Bracknell students stood and watched as firefighters attended a crash in their college car park.

Firefighters from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended Bracknell and Wokingham College last month where they performed a Road Traffic Collision Rescue Demonstration.

It formed part of Road Safety Week, with firefighters keen to demonstrate the dangers of texting while driving.

An area of the college car park was cordoned off on Friday, November 24, where aided by dummies, the firefighters showed how they remove casualties from the vehicle.

One firefighter played the role of the driver of the vehicle.

In order to get the driver out of the car, the firefighters removed the doors, boot and roof, before putting them onto a stretcher and handing the casualty over to paramedics.  

Jon Hicks, Watch Manager at Bracknell & Ascot fire stations, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, talked students through all the different aspects of the rescue from the cause and assessment of the collision to each stage of the rescue. 

After the demonstration had finished, students were shown the fire engine and chatted with firefighters to find out what it’s like to work as a firefighter. 

Nikolas Stone, 18, from Bracknell is studying a Uniformed Public Services Level 2 Certificate at Bracknell and Wokingham College. 

He said: “It was informative. It taught me the importance of being safe while driving and not texting while driving or drinking before driving. 

"I was quite scared watching the demonstration, as I didn’t realise that it would be so realistic. I’m currently learning to drive so I now know what not to do when driving a car."

Daniel Ellis, Public Services Teacher at Activate Learning, said: “This demonstration provided a vital learning opportunity for our Public Services students.  

“It showed them how firefighters work together at the scene of a road traffic collision to rescue casualties, keep other motorists and pedestrians safe and work with the ambulance service. 

Jon Hicks added: “The demonstration was a great success. The whole aim was to raise awareness of the dangers of carelessness behind the wheel, as part of Road Safety Week, what can happen and what we as firefighters do when we attend an RTC like this. 

“The demonstration was well received by staff and students. It’s a good way to engage with the community to raise awareness and show how we respond to situations like this.  

“It’s also a good opportunity for students, especially for Public Services students, to see what we do on a daily basis.”