Yahoo News Firefighters took sick days after callouts to plus sized people
FIREFIGHTERS had to take sick days after assisting plus sized people on the job.
Six members of staff at Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) were recorded sick due to moving plus sized patients between January and December of last year.
These findings were revealed in a Freedom of Information request submitted to the service relating to plus sixed patients.
DWFRS confirmed it sent 97 vehicles to assist with ‘plus sized patients’ in 2023, and 130 vehicles in 2022.
In instances of callouts to plus-size patients, five staff members were typically present per vehicle sent.
When asked ‘who is responsible for covering the associated service costs when an a callout to a plus-size patient occurs?', DWFRS said: “It is part of our statutory duty and therefore no cost is charged to any service.”
The service added it had equipment to facilitate and support moving plus-size patients, but would prioritise mobilising assets to support life threatening incidents and rescues over callouts to plus-size patients.
DWFRS did not record the weight of the patients, but provided information based on when it had assisted other agencies, police or the ambulance service with a ‘bariatric person'.
The service noted the findings uncovered by the FOI “will more than likely include patients under 30 stone”.
DWFRS area manager Darren Langdown said: “Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are committed to the safety, health, and wellbeing of the communities of Dorset and Wiltshire.
“We work collaboratively with our multi agency partners to deliver the best possible Service to these communities.
“We attend this type of incident to support our NHS colleagues when there is a risk to life. We will only attend at their request.
“Our ambulance service colleagues remain best trained and equipped to respond but when there is a life risk, our specialist technical rescue teams have the training and equipment to support in the resolution of this type of incident.”
The Daily Echo specifically asked what injuries had been reported for those who were recorded sick due to moving plus sized patients, but this information was not provided by DWFRS.
