West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) announced that it will be hosting two realistic and interactive road traffic collision (RTC) rescue challenges at this year’s Emergency Services Show.
Extrication Challenge
Taking place at the NEC, National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, United Kingdom from 18 to 19 September, 2019, the Extrication and First Aid & Trauma Challenges will provide an arena for some of the UK’s best rescue personnel to come together and develop their proficiency levels in all areas of RTC rescue.
On both days of the show, which is free to attend, competing teams from across the country will perform extrications from a series of realistic RTC scenarios featuring heavy and complex damage. Volunteer members of the WMFS’s Casualty Simulation Group will play the roles of casualties, complete with make-up and prosthetics.
First Aid & Trauma Challenge
Teams will have 20 minutes from their ‘arrival’ at these simulated incidents to complete as much of the scenario as is safely possible. The action will be captured from a variety of camera angles and broadcast live to a large display screen.
Both challenges will be judged by the United Kingdom Rescue Organization (UKRO)
In the First Aid & Trauma Challenge, teams of two will experience visual and audio inputs from a trauma scenario that has been set up and filmed especially, in an ‘immersive’ tent. They’ll have 10 minutes to assess, treat, ‘package’ and handover the patient to a medic.
United Kingdom Rescue Organization to judge challenges
Both challenges will be judged by the United Kingdom Rescue Organization (UKRO) who will ensure that best safe working practices are promoted in the areas of incident command and control, safety and scene assessment, extrication, professional pre-hospital care and expert use of rescue equipment.
Various national fire and rescue service crews will compete aiming to become the highest qualifying regional team. These top teams then go on to compete in national and international championships.
Extrication and First Aid & Trauma Challenges
Watch Commander Martin McManus of West Midlands Fire Service said “UK fire and rescue services strive to deliver the ‘gold standard’. They respond every year to thousands of incidents, many of which are extremely challenging and technical. As vehicle design and technology develop at pace, it’s essential that our crews train regularly and keep on top of these developments so they can respond quickly, safely and professionally when they’re called.”
The Extrication and First Aid & Trauma Challenges promise to be highly interactive and immersive experiences for participants and show visitors alike. The Emergency Services Show also offers a program of free CPD seminars covering Lessons Learnt, Health & Wellbeing, Emerging Technologies and IT, while the College of Paramedics will host its well-attended CPD training sessions on both days of the event.
The Emergency Services Show
The Emergency Services Show is the UK’s largest event for the emergency services
With over 450 exhibiting companies, The Emergency Services Show is the UK’s largest event for the emergency services and offers many opportunities to get hands-on with the latest kit and simulation technology.
It is supported by the Airport Fire Officers Association, British Fire Services Association, Fire Industry Association, FIRE AID and International Development, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, Institution of Fire Engineers, JESIP, The Fire Fighters Charity, the National Fire Chiefs Council and UKRO.
Exhibitions and Seminars
All aspects of The Emergency Services Show, including the exhibition, seminars and challenges are free to attend, as is the parking facility at the venue of the event, NEC, National Exhibition Centre Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
