Ian Dunbar OBE has been appointed to the Editorial Advisory Board of MDM Publishing Ltd. He will assist the board and directors of MDM Publishing in attaining the very best editorial content across its stable of leading fire industry journals.
Ian Dunbar OBE joined Cheshire Fire Brigade in the UK at the age of seventeen and rose to the rank of Watch Commander. In 2004 became a specialist instructor focusing on vehicle extrication and trauma care. In order to expand his clinical understanding, in 2005 he became a faculty member of Anaesthesia Trauma and Critical Care (ATACC) and for the next 15 years delivered technical rescue and extrication skills to doctors and clinicians from all over the world.
Ian used his spare time to become a national assessor for the United Kingdom Rescue Organization and become qualified to assess in all disciplines i.e., Incident Command, Technical and Medical. He also qualified as an assessor for the (then) newly developed firefighter’s Trauma Challenge.
In 2010 he was chosen to assess at the World Rescue Challenge in Cork, Ireland. It was there he was approached by a hydraulic rescue tool manufacturer with a view to a full-time position as trainer/consultant.
In 2011 Ian made the difficult decision to leave the fire and rescue service after 20 years and relocate to the Netherlands. During the next six years, Ian became an in-demand educator and speaker. He consulted in more than one hundred countries around the world, wrote and published ‘Vehicle Extrication Techniques’ to critical acclaim, and was a regular contributor to global fire and rescue publications. He also contributed to the design of the most innovative rescue products brought to market.
In 2016 Ian was asked to join The TOCA Safety Team in the UK, his first voluntary role within motorsport. For the next four years, he was part of the team providing technical and medical rescue services for The British Touring Car Championship.
In 2017 Ian and his family returned to the UK full time and he provided training and consultancy services for a wide variety of clients in Europe, Asia and the USA including, category-one responders, the major manufacturers and suppliers of rescue equipment and started work on a significant project with Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
During this time, Ian identified the need to update the team approach to vehicle extrication, a thirty-year-old doctrine that had largely remained unchanged. The revisions, based on contemporary vehicle technologies and our improved understanding of the medical aspects led to the writing of ‘Vehicle Extrication – The Next Generation.’
Published in 2020, Ian’s second critically acclaimed book is based on this revised approach and considers processes such as ‘vehicle relocation’ which, with Ian’s cooperation, has now been adopted into (UK) National Operational Guidance and included in United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) educational curriculum.
In 2018 Ian was appointed associate tutor at The Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh and at the start of 2019 commenced a full-time role as Head of Curriculum for Firefighter Core Skills. During his time at FSC he redesigned the vehicle extrication and technical rescue course content and delivery.
At the end of 2019, Ian was appointed as a Rescue Specialist with FIA in Geneva, Switzerland and currently works within the Medical and Rescue department. In his current role, he is responsible for maintaining and developing emergency response strategies across FIA World Championships including Formula 1, World Endurance Championship, World Rally Championship and Formula E.
In June 2022 after more than 30 years in emergency response, Ian was awarded an O.B.E. by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for ‘Services to Technical Rescue, Vehicle Extrication and Prehospital Care’.
Ian lives in Annecy, France, and is married with two young daughters. In his spare time, he is a musician and had previously worked as a guitar technician for touring and recording artists such as UK rock Band ‘FM’, ex ‘Whitesnake’ guitarist Bernie Marsden and Bonnie Tyler.
Mark Seton Director at MDM Publishing Ltd commented “What can I say about this appointment? I have followed Ian’s career from his days at ATACC, not long after we launched International Fire Fighter. Ian has written more articles for us than I can remember and we always know his content will generate a lot of interest from our international audience. His expertise in vehicle extrication and trauma care is simply second to none and his guidance on this subject will ensure our readers have first-hand knowledge from a true expert in his field.”
Ian commented on the position, saying “It is a genuine honour and privilege to be invited to join the Editorial Advisory Board of MDM Publishing, and to be in such an esteemed and talented company. Once I have overcome my imposter syndrome, I hope I can add value to the group and help ensure quality content whilst simultaneously continuing to expand my own knowledge and understanding.”
