Countdown to Ambulex 2012

Ambulex is the UK’s leading exhibition for the emergency services, so naturally we are looking forward to being there in two weeks time.
We are excited to be launching our new groundbreaking transport chair at the exhibition which takes place on June 13 and 14 at The Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.
We will also be demonstrating other pieces of equipment from our portfolio for visitors. Our staff will be on hand to offer advice about our existing and new products to help customers get the right piece of kit for the job.
Having reliable equipment is essential in this business and visitors to our stand will be able to find out more about our first class after sales support, Ferno Fieldcare. Our highly trained technicians deliver preventative maintenance to ensure that equipment continues to provide the very highest levels of performance.
We can’t wait to show you our latest products and see what others in the industry have been working on. We have a pitch near to the café, U23 and U24, looking forward to seeing you there!

Jon is always on the look out!

Our managing director is always on the look out for Ferno products in the field. So it’s no surprise that even when he was roaring on Huddersfield Town at the play off final between Town and Sheffield United he took the time out to take this picture of a Ferno York 4 Trolley and Model 71 Basket Stretcher used by Medical Staff at Wembley Stadium.
If you spot any of our products be sure to send us you pictures and we will put them on this blog.

Fire Safety First with the NAHFO

We are at the 2012 annual conference of the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers today.
The organisation, which aims to promote the highest standards of fire safety in healthcare premises, is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
We have members of the Ferno team at the event, being held at the Holiday Inn hotel in Peterborough, telling delegates about our evacuation audit service.
Ferno launched the consulting service to help companies ensure they keep their people safe in the event of an emergency. The audit is a new form of risk assessment which considers all aspects of an emergency evacuation, including the management of disabled people, treating the injured, the effects of smoke, lighting and crowd control.
Organisations will gain a better understanding of what measures they must put in place to quickly and safely evacuate a building while complying with health and safety and fire safety regulations.
Buildings which have to comply with the new legislation include offices and shops, factories and warehouses, residential care and educational premises, theatres, cinemas, healthcare and transport premises and places of assembly – large or small.

Dean Hoyle cycles for play offs and 1,000 kids

Huddersfield Town chairman, Dean Hoyle, is pedalling his way to Wembley ahead of the League 1 Play Off Final on Saturday. Along with eight others, he is helping to raise £45,000 to allow 1,000 under privileged children from the Huddersfield area see the match against Sheffield United.
And Ferno is playing its part, having provided a support vehicle for the three day event which will see the cyclists travel to Worksop today and then onto Peterborough tomorrow before arriving at Wembley on Friday evening.
Jon Ellis, Ferno managing director and a big Huddersfield Town fan will also be heading to Wembley for the game, although he will be leaving his bike at home this time – Jon completed the Pedal for Pounds cycle event at the beginning of the month which saw a group of cyclists, including Dean Hoyle and former Town player Andy Booth, cycle from Yeovil to Huddersfield for the team’s last game of the season to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

On a small screen near you

Ferno had more than its 15 minutes of fame thanks to numerous television appearances this year - including in the new World Cup advert for Mars (see earlier post here). A fact recently picked up on by Ambulance Life.
Over the past few weeks eagle-eyed viewers will have seen the Ferno Pioneer Trolley and Model 71 stretcher in the latest advert for one of the nation’s favourite chocolate bars as medics rush to the aid of England’s goalkeeper during a penalty shoot-out.
But this isn’t the first time our products have appeared on our screens. Long-running medical dramas Holby City and Casualty often feature Ferno products and earlier this year the company was featured in the Channel 5’s Big Body Squad, a fly-on-the wall documentary about the challenges faced by the medical profession with over-weight patients.
Ferno stretchers and other medical equipment appear on television channels almost weekly at televised sporting events. The Ferno Model 71 basket stretcher is often used to carry injured footballers off the field of play and earlier this year a Ferno basket stretcher appeared at 158th Oxford and Cambridge boat race after bowman Alex Wood collapsed from exhaustion.
When we see our stretchers and trolleys on television being used at sporting events around the country, it is a testament to Ferno being one of the most trusted manufacturers of safety and health equipment in the industry.
We regularly see our products being used in the hospital dramas but it was a great surprise when we saw our stretcher and trolley pop up in the new Mars advert. It is always a boost when we see our products on the small screen.

Here we are ready for the NAFD conference

Ferno is on the road again today at the National Association of Funeral Directors’ Conference and Annual General Meeting.
The event, held at the Holiday Inn hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, runs until Sunday and brings together members of the NAFD.
Ferno will be showing delegates a new coffin lift and a range of bariatric trolleys, as well as demonstrating the benefits of their new flexible refrigeration unit, the Tempro TCZ which has been developed to answer a long-standing demand from mortuaries and funeral parlours for a quick, competitively-priced chilled space solution in confined areas.

The AGM takes place today, followed by an ‘education’ day tomorrow and Sunday will see the Association’s new President elected. We look forward to seeing you over the next couple of days.

David Cameron backs the Terriers

At Prime Minister's Questions, on Wednesday, May 10 David Cameron gave his endorsement to Huddersfield Town in the play-off final against Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium on May 26 which could see Town go up to the Championship League.
The Prime Minister was addressing Jason McCartney - Conservative MP for Colne Valley - who posed the question.
Jason was part of our Pink Team during the Pedal For Pounds cycling event (see previous  post here) from Yeovil to Huddersfield.
Needless to say Town fan Jon Ellis and some other supporters from Ferno will be making the trip down to Wembley next week. A PMQs the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, meanwhile, expressed no opinion... he is a Sheffield MP.

Our last day at Safety & Health Expo 2012

So here we are on the final day of the Safety & Health Expo 2012, Europe's definitive annual event that brings together the safety and health industry.
The past three days have been really good allowing us to catch up with long-term customers and make new acquaintances with those operating in the health and safety sector. People from a wide range of companies have attended the Expo at the NEC, Birmingham, and have shown a real interest in our products and services including the EZ Glide PowerTraxx – see previous post here – and our new evacuation audit.
Talking of the EZ Glide PowerTraxx - here’s a picture of our good friend Paul Molvey from SP Services sitting in one.
We’re still here for the rest of the day so if you're attending come down and link up with the Ferno team on stand C24 in Hall One. If you are on Twitter follow the conversation with the hashtag #HSExpo
                                                                               By Simon Shepherd

Come and visit us at Safety & Health Expo

Here’s our stand at the Safety & Health Expo 2012, Europe's definitive annual event that brings together the safety and health industry.
Running from today until Thursday at the NEC, Birmingham, the industry will come together at the only show with support from the key industry partners – IOSH, RoSPA and BSIF. It will be packed full of the industry’s leading manufacturers like Ferno, distributors and suppliers showcasing new innovations.
If you're attending come down and link up with Ferno team on stand C24 in Hall One. If you are on Twitter follow the conversation with the hashtag #HSExpo

Caitlin May Ellis in the medals

Caitlin May Ellis

Congratulations to Jon Ellis’ daughter Caitlin May, 12, who has picked up a bronze individual medal and a gold team medal in a trampolining competition held at Tong High School on Thursday last week.
Caitlin was representing Appleton Academy competing against Thornton Grammar, Tong High School, Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College (BBEC) and Dixons City Academy. Needless to say Jon is a very proud Dad.

Ferno’s Pioneer trolley and Model 71 take centre stage in the new Mars advert!

Come and meet up at RETTMobil 2012

Here’s our stand at RETTMobil 2012 in Fulda, Germany with everyone taking an interest in the new Harrier LBS with its new large body surface.

The pictures were taken by Simon Shepherd and Michael Thornton from the UK who are over visiting the exhibition.
RETTmobil 2012, Europe's leading exhibition for rescue and mobility, is an international forum and therefore a must for anyone dealing with this issue. It runs from today until Friday and more than 420 companies and organisations from almost 20 countries are attending.
Come down and see us if you are attending at stand 4-405.

Jon reflects on Pedal for Pounds

Me with David Chappell Elliot

Well it's over - 277 miles completed, alongside 279 other cyclists through three-and-a-half of the most grueling, testing and ultimately rewarding things I have ever done.
What a challenge and it was a real step up from last year’s bike ride to Brighton. The weather was horrific especially on the Thursday as was the terrain, there were some really dark moments for all the cyclists but so many inspirational people and friendships helped us all through.
Being the Captain of the Pink Team which included some new members this year was an honour and we carried on where we left off last year, in terms of effective teamwork through togetherness.
There is something about this experience that touches you somewhere really deep and to experience the support as we turned into the Galpharm Stadium on Saturday is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

As Huddersfield Town Athletic Football Club’s commercial director Sean Jarvis always states in his opening speech, there will be tough times ahead (and there was plenty!) but let's not forget the good times. Cycling into the Galpharm made it all worthwhile.
The Pink Team would like to thank HTAFC, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the support team and all the cyclists that took on the challenge.
Also a special mention to David Chappell Elliot who did a remarkable achievement in running ten back-to-back marathons. HTAFC is a fantastic community to be involved in and all we need to top it all off is promotion through the play offs! Sponsorship is all welcome and this will be open until the end of May at Just Giving.
I would like to thank everyone that has made a donation to date, Without the support of my Ferno colleagues and family it would not have been possible to undertake such an achievement for such a good cause.
                                                                                                               Jon Ellis
Oh - and I fogot to say we even had the privilege of seeing Her Majesty in Yeovil

Warm Ferno welcome to EMSAR

We had a welcome visit from the US last week when a team from EMSAR visited our UK headquarters in Cleckheaton.
Visiting us, and pictured from left to right, were Tricia Cowler, Service Coordinator (UK); Lee Cory, Service Team Leader (UK); Jim Smalley, Network Administrator at Ferno Washington; Renee LaPine, President of EMSAR; Chris Hall, Vice President of Administration at EMSAR; Randy Kenney, Vice President of Information Technology and CIO of Ferno Washington; Terry Harrison, Director of Technology, EMSAR Technology Solutions; Karen Stringer, Commercial Manager (UK) with our very own Simon Shepherd, Commercial Director (UK)
EMSAR, which works closely with Ferno in the US and the UK, is an independent service organisation dedicated to providing high quality equipment service and repair.
Its customers include private and municipal EMS service providers, funeral homes, long-term care facilities, dentists, and hospitals.

Graham Cann picks up a Ferno In Partnership Award

Here’s a picture of Graham Cann, left, with Simon Shepherd. Simon was presenting the In Partnership Award to Graham during a recent visit to Ferno House in recognition of Graham’s contribution on the development of the Ferno product range over the past ten years.
Graham was the Regional Head of Fleet at West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust for more than 10 years and recently left to join Alltruck plc.
This is not Graham’s first award - he picked up the Emergency Services Ambulance Innovation Award for the development of the Alternative Response Vehicle Bariatric, an innovation in “providing a new service to the community or by delivering existing services in a new and effective way."
Graham said: "A considerable amount of work and effort has gone into bringing our vehicles to such a high standard and this is now proven in the ARV Bariatric vehicle. West Midlands Ambulance Service is now the market leader in van-to-ambulance conversion. Other ambulance trusts are now following us."
Simon commented : "The Ferno In Partnership Award recognises the contribution certain individuals make to Ferno in the development of new products and services. Graham’s work at the sharp end of the ambulance service means that he brings a real-life experience to Ferno ensuring that we develop products that address the real needs of the ambulance service - he richly deserves this award.
"We will follow Graham’s career at Alltruck with real interest and wish him all the best in his new role."
Alltruck are specialists in Contract Hire, Truck Rental, Fleet Management and Workshop Service and Maintenance and are the Fleet Management partner of choice for six NHS Ambulance Trusts throughout the UK.

Well done to David Elliot - 10 marathons in 10 days

Congratulations to David Elliot of Wellhouse Leisure, who, on Saturday, completed ten back-to-back marathons from Yeovil to Town!
David’s Ten Marathons In Ten Days for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Keep It Up Campaign was very courageous and we should all support him on Just Giving.com.
Ferno have assisted in the sponsorship of the support vehicle which followed David every mile along the way.
Wellhouse Leisure is the UK's leading manufacturer of compact motorhomes. Situated near Huddersfield, it offers a range of conversions based on Toyota , Nissan, Honda and Mazda/Ford vehicles. It has also converted the new Hyundai i800 for which it has won three major industry awards.
Ferno would like to thank David for his commitment over the past week and his support for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
In his own words. Here are David’s thoughts on what he has done and his achievements:

After ten gruelling days from Yeovil Town to Huddersfield Town doing  marathon a day, it was tough! And beyond anything I have ever experienced. Even compared to what I have done in the past, some very dark days hit me. Especially Sunday and Monday when the weather and then my thigh started to give in. Added to that I now appear to have a hole in the heel of my foot..
However, all things must pass and yesterday, when I did the last bit running through Huddersfield along with the bike riders to the Huddersfield Town stadium everything fell in to place. I can only describe it as a "big welcome" for me and the bikers (280 of them who had a rough ride as well) when we got to the chance to do a lap of the pitch with chairman Dean Hoyle.
Reflecting on what we have done I can only say that the next time someone suggests doing something like this I will learn to say "NO". It really took every last drop on energy I had both mentally and physically.
For pictures check me out on Facebook.
For those who want to sponsor me please go here and make a donation. Hopefully, we should raise more than £3,500 in which is fantastic.
Did I think I could do it ? I really didn't know, what I did know was after day I was in to the unknown but by day five I thought it was over and the last three days were great as I got closer to home but the last day was special and something I will never forget.
As always a massive thanks to all my sponsors of the van and donations and everyone that pledged, this was the one where your money was probably safe "sorry".

Well done David - great effort!

Day 4: Pedal For Pounds III Pictures

Day 3: Pedal For Pounds III Pictures

Pictures courtesy of @hftafcdotcom Help support a great cause and make a donation at Just Giving website here.

Come and say hello at Life Connections

Here we are at the Life Connections 2012 exhibition in Kettering on stand 22 which is being manned by Ferno’s Darren Sharman and Grant Lewis.
The hugely successful Life Connections multi-conference event supported by an educational grant from UCB Pharmaceuticals, attracts more than 600 delegates to visit stands like ours where we can show off our excellent range of products.
There are also a number of talks and workshops on a wide range of topics on emergency medical services - there are four today and five tomorrow.
Come down and see us if you are attending - we are also tweeting with the hashtag #lc2012.

We're backing Leicestershire Lowland Search & Rescue

We’ve been delighted to help out Leicestershire’s new Lowland Search & Rescue Team with the donation of a basket stretcher.
The team, made up of volunteers, works with the police, fire and ambulance services in the search and rescue of missing and injured people across the region as well as offering support at major incidents and national emergencies such as floods, fires and air traffic accidents.
Andy Spry, vice-chairman of the Leicestershire Lowland Search & Rescue Team, said: "We have been established for only a few months now and have really had to build everything from scratch. We receive no government funding and our only source of income is through charity work, sponsorship or donations.
"The donation of a basket stretcher by Ferno is fantastic. We cannot say thank you enough. It will make a huge difference to the casualties we treat and help us to provide a more effective life-saving service. If it wasn’t for the generosity of companies like Ferno, it would be almost impossible for us to provide a service for the people of Leicestershire and surrounding areas."
Ferno’s Model 71 basket stretcher is ideally suited to moving or rescuing an injured person from a building site, quarry, mine or mountain. It provides full body protection and can be dragged, carried or lifted across rough or muddy terrain without affecting the patient’s well-being.
We are really pleased to have been able to help the Leicestershire Lowland Search & Rescue Team, particularly in these early days for them.
I think they will find the basket stretcher an essential piece of equipment in order to carry our search and rescue missions. Our stretchers are ideally suited to demanding search and rescue environments and made from strong, durable materials which offer greater safety and comfort to both patient and rescuer.
Leicestershire Search & Rescue is a not-for profit organisation made up entirely of trained volunteers. They are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support and assist the emergency services, local authorities and the general public. Visit Leicestershire SAR for more information.
                                                                                                              By Jon Ellis

Andy's video blog on Pedal for Pounds

Huddersfild Town's Club Ambassador Andy Booth talks us through the events of his first day on the Pedal For Pounds III.

Day 2: Pedal For Pounds III

Twit Pics courtesy of @htafcdotcom, @jediofntb @rob_large and @seanmjarvis

Heading off to Yeovil for PFPIII

Here’s a picture of me (fourth from the left) with 23 of the 300 riders heading off to Yeovil today ahead of our epic 260 mile ride back to Huddersfield in support of Yorkshire Air Ambulance as our charity of choice.
My involvement is part of Ferno’s contribution towards the fund raising challenge The Pedal for Pounds III in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s "Keep It Up campaign". It costs £7,200 per day to keep both YAA helicopters operational all from charitable funds!
The ride, which will leave the Huish Park, Yeovil on the morning of tomorrow, will see 300 of us heading back to Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield for Saturday 5 May in time for Town’s last home game of the 2011/12 season.
Ferno has also donated the use of the van to transport the bikes down south.
Help support a great cause and make a donation through my page on the Just Giving website here.
                                                                                                         By Jon Ellis