Rescue-SA partners with Nelson Mandela University
Rescue South Africa (RSA) and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) have entered into a mutual agreement in order to assist in building capacity at NMU as well as in the province.
The idea is to use the substantial cache of USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) equipment (60 tons) that was relocated to Gqebera recently. The equipment will be used to capacitate the university to teach all 12 rescue modules that form part of the four year B Tech degree which produces advanced life support paramedics and rescue technicians.
By moving this cache we have accelerated the university’s ability to offer all these rescue modules, as well as assist in the development of the SLP (Short Learning Programmes) that the university plans to offer.
One of our joint visions is to roll out these USAR accredited training modules in the province to emergency service personnel, should there be such a requirement. The concept is that if any of the municipalities accept this offer, training will be offered on site at the municipalities premises.
The idea is to try and raise funding, so that this training can be offered at no charge to these municipalities, under financial constraint. Furthermore it’s envisaged that the equipment and our vehicles will be used, should a technical rescue arise in the vicinity that requires specialised equipment that may not be available normally. We are hoping to use the senior rescue lecturers as well as final year students serving a dual purpose of giving the students real life experience in their field, and assisting the affected communities when needed.
Finally this equipment will continue to serve, as it has in the past, to respond to any sudden onset disaster – provincially, nationally and internationally.
Ian Scher, CEO, Rescue South Africa
ian@rescue-sa.co.za
For those seeking to fund such stellar initiatives for the benefit of all South Africans, please contact Ian directly to discuss CSI.
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SABS updates national standard on crucial fire detection and alarm systems
Background
The Standards Division of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) maintains and develops several national standards aimed at ensuring the protection of life and property from fire and fire-related damage.
As part of this legislated mandate the SABS has recently published a revised version of SANS 10139, Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic premises whichbrings South Africa in line with fire safety standards similar to those in the United Kingdom and Europe.
Scope of SANS 10139
The standard provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings, other than dwellings.
Relevance and importance of the national standard
SANS 10139 is based on the British Standards BS5839-1, Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises. The British Standard (BS5839-1) was updated several years ago after fatalities occurred at an old age home in Lancashire that killed 14 elderly people.
This revised South African National Standards (SANS) comes at a time when the country witnessed two devastating fires.
The wildfire that swept the slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain and spread to the University of Cape Town, burning the historic campus library, and forcing the evacuation of students and the incident where 700 patients were evacuated from Johannesburg’s Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, after a fire blazed through parts of the medical facility in South Africa’s largest city.
The seriousness of fire is often overlooked, and their impact is often underestimated. It is crucial that a national set of guidelines and rules for the designers and installers of fire protection systems is provided for them to follow and uphold. The costs of fire within this country runs into the billions of Rands and needs to be prevented.
What has been revised in the national standard?
- Updated recommendations about the need for a fire detection system, variations from the standard, system components, detection zones, communication with the fire services, staged fire alarms, and manual call points.
- Updated requirements for smoke detectors.
- Updated requirements for spacing and placing of automatic fire detectors.
- A commentary has been added with regards to a control and references the appropriate equipment.
- Updated measures to limit false alarm.
- A commentary on inspection and servicing has been added.
Benefits of the revision.
Ms. Laura Swart, Chairperson and Member of the SABS Technical Committee said: “The revision of SANS 10139 will benefit the fire protection industry as it clarifies all requirements and will ultimately eliminate the confusion experienced by the protection industry. This in turn, will result in a more effective use of the national standard, thus improving firefighting and improving the job of saving lives and preventing the loss of property. The standard also aims to mitigate the risk of failure of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings.”
Ms. Swart went on to say that that the revision of the national standards was made possible by valuable collaboration with the Fire System Inspection Bureau (FSIB), the Fire Detection Installers Association (FDIA) and the South African insurance industry.
* The official title of the SABS Technical Committee is SABS/TC021/SC01, Fire safety – Fixed fire extinguishing systems
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City of Tshwane has launched a Community Emergency Response Team training in Region 6
On the 9th May 2021, the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department launched the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Pilot Programme in Region 6 at the Mamelodi Council Chambers.
The aim of the CERT Programme is to educate volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their community, and train them in basic response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organisation and disaster medical operations.
The programme is one of the key means of promoting the community’s readiness in terms of preparedness and response capability. It also assists in reducing the adverse impacts of the identified hazards and risks within the community.
By engaging community members in the early phases of disaster preparation and response, communities can be better prepared for when disaster strikes.
The purpose of the programme is to train and organise community members to be a response asset in an emergency or disaster and to be an extension of first responder services until professional responders arrive.
The intention of this training is to capacitate CERT members to work within the boundaries of their training skills, through which they can help themselves, their family, neighbours and the community-at-large.
ESD, in conjunction with SANTAM and the Fire Protection Association of South Africa (FPASA), identified and agreed on the minimum training and induction required by a CERT member to effectively respond to emergencies.
The following minimum training requirements have been identified:
- Disaster preparedness
- Fire safety and utility controls
- Disaster medical operations (first aid)
- Light search and rescue operations
- CERT organisations
- Course review
- Final exam and disaster simulation
On completion of the training, all successful members will be recognised as CERT members and will be issued with a certificate indicating the training completed. This certificate will be issued by FPASA, which has been appointed through a Memorandum of Understanding with SANTAM, to present the training in Tshwane as a pilot project.
The initiative of the ESD, in partnership with SANTAM and FPASA, to establish CERT teams will allow the community to effectively identify and respond to emergencies.
The initiative again illustrates the critical role of meaningful partnerships in pursuing a safe and secure Tshwane, where all residents are safe and feel safe.
While communities often only encounter ESD personnel in times of emergency, crisis, or disaster, they are not helpless spectators and should be partners in their own safety, security, and well-being. The CERT programme is therefore an important element in realising that, and the City of Tshwane is immensely grateful for the contribution of SANTAM and the FPASA.
Ald. Karen Meyer
MMC FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
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Gauteng Health MEC pleads for help to stop attacks on Emergency Services personnel
The Gauteng MEC for Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi has called on members of society to help put an end to continuing attacks on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel while in the line of duty.
In a recent attack during the night of Friday 7th May, two EMS crew members were shot while responding to a gunshot incident at Dukathole Informal settlement In Germiston. This resulted in one crew member being hit by a bullet. Both crew members were admitted to a nearby hospital. One crew member is still in hospital in a stable condition while the other is going for counseling.
The attack slowed down the emergency response to the fatally wounded resident who, unfortunately died on the way to hospital.
“Unless communities work together with law enforcement agencies to put an end to the attacks on EMS personnel and the vandalism of their equipment, people needing emergency medical care might find themselves without assistance as workers will be reluctant to respond to calls”, states Dr Mokqethi.
At the beginning of May a woman EMS crew member was attacked at gunpoint while on duty leaving her on crutches. While in another incident, a shift leader and her crew were attacked by community members in Magalies while responding to a distress call.
According to MEC Mokgethi, an attack on EMS should be seen as an attack on the rest of society, “We therefore condemn in the strongest possible terms the continued attacks on our Green Angels (a name EMS personnel are fondly called). The last thing we want is for EMS workers to start fearing for their lives instead of being concerned about saving as many lives as possible”.
Members of the community who may have any information relating to any of the attack incidents have been asked to assist the police in their investigation.
Issued by the Gauteng Department of Health.
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Emergency Response Competition 2021
Diarise now for this exciting annual event
ETS Emergency Training Solutions (PTY) LTD will host its 2021 Industrial Response Team Competition on 30th September 2021!
The competition is held annually to give industrial emergency response teams a well co-ordinated platform to display the skills that they have been taught over the years, learn from other teams and compete for impressive trophies.
The competition day also provides an opportunity for organisations to display their latest products and services.
Opportunities for vendors:
ETS is offering companies the opportunity to exhibit on the day of the competition, and a lot more.
Vendors will benefit in the lead up to the competition, the day of the competition and the prize-giving after the competition.
- Vendor companies will be included in all marketing in the months prior to the competition.
- Vendor companies will exhibit on the day of the competition
- Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze vendors will be given the opportunities to present trophies to first, second and third place awards
- First, second and third place trophies will be designed and built by ETS with your inputs and your company name.
Bronze vendors will be able to place their branding on the popular Mini Helmets, which are awarded to the team members of each team winning a trophy.
If your company wishes to exhibit, please contact Pinkie at email pinkie@etsafrica.co.za or phone Tel: (016) 363 0254
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Male patient rescued from a car partially trapped under a truck
A male patient was rescued by the Tshwane Emergency Services firefighter, together with emergency medical crews from the Gauteng Emergency Medical Service and other private ambulance services from a vehicle that was partially trapped under a truck. The incident occurred on the R101 near Murray Hill, in Tshwane on 24 April 2021 at approximately 16h30.
Engine E192 from Station 13 (Temba, Hamanskraal) with a crew of four personnel arrived on the scene to find a light motor vehicle hit on the side by a truck which had landed off the road with a male patient trapped on the driver’s side. A bakkie that allegedly drove off the road to avoid collision with the truck became stuck under the front of the truck. Other ambulances, including E192 crew arrived on the scene to treat the patients. The crews immediately prioritised stabilising and extricating the trapped patient.
Immediately after surveying the scene, the required extrication tools were staged near the trapped car. The vehicle was wedged with cribbing to stabilise it and access was immediately created by removing both passenger doors and the B-post to get a medic inside to secure the patient and commence emergency medical treatment. A soon as the patient was stabilised, the roof of the vehicle was removed to create more working space.
The weight of the truck was resting on the light motor vehicle, making it difficult to free the patient whose legs were trapped from the knees down. Rescue personnel cleared the car parts around the patient, including the hand brake, dashboard, steering wheel, and any other part around the driver’s side until they could insert a spine board and slide him up and out of the vehicle. The extrication operations lasted approximately 40 minutes due to the complexity of the scene and the time paramedics needed to administer intravenous fluids and medications.
The male patient suffered multiple fractures to both legs and multiple injuries to various body parts. He was transported to hospital in a critical condition. Two patients with minor injuries refused transportation to a medical facility, while three patients with minor to moderate injuries and another two with moderate to serious injuries were transported to various medical facilities around Tshwane.
The response resources that were on the scene included a command vehicle from Station 5 with two personnel, a video unit from Station 5 with one personnel, a vehicle from the Tshwane Metro Police with two personnel, Tshwane Ambulance and Primary Response Vehicle (PRV) from Station 5 with three personnel, Hammanskraal South African Police Service, Gauteng Provincial Government PRV, an ambulance from Jubilee Hospital and various private ambulances..
The success of the rescue and extrication as well as the treatment and the management of the scene is credited to the professional manner and collaboration of all first responders on scene.
Report a fire or life-threatening emergency on 107 or alternatively call 012 358 6300/6400.
Issued by the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department
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FPASA announces their new MD
FPASA welcomes the appointment of Lloyd Phetlhu.
“I believe Lloyd will add immense value to our prestigious NPO, The Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa (FPASA), due to his diligence, experience in coordination of national fire services activity, strategic development of fire policies and strategies, as well as the support and implementation of the Fire Brigade Services Act, 1987 (Act 99 of 1987) between 2003 and 2014” says Renay Sewpersad.
A few of Lloyd’s notable accomplishments are:
· Establishing the national fire services institutional structures and provision of targeted support to provincial fire services.
· Development of regulations in terms of the FBSA, and development and review of regulatory frameworks for the fire services.
· Provision of secretariat support to the Fire Brigade Board, while providing guidance and advice to other spheres of government and fire services stakeholders.
· Served as a primary point of contact to the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) Secretariat.
· Developing and supporting the implementation of national fire safety and prevention strategies and frameworks, while establishing partnerships with key role players.
· Coordinating fire safety and prevention training throughout the country, together with urban search and rescue training.
Renay will continue to serve the FPASA as an Executive Director, focusing on insurance fire risk special projects (strategy, execution, and implementation) which she says is her passion.
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The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department assists at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department activated and deployed resources to aid in the evacuation of patients at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, following a fire that broke out at the hospital on Friday, 16 April 2021.
A call for aid was received from the acting Head of Department of the Gauteng Department of Health through the Head of the Gauteng Provincial Disaster Management Centre.
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department immediately deployed a major incident unit bus along with a special infectious unit ambulance and an intensive care ambulance.
The major incident unit bus, the first of its kind in the country, and the two special ambulances transported 48 patients from Charlotte Maxeke Hospital to Tshwane District Hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital within 30 hours.
The major incident unit bus evacuated adult and pediatric patients, while the special ambulances evacuated a COVID-19 intensive care unit patient and a maternity patient who required emergency surgery.
“I am proud of the Emergency Services Department personnel selflessly working for more than thirty hours, driving distances of more 50 kilometers to and from Tshwane District and Charlotte Maxeke Hospitals, about 18 kilometers to and from Charlotte Maxeke and Chris Hani Baragwanath and about 3 kilometers to and from the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospitals,” said Alderman Karen Meyer, the MMC responsible for Community Safety in the City of Tshwane. .
Report a fire or life-threatening emergency on 107 or alternatively call 012 358 6300/6400.
Issued by the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department.
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Fire, disaster and life safety awareness
Issued by the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department.
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department teamed up with Children of Fire, a non-profit organisation caring for young burns survivors, to conduct a fire, disaster and life safety awareness campaign at Jabulani Private Primary School situated in Ekandustria, Ekangala on 31 March 2021.
The awareness session is part of the pre-winter and winter awareness campaign the Emergency Services Department rolls out annually to educate the community on and raise awareness of fire prevention, survival skills, disaster risk management and life safety.
One of the children, who was assisted by Children of Fire to receive burns surgery that cost more than R1 million in Britain, is a learner at Jabulani Private Primary School. The organisation has seven burns-surviving children under its care, ranging from 2 to 17 years old, as well as Brenda who will turn 27 in April. According to Bronwen Jones, the founder of Children of Fire, “Brenda is one of the most severely burnt persons in the world”.
Jabulani Private Primary School has 19 teaching staff, 15 support staff and 402 learners in Grades RRR to 7. The staff and learners from Ekangala, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Zithobeni were excited to interact with the firefighters and other emergency services heroes under the observation of COVID-19 protocols.
Tebogo Maake, a functional head in the Emergency Services Department, taught the children to sing the matches safety song, to recite the “stop, drop and roll” fire drill and to repeat the 107 toll-free City of Tshwane emergency number a few times.
Our giraffe and rhino mascots taught the excited children how the giraffe and the rhino help other animals in the wild against lightning and fire hazards. Firefighters also demonstrated a fire attack with pressurised water from the fire truck.
Children of Fire taught life safety tips to the enthusiastic learners.
The reception from the staff and learners of the school was very warm.
With winter fast approaching, the Emergency Services Department is pleading with communities to be aware of the fire risks that may be posed by various heating sources. The unsafe and negligent use of paraffin, gas, coal, wood and electricity stoves and heaters, as well as various lighting utensils, is often the leading cause of fires. The devastating effects of fires on life, property and nature can be prevented if we all take fire and life safety seriously, and ensure that children are continuously educated.
Report a fire or life-threatening emergency on 107 or alternatively call 012 358 6300/6400.
- Published in Uncategorized
Firefighters save a Pretoria West Transformer manufacturing factory from possible complete destruction by fire
City of Tshwane firefighters responded to the fire that broke out at SGB-Smit Power Matla at approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 7 March 2021.
A District Commander in the Fire and Rescue Operations Division saw a cloud of dark smoke in the direction of the Pretoria West industrial area while driving with her command aide from a house fire in West Park.
She ordered her aide to drive in the direction of the smoke to investigate. When they arrived at the gate of the factory on the corner of Buitekant and Carl Street, they discovered smoke and visible flames coming out of an industrial plant. She immediately ordered the dispatch of firefighting resources by radio to the Emergency Call Centre.
According to information provided on-site, it was established that a fire had broken out in one of the 90 kVA transformers. It was also established that there were various hazardous and flammable substances (transformer oil, kerosene, paint, liquefied petroleum gas, oxygen, acetenyl, etc) of various quantities in the factory.
Upon the arrival of the firefighting crews, sectors were established to initiate the fire attack on the south-western part of the building (to prevent the fire from spreading to the eastern and south-eastern parts of the building) and exposure protection of the northern parts of the building.
The northern part of the building has two 14 000-litre tanks of kerosene, two 33 000-litre tanks of transformer oil and a 30 000-litre trailer tanker. The south-eastern part of the building has a core cutting plant and a small transformer manufacturing plant, which were saved from the blaze. Several high-voltage transformers that were either completed or near completion and a control room in the main plant were destroyed by the fire.
Various shut-off valves providing the plant with kerosene and transformer oil were closed. The contents still in the 75-millimetre pipelines remained a concern during the firefighting operation, as well as the explosions that could be heard from inside the building.
The fire was contained at around 18:30. Firefighters continued with operations until after midnight when cooling off and the elimination of hotspots were completed.
The extent of the damage has not yet been quantified and the exact cause of the transformer catching fire remains a subject of investigation. Firefighting teams continue to monitor the plant for any possible flare-ups.
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