An information lifeline

At a glance - The roll-out of wireless-enabled in-cab computers for South Wales Fire & Rescue
	Objective Ensure firefighters can access critical information about incidents while on the move
	Scale Provides remote access to a data bank that includes the properties and risks of more than 30,000 chemical substances and the design specifications of most cars manufactured in the last 13 years
	Benefits Improved response to emergency incidents

South Wales Fire & Rescue has rolled out a wireless system which provides firefighters with remote access to potentially life-saving data

Improved productivity, increased customer service levels and reduced costs are just some of the business benefits that organisations can expect from deploying mobile solutions.

For the emergency services, however, enabling mobile data access is not just about improving efficiency but also about increasing safety – both for front-line officers and the communities that they serve.

With an area covering more than 1,000 square miles and a population of just over 1.4 million, South Wales is one of the largest Fire and Rescue Services in the UK. Its 50 fire stations are staffed by around 1,400 whole-time and retained firefighters, who respond to more than 60,000 emergency calls every year.

These calls can vary from serious road traffic accidents to chemical spillages and potentially fatal house fires. The initial information required at different incidents can vary considerably, so it is essential that the attending fire crews are able to source additional data while responding to individual call-outs. As Chris Williams, IT Manager for South Wales Fire & Rescue Service, explains: “Firefighters work in highly stressful and dangerous situations. They are not in a position that they can take notes when talking to Control, so that means they have to rely on their memory, which can be difficult when sourcing complex data about car designs or chemicals.”

Life-saving information
To address the growing demand for remote access to information, fire services across the UK have started to adopt Vehicle Mounted Data Systems (VMDS). These systems, which feature ruggedised touch-sensitive monitors, enable firefighters to access a wealth of information, from road maps to building designs, from their cabs. Rather than source this information from an existing vendor-specific database, South Wales Fire& Rescue Service chose to take the system one step further, as Chris explains: “We decided it would be more efficient and cost-effective to use our intranet as the data feed for the system. This means we have just one data set to maintain and manage, and can upload new information as required by the firefighters.”

To help deliver the project, South Wales Fire & Rescue Service turned to Computacenter, an existing IT partner. “Computacenter is closely involved in our IT strategy, and we draw on its technical skills and services as required,” comments Chris. “It played a fundamental role in helping to implement our intranet backend, and was involved early on in the design and deployment of our VMDS.”

Mobility gains momentum
The first VMDS went live in March 2004, and South Wales Fire& Rescue Service expects all 67 front-line appliances to be equipped with the system by December 2004. Once the implementation is complete, all its fire crews will be able to access a massive bank of data, which includes the design specifications of most cars manufactured between 1990 and 2003; the properties and risks of more than 30,000 chemical substances; and detailed building and street maps.

The brigade’s Chief Fire Officer Brian Fraser comments: “The new system provides our front-line officers with timely, accurate and relevant information when responding to emergency calls. By providing access to a targeted flow of information, we are able to improve the way we respond to call-outs and locate incidents faster in unfamiliar areas.”