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Standby & Call

out ! - 23rd Dec

2020 and over

the Christmas &

New Year break

Over the festive season, we were on Standby and received a number of call-outs to support our local NHS staff offering transportation through flood, snow and icy conditions.

Water & Flood

Awareness

Training - 12th

December 2020

Our first batch of 8 Responders attended this one day course designed to provide personnel who may be working near water, to provide them with sufficient knowledge to be aware of the hazards created by this environment, and to develop an understanding of water rescue techniques. This Water and Flood Awareness Course is for those supporting rescue teams. The recent amended Defra Flood Rescue Concept of Operations (ConOp) now requires awareness-level (Mod 1) personnel to undertake basic dry land rescue techniques. This specialist training will enhance our skills and abilities when confronted with any requirements to support our local services in the future. It is envisaged that all of our team members will eventually complete this course. Our 2nd course arranged for 12th Jan was postponed due to national Lockdown #3 !……but will be re-arranged as regulations permit.

Distribution of

Covid-19 PPE &

Sanitisation kits

9th November

2020

Several boxed PPE kits were distributed around a number of County locations for fast collection and deployment and utilisation by our Responders in the event of their call out at short notice. This practice will prove more efficient and be cost effective in that not all Responders may need a kit, but will avoid the need for individuals to collect these essential items from a distant location should the materials be needed urgently.

Sarsys & Zello

Training 3rd

October 2020

In preparation for the winter period (traditionally - usually - our busiest period), the first of our sessions to update the team on the latest new features of our Sarsys (call-out) and Zello (our dedicated radio network system) was arranged for this initial Saturday session. Additional sessions will be held asap to ensure that we can employ social distancing and reach the whole team in due course.

Coronavirus

(COVID-19) - 13th

Aug 2020

We were very pleased to receive recognition for our contribution with our continuing work in the County from the Lord-Lieutenant for Herefordshire. Many thanks, we are pleased that we were able to help…….

Coronavirus

(COVID-19) -

22nd March;

through April &

ongoing into May

& June 2020

We delivered support to Taurus Healthcare until 24th June by providing our volunteer drivers to offer transport for their out of hours GP service in the movement of their Doctors and Advanced Nurse Practitioners to isolated home patients requiring routine attendance. We are also liaising closely with our local agencies in assisting their current plans for any support that we can offer in the current situation. We remain on Stand-by should our assistance be requested again. Follow the guidelines and stay safe out there!

Coronavirus

(COVID-19)

Statement from

our Chairman;

Steve Wright on

18th March 2020

Herefordshire 4x4 Response is following the national health protection advice and applying it to its situation, along with all our colleagues and partners in the statutory services and voluntary sector just like you, the public. As a support organisation our first priority is resilience, making sure that as many of our volunteer responders are as available as possible for deployment/activation. This means reducing face-to-face meetings (by using online equivalents) and postponing all but essential training so that we reduce the chances of spread among our Responders and coordination team. Our primary role is as a support organisation to Category 1 & 2 Responders and selected voluntary aid providers. This is in accordance with well rehearsed plans laid out at national, regional and local level as part of the voluntary sectors role in major incidents and national emergencies. Our activities will be directed according to these plans by the appropriate user bodies, we unfortunately cannot directly assist individual members of the public. Please do your bit, heed and follow Public Health Advice, stay informed and look after the vulnerable in our communities. Stay Safe Herefordshire; together we can do this.

Call out ! - 15th

to 29th Feb 2020

(a period of 14

days during and

within the

aftermath of

Storm Dennis)

followed by the

slightly less

intense Storm

Jorge, when we

remained on

“Stand-by” for a

further 24

hours…….

Over the 2 weeks of severe floods in the County, we completed more than 50 tasks and 2393 miles between us; supporting the NHS, Wye Valley Trust, St Michaels Hospice, and offering assistance to Local Authority staff as required. Our work continued with follow-on clean-up operations in conjunction with Herefordshire Council over the following week in Wellington, Whitchurch, & Symonds Yat, whilst remaining on “Stand By” 24/7 when advised that continued spells of rain could again threaten parts of the County. Our Chairman, Steve Wright, did a telephone interview with Malcolm Boyden of BBC Hereford & Worcester on 21st February outlining our response. You can listen in by clicking on the below…… RTC Exercise simulation Training - 14th/15th Feb 2020 Following on from a successful initial training session for our management team on 15th January, 2 further sessions were simulated for our Responders. After a sit-down workshop led by Simon, with additional support in the exercises from Yon & Sara, our teams were deployed to simulated (but nonetheless very real!) RTC (Road Traffic Collision) incidents set-up for the exercise. Each of the 3 sessions were unique, requiring a different approach and range of solutions. All of our Responders fulfilled their roles in preparation for any “first on scene” incidents that they may encounter whenever we are responding to call-outs.

Christmas Tree

Collection &

Disposal - 11th

Jan 2020

6 of our 2-person responder crews were out on Saturday collecting Christmas trees from householders in and around Hereford from pre-booked donations & appointments for responsible disposal of their Christmas trees for the benefit of St. Michael’s Hospice. We hope to do more for this wonderful organisation in a years time. Call out ! - Hampton House Residential Care Home - 22nd Dec 2019 3 of our Responders with wading capacity vehicles undertook an early morning task in getting staff to the residential care home at Hampton Bishop due to restricted access from floodwater. At very short notice, we were pleased to help these dedicated individuals get to their workplace to continue fulfilling their responsibilities in delivering what they do each and every day in caring for their residents. Thank you for the opportunity to assist, and for the very kind donation you made later to our Group.

Bromyard

Christmas lights

switch-on - 23rd

Nov 2019

Our Responders were out assisting with the road closures and logistics for Bromyards’ annual event, when we were instrumental in keeping everyone involved safe and well for the build-up to the Christmas festivities Call out ! - 14th/15th Nov 2019 Over the 2 days of floods in the County, we completed 14 tasks and 748 miles between us, supporting the NHS, St Michaels Hospice, and offering assistance to Local Authority staff with the election in Whitchurch. Call out ! - 26th Oct 2019 We were called out over the afternoon and evening of Fri 26th Oct to assist our user agencies during the flooding across the County of Herefordshire when we attended to a number of evacuations and rescues, along with transportation of Nurses and Carers to patients who were cut-off by the water…... The Venus: 35th Anniversary Challenge - 20th Sept 2019 We were asked by St. Michael’s Hospice to support their annual Venus night event on Friday night/Sat morning 20th/21st September. The route was in and around Hereford city. We were required to marshal multiple points of the route, from the Start time of 8:30 pm until 2am. The St Michael’s Hospice’s website comments; One Night, 35 Years of Memories; With eyes sparkling and glitter in your hair, you’ll dazzle Hereford with a flowing river of pink. September is Venus, and when that Friday sun sets, you and hundreds of other women will be the brightest stars seen on the Midnight Streets of Hereford. Whether you experience The New Moon (5K), Crescent Moon (10K) or Full Moon (15k), you will be a part of Hereford’s biggest remembrance party. The SOS Emergency Day at Eastnor Castle - 23rd June 2019 With displays from the local emergency services, including:– West Mercia Police, Severn Area Rescue Association, Midland Air Ambulance, Herefordshire 4x4 Response, Royal Air Force, Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue, Speed Awareness, & Midland Freewheelers. The Paint Runner and Foam Zone - 15th June 2019 St Michael’s Hospice’s website stated: With a record seven paint stations, this vibrant family fund-raiser will be the highlight of our summer. Join more than 1,500 others gathering on a midsummer’s day, all with the intention of getting coloured silly for their Hospice; ….we do like to take our part in these events seriously, so we did our best too, see right! After finishing the fun 5K course, you’ll be doused in foam before continuing the party.

The Paint Runner & Foam

Zone