CRS user testimonial: Zeeland Fire Service
What do users think of the Crash Recovery System and what are their experiences? In the new section CRS user testimonial, we ask these and other questions to users of the CRS from around the world. Jaco van der Welle, Professional Responsibility Officer at the Zeeland Fire Service (Netherlands), has the floor.
Can you introduce yourself and the Zeeland Fire Service?
My name is Jaco van der Welle, and I work for the Zeeland Fire Service as part of the professional skills team. One of my responsibilities is to coordinate the key task of technical assistance. In this role, I have regular contact with Moditech to organise the annual CIP refresher course for our senior instructors.
Which CRS version and which platform (Windows/iOS/Android) does the Zeeland Fire Service use?
We at the Zeeland Fire Service use the latest version, 3.33, on the iOS platform. The iPads in our more than sixty operational fire engines have had access to the CRS for several years now. In addition to these fire engines, our reserve and technical skills vehicles also have an iPad with CRS. For technical expertise purposes, we also have iPads available that are equipped with the Crash Recovery System. Because a fire engine is always at the scene in emergencies where the CRS is relevant, we have chosen not to provide our emergency vehicles and officers on duty with the CRS separately. Nevertheless, the Zeeland Fire Service has over 100 CRS licences in use.
At the Zeeland Fire Service, the Operational Preparedness team manages the licences. This team also maintains close contact with the developers at Moditech. New software versions are provided in advance by Moditech so that we, the users, can test them. There is also a close collaboration between us as users and Moditech as the supplier regarding technical and content-related feedback. Content-related reactions to the rescue sheets are carefully considered, and, where necessary, the relevant rescue sheet is modified in a subsequent database update.
Why do you think there is a need for the CRS?
From the point of view of emergency response safety, we felt that the CRS was an indispensable reference work for our first-response units. Especially given the rapid developments of alternative-powered vehicles, the CRS is a primary safety tool for us. It is essential nowadays to operate responsibly at the scene of an incident.
How do you benefit from using the CRS?
As support when working on vehicles at a traffic accident in both response and during competency activities.
What kind of traffic accidents does the Zeeland Fire Service have to deal with?
Most of Zeeland consists of N-roads and dikes and a motorway, where incidents occur regularly. These include vehicles falling off dikes, head-on collisions, vehicles colliding with trees and vehicles ending up in the water.
What is essential for first responders to know about such accidents?
Which type of vehicle it is, which propulsion system, which fuel, where the safety features are located and how to secure the vehicle.
Can you describe a situation in which the CRS has proved its usefulness?
A report of a passenger car in a ditch. At the scene, it turned out to be an electric vehicle. After entering the registration number in the CRS, we secured the vehicle using the deactivation procedure.
Crash Recovery System – Know what’s inside, see what to do!