Hi-tech training conference

A CONFERENCE is to be held at Warrington to highlight the benefits of high-tech simulated training environments to help equip people with the skills needed to operate in dangerous situations.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service will host the “Training with FX” conference at the Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, on Wednesday, November 9.
Station manager Stuart Devereux said: “Thankfully, major incidents are occurring less frequently. However, that means there are now far less practical opportunities for staff to develop their skills.
“It remains essential to provide a completely safe environment for people to become competent in managing a whole range of emergency incidents. This is where simulated environments are used as a coaching and assessment tool to immerse operational personnel into an environment that would otherwise be difficult to replicate.”
The conference is aimed at anybody connected with the handling of major incidents.
Speakers include: Major Porter, head of simulated land warfare at the Land Warfare Centre, Dr Fay Short from Bangor University, on the psychological differences between virtual reality and actual reality and Guy Hirst, director of training for Atrainability.
In addition, Stephen Jenkinson, country manager for Sportstec, will be talking about watching performance, examining how video data can be captured, managed, manipulated and shared, Helen Tooley and Martin Round, mobile incident commanders with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, will be explaining how their organisation uses simulated environments and Dave Dowling, emergency planning and fire and rescue service manager for Urenco UK will speak about integrated emergency management.
Dr Daniela Romano from Sheffield University’s Department of Computer Science will talk about virtual reality at the cutting edge.
There will also be a range of companies exhibiting at the day-long conference.
Further information can be obtained at www.cheshirefire.gov.uk or by calling 01606 868451.