Ferbane Fire Service hosts road traffic collision demonstration

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Students from Gallen Community School in Ferbane were given a powerful and sobering insight into road safety last week, as Ferbane Fire Service hosted a live Road Traffic Collision (RTC) demonstration.

The event, organised in collaboration with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and An Garda Síochána, aimed to highlight the real-life consequences of dangerous driving and the importance of making safe choices on the road.

"It's all about promoting road safety in the younger generation," said Jamie Brazil, firefighter at Ferbane Fire Station.

"We see an increase in road fatalities and serious injuries, and we decided as a crew to host this RTC day."

Fire service personnel from Ferbane, Clara, Birr, and Athlone all took part in the demonstration, which showcased the complex and time-critical nature of emergency response at the scene of a serious collision.

Students witnessed as crews cut open vehicles in a variety of positions, including one upright, one on its side, and another overturned onto its roof, illustrating the challenges faced by first responders.

The demonstration emphasised that every second counts in such scenarios, with simulated casualties and fatalities reinforcing the potentially devastating outcomes of road traffic incidents.

Transition Year and Second Year students also learned about passenger safety inside vehicles, including the importance of sitting in the correct position with your seatbelt buckled.

A striking airbag demonstration showed how quickly airbags deploy, producing a loud bang and a cloud of smoke as they inflate.

Using a crash test dummy, emergency personnel highlighted the dangers of sitting with feet on the dashboard. One firefighter warned that in a real collision, such a position could result in catastrophic injuries, stating that “your pelvis would be broken, and you would die from the blood loss”.

Members of the Armed Support Unit of An Garda Síochána also delivered an informative talk and demonstration. They introduced students to a range of equipment carried by the unit, including “non-lethal” options such as tasers and OC spray.

They also outlined the role of more lethal weapons, including their standard-issue firearm and backup handgun, explaining that these are only used in situations where there is an immediate threat to life and no alternative options remain.

“As soon as we have the threat stopped, we would immediately go to first aid to save their lives,” one member explained.

Students were also shown protective equipment used by the unit, including ballistic vests capable of stopping shotgun pellets and handgun rounds, as well as ballistic helmets.

Heavy-duty body armour incorporating ceramic panels, designed to protect against high-powered rounds, was also demonstrated.

The event delivered a clear message about the importance of road safety and the realities faced by emergency services on a daily basis.