Moray’s firefighters have staged dramatic rescue re-enactments to learn more about caring for casualties from some of the country’s top medics.
NHS doctors and experts from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh’s faculty for pre-hospital care, visited Elgin fire station to take part in the visceral displays.
The event was designed to help fire crews discover new techniques to help them deal with wounded parties at the scene of serious accidents.
Local teams have now forged a link with the British Association for Immediate Care (Basic), which means they will be able to telephone medical professionals from incidents, and receive guidance on the best way to care for patients.
Elgin’s station manager, Gordon Morrison, said the crucial partnership, along with the hands-on advice imparted during the demonstration, could save lives in the region.
Mr Morrison said: “Knowing what pre-hospital care casualties need at the scene of a serious incident is vital for us.
“The crews learned that we can request the assistance of Basic doctors if required.
“Basic doctors will also be available via telephone in the early stages of the incident, and can provide crucial information, which we can deliver to a patient at the scene.
“This link is potentially life-saving.”
The get-together began with a safety briefing, and crews then launched into two hours of intense reenactments, during which several exercises were carried out.
Firefighters had to winch an unconscious body from height to the safety of the ground.
Later, they used heavy-duty metal cutters to free two injured parties from a vehicle.
During one especially lifelike drill, firefighters donned breathing apparatus and entered a property as they would in the event of a house fire.
They were tasked with removing four people from the property, while ensuring that their oxygen levels remained steady and that patients were properly transferred to medical staff.
Trainee doctors from Elgin’s Dr Gray’s Hospital also attended the gathering, and gained first-hand experience of how to deal with an unfolding emergency.
Police traffic officers were in attendance too, alongside Scottish Ambulance Service paramedics and local coastguard teams.