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PAUL Hayden, Chief Officer of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and a team of local firefighters have been awarded a major international award for developing swift water and flood rescue techniques.

The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Swiftwater Rescue were established in 1993 by the USA-based National Association for Search and Rescue to honor outstanding achievement in technical rescue discipline of swift water and flood rescue.

The awards are not for heroism but recognize preparedness, teamwork, often under extreme conditions where training is vital to the success of the rescue missions, as well as the safety of the rescue personnel and the victims who are being rescued.

Flooding is the main cause of weather-related death worldwide. Rescuers who lack proper training and equipment are at risk of serious injury and loss of life.

The Higgins and Langley Awards have increased awareness for specialized swift water and flood rescue training. As a result, worldwide training certifications have increased and agencies have developed viable water rescue programs for the protection of the public and the safety of their personnel.

Mr. Hayden and Hereford and Worcester FRS were nominated for the award by the Chief Fire Officers Association for the work undertaken in the development of a major flood event research project.

The Higgins and Langley Program Development Award recognize agencies that make a significant commitment to education, training and resources to develop the swift water and flood rescue program. The award will be presented to Mr. Hayden at the annual conference of the National Association for Search and Rescue in Colorado Springs, United States, between May 29 and 31.

Since the first Integrated Risk Management Plan in 2004/5 and in response to major flooding in 1998 and 2000, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority committed to providing a comprehensive water rescue service. Since that time, the authority has invested over £200,000 in equipment and training. During the 2007 floods, the service's personnel rescued 1,185 people over the period July 20 to 23 last year.

2:59pm Saturday 3rd May 2008

Worchestershire News