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UK fire and rescue services adopt Dräger’s fire escape hood to protect victims from toxic smoke

Standards are being set with fire and rescue services in the UK adopting escape hoods to protect trapped and injured people from toxic smoke during evacuation at fires.

Latest figures show in the year 2017/2018 firefighters attended 717,890 incidents in the UK, with 213,464 being fires. Fire-related fatalities totalled 401 and there were 5113 non-fatal fire-related casualties requiring hospital
treatment.₁₂₃₄

Dräger PARAT 5550 for London Fire Brigade

The London Fire Brigade is the first in the UK to carry the PARAT 5550 to protect members of the public from toxic smoke at fires. The fire service will be rolling out approximately 600 fire escape hoods across 102 fire stations in London over the next few months.

Assistant Commissioner Richard Mills from the London Fire Brigade said:

“Smoke from fires is extremely toxic and can render people unconscious within a few breaths. These hoods filter out four of the most dangerous gases, including what we call the ‘toxic twins’ of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.

“Rather than having to carry out every rescue as fast as possible, fire escape hoods will provide firefighters with vital extra time to consider their priorities and plan the safest exit route.

“We’ve worked closely with the Fire Brigades Union to introduce these fire escape hoods as part of firefighting kit.”

With standards being set in the London region, Dräger is committed to assisting fire brigades around the UK and Ireland with the adoption of fire escape hoods.

Ready to be used whenever it is needed

The PARAT 5550 from Dräger is a fire escape hood packaged in a flame-retardant holster that has been specially designed to be carried without restricting freedom of movement of the firefighter and ready to be used
whenever it is needed.

The fire escape hood offers people who are trapped in fires protection from toxic fire-related gases as well as particles and vapours for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Dräger. Technology for Life® www.draeger.com

Home office Fire and rescue incident statistics: England, year ending March 2018
Welsh Government Fire and rescue incident statistics 2017-18
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Annual Report & Accounts 2017-18
Scottish Fire and Rescue incident statistics: Scotland 2017-18