements to both the weir and its basin.

David Edwell, Area Manager North Wales, said:

“We have very real concerns for the safety of local people and our staff who operate the weir’s monitoring equipment. As well as making people aware of the dangers via extra signage we wanted to alter the weir’s structure to reduce the risk.

We’re aware that local people enjoy walking their dogs or taking a stroll along the public footpath that runs alongside the river. We want to assure the people of Bala that this work will make the weir safer.

However we would still advise people stick to the footpath at all times. Rivers can be unpredictable and the area itself is quite remote, reducing the chance of rescue.”

The main section of the weir will be narrowed and lowered, and a downstream slope built, along with two new islands to help control the river’s flow.

David added: “As well as making the area safer, the work will have other indirect benefits as the alterations will make it easier for fish to swim upstream. Salmon, in particular swim up to the higher reaches of the Afon Tryweryn to spawn. An eel pass is also being incorporated into the structure to help protect this declining species.”

Following its investigation into the operation of the weir the Agency and Rescue3 UK – which trains emergency services and others on how to carry out rescues in water - have produced a set of safety guidelines for use by the emergency services, Environment Agency employees and other organisations that manage similar structures.

It is hoped that this guidance will be used in future construction work and ongoing monitoring of these sites. The document helps to identify how dangerous a weir may be, how emergency services can safely carry out a rescue and the levels of danger a weir presents to members of the public. It can also assist site managers to work out the appropriate control measures required at a site to protect people from danger.

The improvement work at the weir is due to be finished in November. Signage is in place to let people know what is happening and any disruption will be kept to a minimum.

Download the weir rating system here

Rescue 3(UK) South West to launch in 2010 - November 23rd 2009

New Training Venue and Courses for 2010

  

Rescue 3 (UK) are pleased to announce a joint collaboration with the River Dart Country Park in Devon to create a Rescue 3 Satellite Training Centre  - Rescue 3 (UK) South West.

This joint venture will allow students to access the full range of water/flood and rope rescue courses delivered by Rescue 3 (UK) staff in the South West of England, and being run by Rescue 3 (UK)means that students will also be able to attain Certification form the University of Central Lancashire in addition to their Rescue 3 qualification.

The River Dart Country park offers superb in water facilities combined with quality on-site accommodation, classroom and drying facilities.  In addition to the full range of existing Rescue 3 courses will be using this new venue to pilot two new Rescue 3 courses in 2010.

Lifejacket Competent Users

Rescues for Vehicles 1st Responder Workshop

  

All course bookings will be managed by Rescue 3 (UK) head office in Bala, N Wales and the courses will be delivered by Rescue 3 (UK) highly experienced instructional team.

Rescue 3 At the Emergency Services Show 2009 - November 13th 2009

We are exhibiting at this years Emergency Services show at Soneleigh Park, Coventry on the 24th and 25th of November 2009.  We will be at stand number 176 in Hall 2, please come along and see us there.

Rescue 3 International Sets up New European Division – Rescue 3 Europe - 20th September 2009

Following the growth of Rescue 3 training in Europe over the last 10 years, Rescue 3 International are to set up a new  European Division (Rescue 3 Europe) which will look after Rescue 3’s operations throughout Europe.  As such Rescue 3 Europe will be taking on the production and supply of Rescue 3 student resources  and the oversight of Rescue 3 International Instructors based throughout Europe from October 2009.

Rescue 3 (UK) will now be able to focus on  its core business as a training provider.  Rescue 3(UK) has been awarded the status of Rescue 3 International’s ‘Preferred Training provider’ for the UK and Ireland and will be working closely with Rescue 3 Europe to ensure the continued growth of Rescue 3 training courses. In  addition to the production and supply of Rescue 3 course materials in Europe, Rescue 3 Europe will be taking over the management of the Rescue 3 Training database and instructor quality assurance procedures in Europe.

Jon Gorman who currently works as Director of the National White Water Centre/Rescue 3 (UK) will be taking on the role of Managing Director of Rescue 3 Europe whilst  Paul O’Sullivan shall continue as Managing Director of Rescue 3 (UK).  Rescue 3 Europe is currently in the process of setting up an office in N Wales and will begin trading in early Sept 2009 in time to start providing student resources from  October 2009. 

For further information please contact  either Rescue 3 (UK) (info@rescue3.co.uk)  or Jon Gorman at Rescue 3 Europe (jon@rescue3europe.com).

PRESS RELEASE - 10th November 2008
Managing Director of North Wales based Rescue 3 (UK), Paul O’Sullivan, has been awarded a prestigious international award for his role in helping develop the capability of the UK’s Fire and Rescue Services to cope with major flood events... read more (58kb pdf file)

Rescue 3 (UK) Celebrates Outstanding First Year of University Partnership
A year on from announcing their partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Rescue 3 (UK) are proud to congratulate the first graduates from their Swiftwater and Rope Rescue Training Programme.

Since entering into partnership with UCLan last September nearly 300 students have attained university certification and higher education credits through the Rescue 3 (UK) programme. These students represent the full range of rescue organisations including 22 UK fire and rescue services, police and ambulance services, the RNLI and mountain rescue teams. In addition Rescue 3 (UK), in partnership with AS Training, has secured the Scottish Executive national contract to provide water rescue training for the Scottish Fire Service.

Paul O’Sullivan, Managing Director of Rescue 3 (UK) commented, ‘The Rescue 3 (UK) / UCLan partnership enables students to gain university certification as well as an internationally recognised qualification from Rescue 3 International. This means that students benefit from the world-class training facilities and instruction provided by Rescue 3 (UK) whilst accessing higher education accreditation which benefits their professional development.’

The partnership has seen major investments from both organisations, which has allowed the development of new courses, such as the Management of Water and Flood Incidents, and the appointment of a joint lecturer position to oversee the programme.

Currently eight Rescue 3 (UK) training courses have been validated by UCLan, offering a total of 200 higher education credits. These courses include Rescue 3 (UK)’s Technician and Instructor training courses in Swiftwater and Flood Rescue, Rope Rescue and Swiftwater Rescue Boat Operations, Management of Water and Flood Incidents and Professional Practice Portfolio.

Students attending the validated courses can either graduate with a University Certificate or accumulate higher education credits and work towards the Advanced Certificate in Swiftwater Rescue Instruction or the Foundation Certificate in Swiftwater and Rope Rescue. Students with existing Rescue 3 qualifications can also access the programme through an ‘accredited prior learning’ (APL) scheme.

Rescue 3 (UK) would like to congratulate all their students who have graduated this year and look forward to welcoming their new students for the next academic year.

For more information on this programme contact Vicky Barlow, Lecturer in Swiftwater and Rope Rescue, via e-mail - VBarlow@uclan.ac.uk  or phone – 01678 521083 ext 5, 07800 848510

Rescue 3 (UK) present at Floodfighters 2007
Rescue 3 (UK) recently delivered a  Flood Management workshop at ‘Floodfighters 2007’, a prestigious international conference on behalf of the Chief Fire Officers Association organised by Lane, Jefferies and Associates Ltd and Crisis Response Journal.

The one day workshop was over subscribed with 145 delegates in attendance from as far away as New Zealand and Australia. Paul O’Sullivan, Managing Director of Rescue 3 (UK), presented the workshop along with Rodney Sebregts from  Rescue 3 (Benelux), Martin Bills from Nottinghamshire F&RS and Martin Blunden from Hereford & Worcester F&RS. The workshop was designed to provide the underpinning knowledge needed by incident managers so they can respond safely and efficiently to flood and water rescues.

I addition to this workshop Paul O’Sullivan spoke at the main conference.  In a presentation entitled ‘Training for Flood Rescue – Ensuring it is Fit for Purpose’, Paul outlined his thoughts on ensuring a common approach and quality in the provision of training in this area.

Rescue 3 (UK) on the BBC!
Earlier in 2007 Rescue 3 (UK) were proud to welcome the BBC Countryfile crew to their training centre, in North Wales. The crew were on-site to film a feature on Rescue 3 (UK) to highlight the facilities at their training centre and the importance of the training they deliver in light of the recent summer floods.

Three of Rescue 3 (UK)’s Instructors were involved in the filming, Paul O’Sullivan, Paul Jones and Matt McLay. As well as providing demonstrations of basic rescue techniques, including use of an inflated fire hose, they also instructed one of the presenters, Adam Henson, in basic swiftwater swimming techniques. An exercise which led him to comment ‘The water is a lot stronger than it looked’.
The episode was aired in June 2007.

University recognition for Rescue 3 (UK)
Rescue 3 (UK), the country’s leading provider of swiftwater and flood rescue training, has recently entered into partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). This means that students will now be able to obtain university certification in addition to the internationally recognised qualification from Rescue 3 International. Furthermore, the partnership is also offering a part-time modular Foundation Certificate in Swiftwater and Rope Rescue.

These new awards provide a route into Higher Education through vocational training and combine web-based learning with practical delivery at Rescue 3 (UK)’s world-class training centre. Currently eight Rescue 3 (UK) training courses have been validated by UCLan, offering a total of 200 Higher Education credits. These courses include Rescue 3 (UK)’s Technician and Instructor training courses, in Swiftwater and Flood rescue, Rope Rescue and Swiftwater Rescue Boat Operations, plus two new courses, Management of Water and Flood Incidents and Professional Practice Portfolio.

Paul O’Sullivan, Managing Director of Rescue 3 (UK) said, ‘This is a fantastic development for both Rescue 3 (UK) and UCLan which will allow students to receive academic qualifications whilst participating in internationally recognised technical training, thus linking their development as rescuers directly into their overall professional development path.’ Nigel Garratt, Senior Lecturer from UCLan commented, ‘This development shows the integration of vocational and academic learning and demonstrates the quality of provision by UCLan and Rescue 3 (UK). This combined provision shows the depth of partnership between the two institutions.’

Although the Foundation Certificate is a new development it is designed for current Rescue 3 students as well as for future students, with an ‘accredited prior learning’ scheme (APL), in place which facilitate the transfer of students existing Rescue 3 qualifications into the new scheme.

The new program will be available from autumn 2007 with enrolment on both the Foundation Certificate and University Certificates available throughout the year.