Even though I went on trip for me I had to do my own set of research to ensure I was creating a final that portrayed the right information and the correct outcome to educate the sedentary schools kids – and also educate myself. At first all the information provided is from LFB website than I went into further information from alternative websites. This blog focuses on mainly the general equipment.

LFB general information: subcategories

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about-us/services-and-facilities/

Services and Facilities

“What does London Fire Brigade do? Who do we help and how? Our services are as diverse as the city we serve…”

Vehicles and equipment:

Aerial Appliances:

The fire fighter service have 11 frontline aerial applicants. They reach from 22 to 32 metres tall.

Three types of aerial appliance

• Four turntable ladders
• Seven aerial Ladder Platforms
• Four hydraulic platforms in reserve

What they are used for?

Aerial appliances can be used for a range of tasks including delivering water from height onto a fire, as an observation platform, providing lighting and in certain cases rescuing people from height.

Aerial appliances aren’t usually used for firefighting in high rise buildings where people live because firefighters use the fire safety measures and equipment inside the building. If aerial appliances are sent to an incident they are not used until we know that any people still inside the building are out of the way of the jets of water. The hoses can pump 2,400 litres of water a minute – that’s seven baths full of water every 60 seconds.

Turntable ladders

Turntable ladders have large telescopic ladders that can, in good conditions, reach up to 32 metres – that’s about the tenth floor of a typical high-rise building. Turntable ladders have a cage at the top where firefighters can direct a hose from or reach people that need to be rescued.

Aerial ladder platforms (ALP)

Aerial ladder platforms or ALP are the most manoeuvrable of our aerial appliances. ALPs can extend in different directions, unlike the turntable ladder which can extend in one direction, but be turned. The ALP can deliver water onto a fire at height and also provide a stable platform for carrying out a variety of operations or when appropriate or safe to do so rescuing people.

Hydraulic platforms

A hydraulic platform is like a big crane with a caged platform at the top. We use them to deliver water from above a fire or rescue people at height – most commonly injured builders on scaffolding.

BA (Breathing Apparatus)

“Helps us to work in places where the air isn’t breathable.”

Breathing apparatus is a key piece of equipment for firefighters across the world.

Our breathing apparatus consists of one or two oxygen cylinders and an oxygen mask that securely covers the whole face. Since the 1960s we have been using compressed air breathing sets. The sets we use today are lighter, and last a lot longer than the ones from the 60s

When do fire fighters use BA equipment: Firefighters will pull on a BA set anytime they are entering a situation where the atmosphere might cause difficulty breathing. That could be anything from a smoky building, to an incident where chemicals have been spilled.

How much does BA set hold?

London Fire Brigade currently has two different types of BA. Each set lets firefighters breath oxygen for different lengths of time.

• Standard duration Breathing Apparatus
• Extended Duration Breathing Apparatus

Standard Duration Breathing Apparatus (SDBA)

Standard duration breathing apparatus has only one cylinder – all our firefighters are trained to use SDBA and all our fire engines carry them. The set weighs about 15kgs.

If a firefighter is breathing normally a SDBA they should get 31 minutes of air. But, if the firefighter is working really hard and breathing really hard, the cylinder won’t necessarily last that long.

Extended Duration Breathing Apparatus (EDBA)

To use extended duration breathing apparatus firefighters must complete specialist training. EDBA sets have two cylinders, so they weigh a bit more than a SDBA – 23kgs.

If a firefighter is breathing normally an EDBA they should get 47 minutes of air. But, if the firefighter is breathing heavily, the cylinder won’t necessarily last for 47 minutes.

EDBA is usually brought out when firefighters have to travel longer distances using breathing apparatus, like a train stuck in a tunnel.

How do you keep track of everyone using BA?

Whenever firefighters are using breathing apparatus we set up a Breathing Apparatus Entry Control (BAEC). This system lets us track who’s gone into a building with BA and who’s come out – we always go in as a pair and come out as a pair. We mark this information down on an entry control board (ECB).

Hoses (information)

 We use a variety of hose to tackle fire and floods, and have a team who manufacture and repair this crucial part of our equipment

Types of hose

We use different types of hose – varying in diameter and length:

• 22mm hose – at 18.3m in length this yellow high pressure hose reel can be used in small spaces, as it’s easy to manoeuvre.
• 45mm hose – at 23m in length this is the standard hose, commonly used in house fires. Most of our 45mm hose is red, but when it needs to be taken out of service, we’re replacing it with yellow hose which is easier to see.
• 70mm hose – at 23m in length this hose is used in different scenarios. Its wide diameter delivers lots of water fast, but the weight of that water makes it harder to manoeuvre. This hose is also being replaced with yellow hose.
• 70mm aerial hose – with some added length bringing this hose to 30m, it can be used on aerial appliances.
• 12mm chimney hose – this slim hose has a rose on the end, which spurts water in all directions, helping to extinguish fires in chimneys

Hose layer units (HLU)

HLU are vehicles located across London ready to be mobilised. Each HLU contains 140 sections of 90mm hose, each 30m in length (4km in total). So when there’s a fire without a nearby hydrant or water source, a HLU can lay hose from the nearest water source all the way to the fire.

High volume pumping units (HVP)

A HVP carries a submersible pump, with a very wide hose. This can be used both to suck up and remove water in a flood, and draw water from bodies of water which can then be used to fire fires.

Hose manufacture

Of all the fire and rescue services in the UK London Fire Brigade is the only one that boasts an in-house hose manufacturer. We’re classed as manufacturers because the Technical Rescue & Hose team couple the hose themselves. They use a unique binding technique with 3 banks of 8 binds, which incorporates a failsafe other manufacturers don’t usually provide.

Hose repair

The team also carry out repairs to hose damaged by bursts, broken glass or any kind of pinprick. The repair process is similar to repairing a bicycle tyre, where the hole is initially made bigger, fitted with an inside patch, and an outside patch, and then heated. This process is called vulcanisation and takes around 40 mins.

With LFB they provide a variety of information based on certain equipment etc, but I wanted to only showcase the ones that I had imagery on therefore would not be using other peoples imagery. I also felt like some other ideas I had fitted into the design more. So from each category I took 2 examples to fit into the school pack and if anyone wanted to find out more they could visit the website. I feel as if kids get bored after the first image therefore only showcasing a few within my designs would help engage people.

I am aiming to create a design that will end up being displayed in assembly’s, and I am aiming to create a magazine and then some sort of school pack for the kids to take home to their mums and dads and almost show case what they have learnt from the assembly. To kind of understand what features in a school pack, I decided to research how school packs come, and other packs in general to get an idea.

When I googled this, I could not find a single one that would display what is in a school pack so I did my own sort of research of what I thought would be in a school pack.

• It would potentially be a leaflet or in some sort of envelope as this would then allow the kids to take home (if they are in secondary school for primary school more interactive aspects)
• Be colourful
• to the point
• small posters
• simple design
• to the point
• not complicated

Fire fighters have been coming to schools for years and years to educate kids about fires, arson and them as general. But from when I was at school I can remember it was never really aimed at the service is was about the incidents that occur, therefore made me want to aim the design for the fire fighters to give out after this, to kids and they can see the worth of the service, which wold prevent things like arson, and make kids want to even become a fire fighter.

Message for design:

My campaign message is to make awareness for schools and groups to understand what exactly fire fighters do and gain the respect they deserve. I think a lot of kids think that fire fighters just put out fires. Which they do. But these are different avenues that the tackle and the ways in which they do. The client through the design is secondary school children and cub groups etc, and then the magazine gets given to them and they share it with their parents. I do not want to create something for primary school children as personally speaking some of the stuff is graphic and kids can just know they put out fires because its a nicer thing to believe.

However, kids / teens pay attention to colour and images otherwise they fall asleep. When I was visiting my uncle, I found it really hard to take it all in, I then started associating the equipment to colours and then it became easier for me (being a child myself obviously aha) I then decided to use this going forward and use colours within my design whether that be for icons, background images whatever some format of colour so the audience can be interested at all times and engaged with what I am displaying.

My uncle told me that they visit a lot of schools, and cubs etc. The kids do not always listen and they want to make more awareness of what they do, so kids are aware of when to call fire fighters.

My design:

I want to create a school pack for fire fighters to give out to schools to understand what its like to be a fire fighter and what they do. Thats the main focus, Making awareness of the LFB. I want to create an advertising campaign for LFB for schools etc as a pack of information. I have not quite decided what the outcomes are yet but they will feature a magazine and some sort of flyer / hand out for the kids.

When I looked onto their website there was so much surrounding the London fire service which enabled people to understand them as a unit and the stories they encountered along the way. I also decided to analyse their website to get an understanding of the colours and information they portray.

the reason I wanted to analyse the website was to understand a bit more and to understand the colours, images and information that gets portrayed through the LFB so my magazine could then relate to that.

The first thing you see is the LFB logo and then follows the categories to visualise within the design. I decided to just analyse the front page just to get an understanding of the first set of visuals you see, the colours, the information and this would then allow me to design my magazine.

so the first thing is the image, the visual is of a fire fire fighter in his surroundings aiming to finishing his drills, or in action this picture allows you to associate with that. You have the L

The third set of photos I took were my best set of photos and ones that I felt really delivered a message through the photographs. These photos are under the subtitle of trucks and equipment used. Within the trucks there is various amount of equipment that links with the situation they will face – therefore the rescue truck will have rescue equipment for RTA’s and the fire truck will have equipment for fires. The images displayed were taken when I went to my uncles station, within the garage there was two trucks and we went round them both and he went through each equipment and different uses for the trucks and equipment. Therefore this is what these photos display. I got to hold equipment, use equipment and wear the uniform (there is a picture of me just do not want to showcase that haha)

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The second set of photos I am displaying are ones within the station. I think that it’s important to showcase the aspects outside of the trucks the fire the rescue etc and the more work based office work that goes along side being a fire fighter. My uncle through this trip allowed me to go inside his station and get a feel of what It could potentially be like in the day of a fire fighter and the routine that he takes.

Collection of images taken:

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There is not a large amount of imagery from this section but enough to get an understanding of what it’s like. Within the images taken, there are some of the uniform racks, which all have names above them where the fire suits sit. You have the night shift rooms, where all the workers sleep, they cannot wear eye masks or ear plugs for obvious reasons. The one thing that was interesting that I did not know before that fire fighters have to do at least 1 hour of gym a day and therefore this is displayed within the photographs as I thought it would be interesting to capture. There is also images of the lecture room located near the cafe.

These images will not display what it’s like to go out on rescue but showcase the daily life of being a fire fighter and the procedures and routine that comes along with it. I am unsure if I wold use this within the design as maybe its not as important in showing the worth of the service but undertaking research made it easier to understand the fire service.

This station allowed me to take so many photos equipment and area for my project. The station is Bexley health, this one was chosen purely because my uncle works here therefore was easy access for me to go take photographs.

When I arrived at the fire station, my uncle allowed us to go through the red doors where they kept the fire engines. They have two fire engines that are used for different things which were explained in the blog previous. One was for fires, and the other is for maintenance emergencies therefore they both have alternative equipment depending on the matter.

The first set of photos taken were photos that are from both these trucks, as they link to the videos I took. I took videos of my uncle explaining all the equipment as I then could remember but also I could display this to people and link the voice over notes with the image, which would benefit me when designing to magazines and portraying the right equipment.

Trucks / equipment photographs

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Above are a bunch of photos I had taken however not all of them just because there is so much. I will create a blog on the final pictures I decide to use and my top ones for each category. As you can see each photo displays parts of the truck and the different sorts of equipment that lies within each truck. My uncle is in some of the photos as he explained to me what they were, the purpose of them etc and I wanTed to understand my self therefore took a video for notes relating to these photos, which will appear in a blog post.

I could analyse each and everyone of these photos but that would take forever and when you look at the blogs you will notice one dedicated to recordings which link to all these photos. These photos are related to trucks and the equipment used within them. I learnt so much from this as I did not know a lot of the information I then found out. To generalise these facts, I narrowed down they key elements.

There are two trucks located within the station and others are kept at the back with BA equipment on them. (breathing apparatus) You have a fire truck, and a rescue truck. Rescue truck is used for RTA (rescue truck accidents) where as the fire incidents focus on obviously fire issues.

One of the imagery displayed is a service that helps the fire fighters when they are on calls. This red truck goes around providing coffee and supplies for the fire service.

I wanted to make 2 personas for this brief just so I knew where I was aiming towards on my designs. I use to always create mood boards but personally they do not work for me and just a bit of a waste of time; however with personas I am able to connect to a large audience age and design suited for them and this helps me a lot therefore for creative conscience I created 2 personas (I forgot to do this for Project X and that was purely because my group didn’t mention it and I was focused on completing final however I wish I did but I think I mentally do it now without even thinking, For CC I created three personas 1 being a young girl, one being a young boy, (in secondary school) and one being a fire fighter as I felt these are all the categories not one involved in the topic but who I am aiming towards.

girl

the reason I actually did a girl was due to ethics. I feel like its always good to educate boys and girls that no matter what you wanna do you can do it and oddest matter if it’s a ‘boys’ job or a ‘girls’ job. I think as the years go on we showcase everyone is equal therefore thats why I created this persona and also to allow people to understand some girls want to be fire fighters too.

boy persona:

I wrote this persona if I was a boy, which was so hard so I asked my brother but I just thought about what he would of said when he was a kid and went with that. I wanted to make a persona of a boy who didn’t know much about fire fighters only the common facts and then this would allow me to design aspects to educate boys (and girls) that there is more to being a fire fighter then putting out flames.

fire fighter perspective:

I always try and create a persona that sits with the main topic, therefore I went with my uncle and how he saw the fire service and how his day to day went and this would help me with the designs. I also do this because I never want to be patronising with my designs as I am not a fire fighter myself.

I felt that my group didn’t actually do a lot of research surrounding the game and the way in which we should design it. Jacob found a template and sort of went off that. Sam did a lot of research for the icons and without that research the entire design would not off really made sense. I wanted to create an entire blog for myself to undertake the research and what should included when designing a hospital game. I personally felt our group didn’t focus on a audience therefore I knew it would be for the canteen so younger audience so I wanted to know about colours etc.

layout research:

the first set of research I collected was a bunch of layout information and designs just to get an overall idea: I couldn’t actually find a lot of designs for hospitals but the ones I did collect showcased colours and sections that were involved in the hospital. This way I could portray an input within my designs to allow our designs to work and have the similar layout. Due to me not creating this I had the imput of adding colours

I made the question cards and this was my task – so along side with my design I decided to have a look at some fact cards and add them to a collective research. Here a collection of some information cards and what I noticed that the front of the cards had information and graphic design elements such as title and images to engage the reader and then on the other side its more simple but still displays a connection from the front to the back showing they are all part of the same design.

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From my previous project the target was ‘punctuality” and I agree sometimes I am late but I wanted to write a blog post to defend myself against any of this happening. I got told during project X I was unprofessional which isn’t true. I was late for a fe2w classes because of traffic yet I woke up everyday before 7, my group was awful at communication and it always seems to be me that copes the slack from it. Another incident happened where I got put on disciplinary for an action that was not my fault or to do with me./ I work extremely hard and make sure my graphic design is to point, I am professional and due to some lateness is not fair as there are plenty in the class who do not turn up or not bother. I am writing this to cover my back, and won’t let effect my grade as since level 3 I have worked extremely hard and yes I turned up a few moments late, but don’t most people?