These could be the heroes who save your life.
On Thursday this group of 17 recruits completed their training, becoming the newest Hampshire and Isle of Wight firefighters.
The next generation of lifesavers graduated from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s Learning and Development department with a ceremony to celebrate all their achievements and how far they have come.
Group Manager for Learning and Development, Andy Weeks said:
“Our recruits have worked extremely hard and shown incredible character to get to this point, they are now prepared to go out to their new stations and continue their development, making life safer for our communities.
“They have learnt the vital skills which firefighters today need to be equipped with.
“Tackling fires and rescuing casualties is just one element of the role of a 21st century firefighter. Our graduates will also be delivering important safety messaging to communities and putting into practice their emergency medical care skills every day.
“I would like to thank the Learning and Development team, who have all worked extremely hard to put together a programme which has shaped our trainees into professional firefighters who will undoubtedly become valued members of, and seamlessly fit into, their new teams on station.”
Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin said:
“It is always an honour to welcome new people into our fire service family.
“The graduates have shown incredible dedication to put themselves through a rigorous application process, and throughout their initial training have demonstrated the commitment we expect of our firefighters every day.
“After embedding themselves within their teams on station, our new firefighters will go out into their communities working to make life safer and continuing to uphold the standards of our organisation.”
Following a thorough recruitment process, which saw more than 1,000 initial applications, the successful candidates were put through their paces with a fitness test and interview before they were invited to begin their firefighter training at the HIWFRS headquarters in Eastleigh, back in February.
The next 16-weeks saw them taught all the skills a modern-day firefighter is armed with, as the group came together to support each other as any firefighting team must do.
The intensive course saw the trainees learn how to deal with fires, road traffic collisions, water rescues, hazardous materials and much more.
With both practical and theory-based learning, the recruits now have the skills to safely work at height, administer Immediate Emergency Care treatment to casualties and deliver vital safety messages to local communities.
Throughout their time with the L&D team, they were tested out on the HQ drill yard, took in some specialist training at Farnborough Airport and even joined crews at a real incident, providing them with a great insight and experience of an actual fire ground.
Last week the 17 recruits were challenged with a day of simulated scenarios, testing all their learning from across the development programme.
This involved a role-playing casualty beneath a car, a call to support paramedics in gaining access to a property to reach a patient, a road traffic collision and finally they were faced with a fire with yet more casualties trapped inside.
The group even found time in their hectic schedules to complete a trainee course tradition. Together the recruits organised a charity fundraiser, heading to the ASDA superstore in Chandler’s Ford on a Saturday morning last month to climb ladders, reaching the height of Mount Everest.
With all the funds going towards The Fire Fighters Charity, more than £1,500 was raised by the team who will now be venturing out across the organisation to join up with their new crews.
Patrick Sealey will be saving lives in fire engines instead of ambulances as he joins Cosham White Watch.
Climbing instructor Joshua Dawson will be climbing ladders with Green Watch at Hightown.
Following careers in nursing, Danielle Barnes, who picked up the Silver Axe award, and Megan James will be responding to incidents from Basingstoke’s Blue and Red watch’s.
Joining Basingstoke’s Green Watch is former Mrs Wales winner Sophie Hodgson who recently left her role as a finance manager with the MOD.
Former PE teacher Lee Boswell will be keeping the community safe on Newport’s White Watch, with fellow islander, Ellie Venier joining Blue Watch.
Fareham firefighters will soon be welcoming Strength and Conditioning Coach, Daryl Green to Red Watch, and Michael Sellars, to Blue Watch.
After 18 years working in IT, David Temple has moved away from the office to be the latest crew member on White Watch at Hightown.
Working on Blue Watch will be graphic designer and former Paulton’s Park employee, John Edwards at Hightown, and former tree surgeon Joshua Dudley at Rushmoor.
Former mushroom packer and bar manager, Callum Bennett is swapping pulling pints for rolling out hose reels with Basingstoke’s White Watch.
Caroline Oliver is leaving behind a career in Special Education and Behavioural Needs for Hightown’s Red Watch.
Away from the dodgeball court, Rebecca Hurst, a former Children’s Services worker will be based with White Watch in Eastleigh.
In the heart of Southampton, George Percival will soon be joining up with his new Blue Watch team at St Mary’s.
The Learning and Development team also welcomed Dean Hardy from the Ministry of Defence who graduates today before joining MOD Boscombe Down to work at the airfield as a firefighter.
The Service is preparing to welcome even more eager trainees, with another course set to start soon following a recruitment process earlier this year.
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