ISAR Business Plan 2008/11 - West Midlands Fire Service

Organisational Benefits
ISAR BUSINESS PLAN 19
During the past decade, structural collapses caused by earthquakes have resulted in over 100,000 deaths worldwide. While the majority of
the survivors of these events are found and extricated quickly, some are subjected to prolonged periods of entrapment before they are rescued.
Most of these events take place in countries that are less able to cope with the huge demands placed upon the local emergency services
and request international assistance to locate and extricate these unfortunate individuals. Since 1991 the United Kingdom Government has
relied upon the Fire Service to respond to and manage these types of incidents. For the Fire Service this has resulted in many individual and
organisational benefits which we have summarised below:
WMFS team learn about different cultures, customs and practices, establishing effective ways in which to communicate and
overcome difficulties.
They are exposed to the frustrations and restrictions that apply to working in these environments and consequently develop
methods to improvise and adapt working practices in order to achieve their aims.
All of the experience and skills learnt from dealing with these major international disasters are transferable and have been used
to benefit the communities of the West Midlands in both emergency response and through community activity and initiatives.
When we travel overseas to deliver training, we can take satisfaction in developing Emergency Services of other countries that
do not have the infrastructure, capability or resources to keep their people safe from challenging incidents.
We believe that our local ethnic communities within the West Midlands are reassured and proud that we are supporting the relief
effort in their homelands.
As a team, we deliver a positive image of the organisation through huge media exposure, when we deploy and on the wider
political front, we fly the flag for the United Kingdom; we show that we are a country that cares for others.
The ISAR team provides an additional specialist resource to the WMFS and the Region. The WMFS ISAR team has recently been
included within the National Data Base for major incidents involving water.
Ultimately, we believe that when we respond overseas and save human life, it is worth all of the personal sacrifice and effort to
be an ISAR team member and a member of West Midlands Fire Service.