Five teams from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) are gearing up to participate in the State Road Crash Rescue Challenge at Coffs Harbor on the north coast.
Scheduled for May 6 and 7, the event will see FRNSW crews from Dubbo, Wyong, Ulladulla, and Regions South and North face off against teams from the State Emergency Service (SES), the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA), and Victoria’s Country Fire Authority (CFA) at the Coffs Harbour International Stadium.
Simulated Rescue Competitions
Participants will tackle various simulated rescue scenarios, featuring 55 vehicles prepared by being crushed with an excavator. Each six-member team has a 30-minute window to complete tasks under the scrutiny of assessors, examining their leadership, technical skills, and medical proficiency.
These exercises include two primary car crash simulations in addition to a 'trauma challenge', a 'first aid' emergency, an 'industrial/domestic' rescue simulation, and a CPR response.
Enhancing Road Rescue Skills
Inaugurated three years ago, the competition aims to enable agencies to refine their road rescue capabilities and share relevant techniques across organizations. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations at FRNSW, Cheryl Steer, highlights that the weekend will be packed with activities that are both educational and entertaining.
“When you haven’t seen this sort of activity up close, it’s just great to be able to just get in there and have a look at the equipment and watch how the teams work together to safely cut the cars up,” Assistant Commissioner Steer remarked.
How First Responders Manage Crash Scenes?
A vital part of the event's allure lies in offering the public insight into the functions of first responders at crash sites, as well as showcasing life-saving tools used during rescues. A community engagement event will also occur on Saturday, featuring exhibitions from FRNSW, the Rural Fire Service (RFS), SES, VRA, and Marine Rescue.
Members of the public are invited to attend, with doors opening at 7:30 AM on both days at the International Stadium in Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbor.
Five teams of firefighters will represent Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) in a multi-agency State Road Crash Rescue Challenge next month at Coffs Harbor on the state’s north coast.
The FRNSW crews from Dubbo, Wyong, Ulladulla, ‘Region South’ and ‘Region North’ will compete against eight teams from the State Emergency Service (SES), two from the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) and one from Victoria’s Country Fire Authority (CFA) in a series of events being held over Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May at the Coffs Harbor International Stadium.
Simulated rescue competitions
Challenge organizers have gathered 55 cars to be crushed by an excavator to replicate different car crash scenarios. The vehicles will then be cut apart in simulated rescue competitions.
According to the competition rules, each rescue crew of six first responders has just 30 minutes to carry out its tasks under the watchful eye of competition assessors, judging the teams’ direction, technical competency and medical know-how.
Road rescue skills
The annual competition, now in its third year, was created to provide corps with an opportunity
In addition to two main car crash events, the teams will also compete in a ‘trauma challenge,’ a ‘first aid’ emergency, an ‘industrial/domestic’ rescue simulation, and a CPR response.
The annual competition, now in its third year, was created to provide organizations with an opportunity to maintain their road rescue skills and encourage cross-referencing of related information and techniques.
How first responders deal with car crashes
FRNSW Assistant Commissioner – Regional Operations, Cheryl Steer, said there will be plenty going on over the weekend to entertain the public.
“When you haven’t seen this sort of activity up close, it’s just great to be able to just get in there and have a look at the equipment and watch how the teams work together to safely cut the cars up,” said Assistant Commissioner, Cheryl Steer.
She adds, “It’s a real eye-opener as well…you don’t normally get to see how first responders deal with car crashes…and how they use the tools carried on the trucks to save lives."
Rural Fire Service
There will also be a community engagement event on Saturday with displays from FRNSW, the Rural Fire Service (RFS), SES, VRA, and Marine Rescue. The public is encouraged to attend the event.
Doors open at 7.30 am on both days at the International Stadium in Stadium Drive, Coffs Harbor.
