Fallen at home? Firefighter service eases pressure on ambulances

Fallen at home? Firefighter service eases pressure on ambulances Telecare scheme in Wolverhampton sees the fire brigade respond to calls from older people who have fallen at home

It’s 9.30am on a sunny spring day in Wolverhampton. Three firefighters are in the mess at one of the city’s fire stations when a screeching alarm pierces the air. The team jumps up and leaps into a kitted-out 4x4. Instead of speeding down roads with blaring sirens and lights, however, they travel to their destination without breaking the speed limit. And when they arrive at the house, there’s no fire to put out.

Inside, they find a woman in her 90s who has fallen out of bed and can’t get up. She is scared and distraught. She pleads with them not to take her to hospital. One of them reassures her while the others assess her surroundings and whether they need to call an ambulance. They help her up, make sure she’s OK and leave. Continue reading... The Guardian