11 of our amputees are taking part in training ready for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics.

 Jack Eyers, one of our amputees, was interviewed by Channel 4 and others are shown here whilst training.

 The press conference took place on 2^nd May at Circus Space in London.

 http://www.channel4.com/news/enlightenment-theme-for-london-paralympics

 “Fantastic”, “wicked”, “inspiring”, “lovely atmosphere” and “a real eye opener” were some of the comments made by new recruits on a recent Amputees in Action Casualty Simulation Induction weekend.

 Eleven aspiring amputee actors and five Special Effects (SFX) artists attended the two-day course, held between March 24-25 in Oxenwood, Wiltshire. The action-packed induction featured role-play workshops (pictured) and presentations by John Pickup (Director) and Sean Whittle (HR Consultant) about the agency’s services and future plans.  Stuart Penn led the training with topic specifics from Sara Ferris (Sfx), and Richard Hunt (Administration).  Karl Ives joined Stuart and Richard by supporting the practical elements on the 25^th March 2012.

 Guest speakers from the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and a recently retired serviceman from the RAF Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) provided valuable insight into their work and how Amputees in Action services enhance the delivery of their training. 

 Sean Whittle, Managing Director of HR and Business Solutions Ltd, commented:-

 “Having worked for over 22 years in a Corporate environment I can hand on heart say it was one of the best induction courses I have ever attended.

 The weekend was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Whilst fairly full on it was run very professionally by not only John, Kim and Kelly, but others who have been part of the Amputees in Action journey over the last few years. It combined a clear message with subtle humour, fun and most importantly a clear understanding of where John and Kim are taking this unique business.

 The attendees were a mixed group from various walks of life from aspiring actors to dedicated special affect artists. Everyone threw themselves (in some cases quite literally) into all the presentations and exercises. I came away not only humbled by those who attended, realising Amputees in Action is giving them a very clear purpose and an actual career path which I am sure many thought they would never have.”

Both of the accreditations, which were made by the independent certification body QAS International Ltd, required Amputees in Action to demonstrate that their documented procedures and manuals, as well as their operating practices, meet internationally accepted standards.

ISO 14001, established by the International Organisation for Standardisation, recognises the actions taken by responsible businesses in establishing environmental management systems. BS OHSAS 18001, established by the UK’s national standards body BSI, is awarded to organisations that have taken proactive measures to reduce health and safety risks in the working environment to protect employees, customers and the general public.

Speaking of the awards, founder and Managing Director of Amputees in Action John Pickup commented: “Earning these accreditations is a very real demonstration of just how seriously we take our responsibilities as a business. We want to do the best by our actors and artists, our staff and our clients, and we want to make sure we do our bit in looking after the environment.”    

Amputees in Action provide the UK’s largest directory of fully trained professional amputee actors both for the film and screen industries and for emergency and military services training simulations, both at home and internationally. Using their personal trauma experiences to portray a realism that is second to none, the actors are supported by a team of special effects (SFX) make-up, moulage and prosthetic artists employing cutting edge technology to enhance and extend the appearance and function of limb-loss scenarios.

Operating independently, Amputees in Action provide the UK’s largest directory of fully trained professional amputee actors both for the film and screen industries and for emergency and military services training simulations, both at home and internationally. Using their personal trauma experiences to portray a realism that is second to none, the actors are supported by a team of special effects (SFX) make-up, moulage and prosthetic artists employing cutting edge technology to enhance and extend the appearance and function of limb-loss scenarios.

Now, with some 220 Trauma Casualty Amputees (TCAs) on their books and a growing demand for their specialist skills and experience, there is a real need to ensure that the agency itself is fully prepared to continue providing the very best service.

An experienced Senior HR professional, with a track record of leading successful, strategic initiatives across the range of HR functions, Sean is not only well qualified for his new role but keenly anticipating the opportunity:

 “I am delighted to be supporting Amputees in Action going forward.  They are a highly professional and dynamic organisation with the best interests of both their clients and contractors firmly in mind at all times. I’m looking forward to applying my understanding of the business role of HR to helping them build on the first class service they already provide.”

Following their successful appearance at last year’s Emergency Services Show, Amputees in Action Ltd will again be hosting an exhibition stand and giving two live demonstrations a day at this year’s event, being held on the 23rd and 24th November at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.

Making full use of dramatic effects and make-up, the Amputees in Action team will be showing just how effectively they can add a heightened level of realism to the training of emergency response teams. The first agency to promote the services of amputees with real acting skills, Amputees in Action add a shock factor to simulations designed for all aspects of medical and military training, creating a level of authenticity that leaves trainees far better prepared to deal with real life situations and save lives.

The original inspiration for the agency came when John Pickup, now the Managing Director, met other amputees whilst filming for ‘Saving Private Ryan’. John and the film’s stunt crew saw the real potential in using amputees to add a new level of realism. After working on several more high profile movies, and meeting up with the same individuals, John turned the fledgling idea into reality and launched Amputees in Action Ltd in 2004.

Today, the agency has some 240 amputees on its books and, collectively, they now have many years’ experience contributing to specialist action scenes and working as film and television extras.

It was in 2005 that the agency began working in the defence sector after it was realised how his agency’s actors could benefit medics training for the field hospital. With the introduction of a dedicated special effects team and through the skill of the actors, training scenarios are made more shocking and more immediate, enabling personnel to practice medical drills in the most authentic way possible.  Success in this area led John to further extend the power of heightened realism to training exercises for the emergency services.

As John says:

“We’ll probably shock some of the people who come along to the Emergency Services Show. But we make no apologies for that. A lot of the real life situations that emergency services personnel have to deal with are shocking. People do lose limbs. So wherever we can help to prepare those dedicated individuals who are willing to work in the emergency arena – and we know we can – we’re ready and we’re on call.”

The first Emergency Services Show was launched in response to the introduction of the Civil Contingencies Act in 2004. The plan was to create a unique event to promote multi-agency collaboration across all aspects of emergency service provision – from strategic planners and first responders to the manufacturers and suppliers of equipment used by the professionals.

Last year’s event attracted some 380 exhibitors and over 4000 visitors and the 2011 show – the sixth of its kind – promises to be even better. Providing free access to the latest technology, ideas and initiatives available to enhance public safety, protect the environment and safeguard the Critical National Infrastructure, the show will offer everyone involved in emergency services the chance to network with like-minded people and share best-practice.

Amputees in Action, the country’s leading independent provider of fully trained amputee actors, is delighted to be sponsoring and exhibiting at the UK’s biggest and most prestigious firefighter event – UK Rescue Challenge London 2011.

Being held on Friday 23 September and Saturday 24 September 2011 at the award-winning Excel centre in London’s Docklands, the Challenge will feature firefighters from brigades across the country showcasing their skills and equipment in four rescue disciplines, including Trauma – the treatment of casualties before the arrival of medics.

And when it comes to preparing emergency services personnel for dealing with trauma victims, nobody can do it with more shocking realism than the actors from Amputees in Action. Drawing on their own personal trauma experiences and on their training in theatrical techniques and medical procedures, they are supported by a team of special effects (SFX) make-up, moulage and prosthetic artists who use cutting edge technology to enhance and extend the appearance and function of highly graphic limb-loss scenarios.

Amputees in Action was founded in 2004 by the current CEO, John Pickup. Having lost his right arm after a motorbike accident at the age of 17, John first got the idea for the agency whilst working on the set of “Saving Private Ryan”. But it was to be another few years before he actually founded the company with two other amputees whom he met on various sets.

Starting out as an agency providing extras for film and TV work – still one of the key areas of their business – Amputees in Action realised that the expertise they and their actors were developing could be applied to the training of people involved in saving lives. And it wasn’t long before it became clear that the use of trauma amputees in simulations was significantly improving the performance of emergency services and military personnel dealing with serious trauma incidents.

With their ability to remain in character throughout, the Amputees in Action actors quickly proved that they could create and maintain such a sense of adrenalin-raising realism that critical, life-saving procedures became instinctive to the trainees.

Commenting on the demonstrations they will be giving at UK Rescue Challenge London 2011, John Pickup commented:

“We’re really looking forward to being there with the brave men and women of fire brigades from across the country .We know that our demonstrations can be truly shocking experiences. But we make no apologies for that, because we also know just how much the realism we bring to training scenarios can help prepare people for dealing with real-life trauma incidents.”

Peter Dean of the London Fire Brigade added:

“We’re delighted to have Amputees in Action as one of our sponsors and exhibitors. It’s great to see people who have suffered from trauma injuries themselves working so professionally to help firefighters prepare themselves for the kinds of serious medical situations they have to face these days.”

UK Rescue Challenge London 2011, visit http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/UKRescueChallenge2011.asp

For more information please contact:

Amputees in Action Press Office: Singleton PR

+44 (0)844 822 1658

info@singletonpr.com

Being held on Friday 23 September and Saturday 24 September 2011 at the award-winning Excel centre in London’s Docklands, the Challenge will feature firefighters from brigades across the country showcasing their skills and equipment in four rescue disciplines, including Trauma – the treatment of casualties before the arrival of medics.

And when it comes to preparing emergency services personnel for dealing with trauma victims, nobody can do it with more shocking realism than the actors from Amputees in Action. Drawing on their own personal trauma experiences and on their training in theatrical techniques and medical procedures, they are supported by a team of special effects (SFX) make-up, moulage and prosthetic artists who use cutting edge technology to enhance and extend the appearance and function of highly graphic limb-loss scenarios.

Amputees in Action was founded in 2004 by the current CEO, John Pickup. Having lost his right arm after a motorbike accident at the age of 17, John first got the idea for the agency whilst working on the set of “Saving Private Ryan”. But it was to be another few years before he actually founded the company with two other amputees whom he met on various sets.

Starting out as an agency providing extras for film and TV work – still one of the key areas of their business – Amputees in Action realised that the expertise they and their actors were developing could be applied to the training of people involved in saving lives. And it wasn’t long before it became clear that the use of trauma amputees in simulations was significantly improving the performance of emergency services and military personnel dealing with serious trauma incidents.

With their ability to remain in character throughout, the Amputees in Action actors quickly proved that they could create and maintain such a sense of adrenalin-raising realism that critical, life-saving procedures became instinctive to the trainees.

Commenting on the demonstrations they will be giving at UK Rescue Challenge London 2011, John Pickup commented:

“We’re really looking forward to being there with the brave men and women of fire brigades from across the country .We know that our demonstrations can be truly shocking experiences. But we make no apologies for that, because we also know just how much the realism we bring to training scenarios can help prepare people for dealing with real-life trauma incidents.”

Peter Dean of the London Fire Brigade added:

“We’re delighted to have Amputees in Action as one of our sponsors and exhibitors. It’s great to see people who have suffered from trauma injuries themselves working so professionally to help firefighters prepare themselves for the kinds of serious medical situations they have to face these days.”

Amputees in Action joined other exhibitors for the launch of the new dedicated Medical Zone at the 2011 Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition (www.dsei.co.uk).

The DSEi Medical Zone was a brand-new feature designed to give the specially invited international delegations, plus the wider military and industry audience, the chance to see medical equipment and services, with a range of demonstrations and offerings in a special area on the show floor.

It was supported by a seminar briefing given on Wednesday 14 September by Assistant Chief of the UK Defence Staff (Health) and Chief Naval Medical Officer, Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis, who was joined by a representative from the Red Cross to offer an expert overview of developments in operational healthcare and highlight its campaign ‘Doctors in Danger’.

This year’s DSEi exhibition, which played host to the world’s largest display of land, sea and air applications of defence and security products and technologies, has confirmed its attendance figure this year as 29,112, an increase of 16 percent on the previous edition in 2009. The exhibition featured 1,391 exhibiting companies representing 46 countries and included 30 national pavilions making this the largest DSEi ever.

Many DSEi delegates, including Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis and UK Member of Parliament Colonel Bob Stewart, stopped to admire the shockingly effective drama of the Amputees in Action team, as they demonstrated highly realistic special effects and make-up.

Amputees in Action’s contribution to the success of the new Medical Zone at DSEi was to highlight the importance of realism in the training of emergency response teams. The agency, which pioneered the use of amputee actors in both live action and video training scenarios, performed graphic presentations, re-creating situations which medical and military personnel could expect to encounter.