The New Zealand Fire Service Magazine

By Phil De Joux
When the heat is on
Keeping safe under the sun’s rays is imperative and one brigade is leading the charge.
Twizel Fire Brigade is a Sun Smart brigade. The Twizel
area has one of the highest sunshine hours in the country
and summer temperatures are regularly in the 30s.
In areas like this, the UV rating can be extreme and
protection from the sun’s rays is imperative.
As part of the brigade’s sun smart strategies, members
are required to wear their Fire Service sun hats whenever
they are working outside except when level 2 gear is
required. They are also encouraged to use an effective
sun screen (SPF 30+) on bare skin at these times. Safety
sunglasses are also an important part of the strategy and
these have been issued to brigade members.
4 Issue No. 37
Sun Smart
Twizel Fire fighters Russell Warwood,
Evan Lousley, Andrew McCambridge, and
Daniel Connolly with their sun-smart tools.
Recently the brigade was working at a large scrub fire on
Mt Cook Station for several days. CFO John Hill reported
that nearly 1.5 litres of sunscreen was used over that
period and more supplies were rapidly requested.
VSO Phil de Joux says that if we can prevent one brigade
member from developing skin cancer later in life, then the
exercise will have been worth it. All brigades in Transalpine
Fire Region have been issued with tubes of SPF 30+
sunscreen and members are also encouraged to consult
their local doctor over any unusual freckle, mole, sunspot
or unhealing sore on their skin.
Twizel Fire fighters Russell Warwood, Evan
Lousley, Andrew McCambridge, and Daniel
Connolly with their sun-smart tools.