Firefighters in Tayside will be able to call upon new lifesaving equipment thanks to the assistance of a local water safety charity.
The brigade’s water specialist stations at Perth and Kingsway in Dundee have taken delivery of new cutting-edge line launchers as part of efforts to improve its water rescue capabilities.
Designed to be used in river rescues and, potentially, in serious flooding incidents, the ResQmax pneumatic launchers can throw a variety of lines up to 400 feet.
The new equipment has been embraced by Lisa Stuart, founder of the charity Safe-Tay, which has donated one of two launchers to Tayside Fire and Rescue.
The charity works to enhance the safety and preservation of human life through the training of life guards and the support, development, improvement and promotion of water safety.
It was launched in 2006 after Lisa’s 20-year-old brother Graham drowned in the River Tay, and has helped to provide lifesaving equipment ever since.
Tayside Fire and Rescue’s training delivery co-ordinator Billy McLintock said, “The brigade continues to ensure that services are delivered by a well equipped, skilled and highly motivated workforce which is able to work safely and whose composition reflects the diverse communities we serve.
“To support this we are enhancing our water rescue and flood capability by introducing the ResQmax line launcher to be located at our water specialist stations at Perth and Kingsway.
“The prompt and professional response of the strategically-located water rescue resources within Tayside Fire and Rescue ensures that we respond quickly to rescues from the water and this new equipment will contribute immensely.
“Tayside Fire and Rescue would like to thank Lisa and Safe-Tay for their donation and for the continued support they give to ensure the safety of our communities from the dangers of water.”
In recent months firefighters in Tayside have been training intensively in the use of a variety of new tools designed to help them safeguard members of the public.
Since December the brigade has been training in the use of a new river rescue boat after every firefighter in Perth and Kingsway East learned basic water techniques.