Ferno makes a donation to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Here’s a picture of our managing director Jon Ellis, centre, with Ian Lawrence and Nikki Bullamore who represented North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service at the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation competition with our innovative Scoop EXL stretcher which we have gifted to them after they used it to secure a win in the competition.
The firefighters have taken delivery of a Scoop EXL stretcher and Combi Head Immobiliser from Ferno after they competed in the UKRO Challenge 2013, organised by the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation.
The competition is made up of a series of regional challenges involving fire and rescue services from around the country taking place over several months, culminating in the final UK Championships. Tasks included a water rescue, rope rescue, vehicle extrication, a trauma challenge and an urban search and rescue exercise.
Trauma team members Ian and Nikki represented North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and triumphed in the trauma challenge, claiming third place and earning them a spot in next year’s World Rescue Challenge where they will compete against Fire and Rescue personnel from around the world.
Ian, Crew Manager, Lofthouse Fire Sation, and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “The Scoop stretcher is now considered as the most appropriate immobilisation device for trauma and was used by all the teams throughout the event. There was no sign of a spinal board in the trauma challenge this year, which signals a real change in protocol in a relatively short space of time.
“We are very grateful to Ferno for their donation of the stretcher and Combi-Head Immobiliser. It was great to be able to borrow it for the competition but to now be able to include this equipment in our own kit is fantastic. It will be used to train and familiarise our fire crews throughout North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service as the Yorkshire Ambulance Service routinely use the scoop stretcher when treating and transporting trauma patients.”
Ferno’s innovative Scoop EXL stretcher splits vertically into two parts, with shaped ‘blades’ towards the centre which can be brought together underneath the patient. The two parts are placed either side of the patient and then brought together until securing clips at the top and bottom both engage.
Traditional spinal longboards are usually placed alongside the patient who is then “logrolled” on to the stretcher in a procedure which could make any injury worse. Scoop stretchers reduce the chance of undesirable movement of injured areas during transfer of a trauma patient, as they maintain the patient in a supine alignment during transfer to a stretcher.
Ferno has also donated their new Combi Head Immobiliser which can be used on all versions of Spineboard and Scoop stretchers.
The immobiliser is infection-control compliant, using both antimicrobial Velcro and PU molded head-blocks which contain antibacterial additives. Additionally, to further reduce the chances of serious injury to patients, it can be used in X-ray and MRI scanners so doctors can be clear about the extent of any injury before the immobiliser is removed.
Jon tell us: “It is very pleasing to see that our products are becoming the equipment of choice for the UK’s emergency services. Our aim is to develop products which address the needs of today’s crews, making their jobs easier and safer while at the same time enhancing the patient ‘experience’ in terms of comfort and protection. When used together, the Scoop EXL stretcher and Combi-Head Immobiliser give optimum maneuverability, enabling a patient to be moved easily and safely by paramedics.”