LEICESTERSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE WELCOME GB SWIMMING TEAM FOR TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE
On Tuesday 2 May, the GB Swimming Team, including Olympic medal holder Adam Peaty, paid a visit to Loughborough Fire and Rescue Station for a team building exercise. They saw Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service as the perfect facilitator for this exercise as the team wanted to be challenged and made to work hard as a team – something firefighters have to do on a daily basis.
During the day, they got to experience some of the tasks firefighters have to undertake during the recruitment process, training and whilst they’re on the job. They were in for a surprise when they realised just how tough a job being a firefighter was.
Our firefighters (who volunteered to take part in the exercise on their day off) wanted to show the GB Swimming Team just how tough being a firefighter is, so it wasn’t all laughs and smiles on the day. They set up exercises they knew would be challenging and where teamwork was essential for them to be completed successfully. The exercises chosen were:
- Fire and rescue service point of entry selection tests (Job Related Tests)
- Smoke house search and rescue (using breathing apparatus kit)
- Improvised dam construction
- VF4 360 virtual reality stimulation (road safety)
When all the exercises were completed there was a short debrief before a surprise challenge was revealed. In the time it took the Arial Ladder Platform (ALP) to be set up and get up to full height, the GB Swimming Team had to collect a number of items and attempt to build a shelter to prevent the water from the ALP soaking them! Even though they managed to build a shelter (that’s what they wanted to call it), they still got a huge soaking.
The relationship between Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and the GB Swimming Team is relatively new but it is already good and we are hoping it can develop even further in the future.
Steve Lunn, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, said: “It was a great pleasure to host the GB Swimming team’s team building exercise. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities for our Service to partner up with other great sporting teams in the city.”
“In the future, we want our relationships to grow and lead to better engagement with people and communities so that we are all safer and aware of the many risks we face on a day to day basis.”
“On behalf of the whole Service, I would just like to say a huge thank you to Melanie and the Great British Swimming Team for joining us. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the event and we hope the team did too.”
Melanie Marshall, Swimming Coach of GB Swimming Team, said: “The day was an enjoyable and challenging experience which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The swimmers were put through challenges that tested them and placed them outside their comfort zone.”
“It was evident the fire and rescue service operate as a brilliant team, and we were lucky enough to be guided them for the whole day. The day was a collaboration of two worlds with a shared goal of achieving something, and this was achieved by both parties.”
“The swimmers left feeling inspired and motivated and we can’t thank the fire and rescue service enough for what they did on the day but also what they do every day, and that’s save lives!”
ENDS
Notes to editors
A selection of photos are available by emailing Corporate Communications but, I have attached a team photo which can be seen here. If using any of the supplied images, please credit Alistair Langham at The Studio 17.
About the Service
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.
The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire related incidents have reduced by 46 percent.
During 2015/16, the Service attended 666 road traffic collisions, of which 174 were extrications freeing 208 people trapped inside their vehicles and completed 5086 home fire safety checks, fitting almost 4481 smoke alarms. Staff organised or supported almost 1431 events aimed at promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, whilst also visiting 332 schools to deliver fire and road safety education to pupils.
Contact:
Corporate Communications
0116 2292178
corporate.communications@lfrs.org
