FOI Request 2229

Subject: Rescue Incidents Involving Bariatric Assistance and the Cost of Bariatric Equipment

Status: Complete

Date received: September 2025

Question Asked:

The purpose of this request is to gather data on the costs of bariatric equipment and bariatric rescues for the previous six calendar years.

Specifically, I am seeking anonymised data on the following from January 2020 to September 2025:

Rescue Incidents Involving Bariatric Assistance

1. The number of incidents attended by your service where bariatric equipment was required (i.e., incidents involving the movement, evacuation or rescue of obese individuals)

2. The total cost incurred for each incident and the approximate duration of the rescue (including staff hours, equipment usage, etc).

Bariatric Equipment and Fleet Expenditure

3. The total amount spent on bariatric rescue equipment (e.g. stretchers, evacuation chairs, lifting/hoisting equipment, cranes, specialist vehicles, or similar - including the cost of improving, maintaining or upgrading existing equipment e.g. vehicle modifications).

Our Response:

Please see our response to your Freedom of Information Request.

Rescue Incidents Involving Bariatric Assistance

1. The number of incidents attended by your service where bariatric equipment was required (i.e., incidents involving the movement, evacuation or rescue of obese individuals)

Please find below the data requested. The information has been taken from the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Incident Recording System and includes all incidents which have been recorded as a Special Service call with a reason of Bariatric person (over weight).

foi_2229_data.pdf

2. The total cost incurred for each incident and the approximate duration of the rescue (including staff hours, equipment usage, etc).

Due to the unique circumstances of each incident, we cannot provide costs incurred by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

For future reference, Fire and Rescue Service data can be found on the Home Office website at the link below:

Fire statistics data tables - GOV.UK

Data related to Bariatric Incidents can be found here:

Fire statistics incident level datasets - GOV.UK

Bariatric Equipment and Fleet Expenditure

3. The total amount spent on bariatric rescue equipment (e.g. stretchers, evacuation chairs, lifting/hoisting equipment, cranes, specialist vehicles, or similar - including the cost of improving, maintaining or upgrading existing equipment e.g. vehicle modifications).

Information Not Held

Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO