The Wales Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team recently took part in several training exercises at the Swansea.com Stadium at Landore in Swansea.
The Swansea.com Stadium, which is home to the Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys Rugby Team, has been the venue for various USAR training exercises in recent weeks. The Wales USAR Team were able to test their preparedness to respond to incidents at large venues and were able to simulate numerous scenarios during the exercise.
Comprised of personnel from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS), and supported by National Resilience Wales personnel, the Wales USAR Team is able to respond to support operational crews at a variety of incidents. The Wales USAR Team regularly take part in training exercises at large, complex venues, including most recently at Southampton Airport, giving the team the opportunity to train in realistic scenarios. The training sessions were undertaken side by side with stadium staff, ensuring that both parties not only form positive working relationships, but they are also well prepared for real-life emergencies and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect members of the public.
Speaking on the training sessions held at the Swansea.com Stadium, Wales USAR Capability Advisor, Station Manager Gareth Lewis, said:
"We would like to express our sincere thanks to the staff at the Swansea.com Stadium for hosting the Wales USAR Team.
Training in a venue of this scale, combined with the expertise shared by stadium staff, greatly enhances our preparedness and safety. Their guidance on managing large-scale events provides invaluable insight, ensuring we can confidently respond to the logistical challenges that would arise if the venue were at full event status. Beyond technical skills, developing familiarity with this location offers significant advantages should we be called upon to provide support.
We are also deeply grateful for the warm welcome and genuine hospitality shown by everyone at Swansea.com Stadium throughout the day - it truly made this training event one we are looking to make an annual event for our training calendar."
Based at the National Resilience Wales Centre at Whitchurch Fire Station and MAWWFRS’s Earlswood Fire Training Centre, the Wales USAR Team forms one of the 20 strategically placed USAR Teams across Wales and England, provided under the UK Government’s New Dimension Programme. The Wales USAR Team is on-call 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year to respond to incidents and disasters across the UK, to provide a search and rescue capability and to support humanitarian efforts.