News / Bristol Royal Infirmary
State-of-the-art firefighting system installed on BRI helipad
A new firefighting system installed on the BRI’s helipad is similar to those used on offshore oil rigs.
The £574,000 Deck Integrated Fire Fighting (DIFF) system can extinguish a fire in an air ambulance in just 15 seconds, spraying water and foam upwards through 25 different nozzles.
Air ambulances from across the South West and South Wales all access the helipad, with the new DIFF system enabling it to remain operational for longer.
is needed now More than ever
“It gives us that reassurance that we can land more regularly and safely and keep doing the work we’re doing,” said Andy Lockyer, a critical care doctor who works on air ambulances.
All of the funding for the system came from the Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads (HELP) Appeal, the only charity in the world dedicated to hospital helipads.
The system at the BRI is currently one of only four in the UK, although Robert Bertrum, chief executive of HELP, said that more are planned.
He said: “The HELP Appeal aims to fund DIFFs on all hospital rooftop helipads across the country, as this state-of-the-art technology ensures the highest level of protection.
“Bristol Royal Infirmary’s helipad will now be one of the safest in the country.”
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