Fire and Rescue NSW crews prepare for Road Crash Rescue Challenge - Dubbo

Published: 28 Apr 2022 01:00pm

It will be a case of hydraulic cutters at the ready this weekend when Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) takes on the State Emergency Service and other emergency agencies in the 2022 Road Crash Rescue Challenge at Dubbo.

The three-day event at the Dubbo Showgrounds pits crews of first responders against each other for the title of NSW Road Crash Rescue Champions.

Six FRNSW crews, from Forster, Berry, Wyong, Dubbo and Ulladulla Fire Stations and Region South, are competing in scenarios including a ‘Controlled Rescue’, ‘Entrapped Rescue’, ‘Trauma Challenge’, ‘CPR’ application and an ‘Industrial and “Domestic Rescue Challenge’.

While the rivalry is friendly, the crews take the work very seriously as they simulate cutting cars apart to rescue ‘trapped’ motorists and perfecting mock “firefighter down” situations.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the Road Crash Rescue Challenge is a great opportunity for emergency services crews to hone their skills.

“The Road Crash Rescue Challenge helps our world leading emergency services stay sharp, while learning new techniques to respond to life-threatening situations,” Ms Cooke said.

“The skills required to safely remove an injured person from a wrecked vehicle are highly specialised. It’s great to see our personnel able to practice in a competitive setting.”

Assistant FRNSW Commissioner Rob McNeil, said the Challenge allows the competing agencies to sharpen their skills for real-life emergencies.

“The selected crews learn a great deal from each other by completing in these events under pressure, with the clock ticking,” Asst Commissioner McNeil said.

“They’ll also receive advice from the best rescuers, paramedics, instructors and assessors that NSW can offer,” he added.

“These competitions often generate new ideas and concepts that we can test and put into action to save lives on our roads. They also allow our first responders to make long-lasting professional relationships that can prove invaluable at crash scenes.”

It’s the second year of the multi-agency challenge with additional championships planned for Australasian and International competitors.

Educational sessions and workshops are also conducted during the Challenge weekend, teaching rescuers about issues such as electrical safety, safe winching techniques and mental health.

The Road Crash Rescue Challenge runs from Friday 29 April to Sunday 1 May.

For footage of the Wyong Fire and Rescue crew training for the Challenge and an interview with its instructor, click this link:
https://vimeo.com/703627374/4e8f3132e2 [external link]

[ends]