For the fourth year running, the Emergency Services Show will take place on the 24th and 25th of November at Stoneleigh Park in Coventry. There have been many recent incidents that have highlighted the need for emergency service organisations and agencies to work closely together to ensure a co-ordinated and more effective response, including the Italian earthquake in April 2009, worldwide terrorist attacks and the potential swine flu pandemic, which has promptly activated civil contingency plans. The main aim of the Emergency Services Show is to facilitate this much needed cooperation, as well as providing all organisations involved in emergencies with access to the latest cutting edge technology, a unique opportunity to network with likeminded professionals and the chance to share industry information. One of this year’s exhibitors will be Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS), which provides emergency and protection services to the communities of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. One recent addition to their fleet of vehicles is a Griffon 380TD hovercraft, which will cover an area of the shoreline from Brean Down to Sand Bay, and is equipped to deal with a range of incidents including rescuing people who have became trapped in the mud and providing support to the area during times of inland flooding. The 380TD is the smallest craft in the Griffon range, capable of carrying 6 persons or a payload of 450kgs and with the hover-on hover-off trailer, one person can quickly and easily transport and operate this unique vessel virtually anywhere. AF&RS Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive, Kevin Pearson, described the hovercraft as a major asset to the service. He said: “The hovercraft will increase the flexibility of Avon Fire and Rescue Service’s rescue capacity. As well as assisting us with incidents along the shoreline, we will be able to use the vehicle in more remote locations, where fire appliances may not be able to reach.” 2009-11-20T12:11:35Z false 22 2009-11-20T12:15:08Z 844 3