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Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
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Swinton, Manchester
M27 8US
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WATER kills more people than fire so ensuring safety around Greater Manchester's many rivers, canals and reservoirs is vital.
Firefighter Mark 'Huey' Eaves knows the importance of this through his involvement with the Urban Search and Rescue and International Search and Rescue teams and his training as a diver and diving instructor.
Mark, from Blue Watch at Stalybridge Fire Station, hosted an educational event in the station's community room for Tameside Council Countryside Service to ensure they are well-prepared for being around water in their work.
The one-day course around water safety, designed and delivered by Mark, makes people aware of the different places they may encounter water and the dangers they face.
Mark said: "The aim is to keep people out of the water and reinforce just how dangerous water can be - more people drown than are killed through fire.
"Watching a rescue on the TV, you see them dive in fully clothed, they do the rescue, get out and its all done and dusted in no time but the reality is not like that."
Volunteer countryside rangers attended two weeks ago and, last week, council Countryside Service staff went to spend the day at the station.
The countryside staff and volunteers encounter a lot of water by leading walks, taking part in conservation work and running activities for children such as pond dipping.
The morning was spent in the community room learning the different types of water we have around Greater Manchester and how it can be dangerous.
Mark, who has been involved with water rescues through work and outside the job with his diving, was able to draw on personal experience and real-life incidents, which made the seriousness of the subject hit home.
He reinforced that rescue work is for the fire service to do and showed the group the firefighter kit, even allowing them to try it on to gain an insight into the work.
The afternoon was more practical with the groups being shown around the fire engines and getting to handle the ropes and other equipment that crews would use in a water rescue.
