FIRE engines will be taking on a new look to highlight Surrey firefighters’ role to respond to certain medical emergencies.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s 30 fire engines will display artwork about the lifesaving medical support and equipment crews can provide with nearly 440 firefighters now trained up for the trial scheme with South East Coast Ambulance Service. They have attended more than 2,500 medical emergencies including cardiac arrests, chest pains and seizures since all of the county’s fire tenders and other response vehicles began carrying defibrillators in September 2015.

The council’s cabinet associate for community safety services Kay Hammond, said: “The co-responding scheme is progressing well and the newly-decorated engines will raise public awareness of the vital support our firefighters can give.

“Working closely with the ambulance service means we can better serve our communities by giving the fastest possible response to people who are seriously ill.”