Company Announcement - We hope you are all psyched up and ready like we are for the event of the year that takes place in November, many of you having practiced for months to be at the top of your game for the challenges. Come stimulate mind and body at the event that we host just for you. Here is what you can expect from the training events this year. Please note that in order to compete in the respective challenges, the two-day symposiums prior to the event must be attended as this will be the theory part with the challenge the practical side of things.

The high angle rescue challenge
The focus of the event will be on skills development and enhancing the high angle rescuer’s ability to improvise in adverse conditions.

The high angle rescue challenge will comprise of a learning symposium, and three scenarios. Each team will compete in all events. There will be no final. The final tally of marks achieved for the skins event and the three scenarios completed will result in a final placing of teams, with an overall winner. Teams will draw their exercise slot for the first scenario at the team captains briefing. The challenge is not a competition. If you come to the challenge taking it so seriously that a) you have to ‘win ; b) you have to ‘cheat’; or c) you are paranoid that someone might copy what you do – then you have already lost! Yes, at the end of the event there will be a team deemed as "the winners". They will have won the competition part of the challenge. They will be the best team at handling the scenarios and the associated circumstances presented on the day. There will hopefully be a lot more real winners:

Those who learned something: whether it be from judges’ comments, mistakes, watching, talking or listening to others; and those who were able to show others something: whether it is an innovation of their own, or simply an inspiring demonstration of team work and preparation.

The challenge is to not only compete, but also to co-operate, share, and learn.
If you've learnt or taught, you've won!

The extrication challenge
Please note the difference to the rules this year:
• A team will consist of six (6) members:
o One member will be designated team captain/leader.
o One member will be designated team medic.
o A team member can only participate in the event, upon approval of a principle manager from the organisation they are representing.
• A letter and/or insurance certificate confirming adequate coverage of the team will be required with payment of the entry fee. If participants should be injured during the challenge, medical attention would be given but the organiser will not be held liable as it will be the responsibility of his employer and seen as Injury on Duty.

The three extrication challenges will be:
• Complex rescue: Sufficient space will need to be created for medical assessment and intervention, with the casualties release/packaging reflective to their mechanism of injury. Teams are expected to triage the casualties and identify the medical priority for extrication. To achieve success teams should work within the full three phases of vehicle extrication rescue to affect a thorough release and removal of both casualties.
• Limited rescue: Teams are expected to assess the casualty and identify the correct pathway for extrication, whilst recognizing the limitation of the tools available. To achieve success teams will need to work efficiently and manage all the resources at their disposal to complete extrication of all casualties within the available time frame.
• Medical emergency rescue (rapid): Teams are expected to recognise the immediate lifesaving needs of the casualty. To achieve success teams will need to demonstrate a balance between efficiency, safety and urgency to achieve the task within the prescribed time frame.

Scenarios
• The scenario challenges are based around simulated rescue scenarios or ‘evolutions’.
• Teams will be briefed on the actual scenarios for each evolution on the day.
• Times for completion of each evolution will be 45 minutes. There will be a maximum of two but preferably one evolution per team per day (depending on the amount of teams competing).
• The following are generic descriptions of the five possible evolutions (each team will only get three). Specific scenario details will be provided during the briefing by judges immediately prior to commencement of each team’s evolution.
• There will be intermediate and advanced categories and teams will have to provide all their own rescue, personal safety and emergency medical equipment.
• The maximum time period during which a team must perform a given exercise will be 45 minutes in duration. Except in the rapid evacuation scenario, there it will be only 30 minutes.
• The exercise time starts when a team enters the pit. As soon as the team enters the pit the scenario will be given to them (while the clock is running). The time ends either once the patient is placed in the area indicated by judges as the time-out location or at the end of the designated exercise time. The timekeeper by means of an audible signal will indicate time-out. Live patients will be used for the scenarios.

Emergency medical services (EMS) challenge
The challenge will be open to all approved Emergency Services providers, and agreed rescue-based organisations. Teams will consist of three members and all should have permission from their respective managers. Live casualties and mannequins will be used in the challenge and marks will be awarded on casualty handling. The team will be assessed on:
• Scene safety.
• Initial patient contact.
• Assessment of injuries and condition.
• Treatment of casualty.
• Patient handover.
Teams must bring their own PPE, including medical gloves and eye protection, as well as jump packs. A list of equipment will be made available at a later stage.

The firefighter challenge
Many of you have probably competed in this challenge before as hosted by SA Emergency Care, so why not come and improve your time.
• Do a stair climb of some four storeys up a makeshift obstacle, while carrying a hose;
• Hoist a 21kg donut pack up the tower, and then run down, not missing one step;
• Hit a Keizer (hammer machine) with a 75kg slide, with a hammer;
• Make your way around a series of cones;
• Grab and run with a fully charged 32mm hose through a gate to spray down a target; and
• And then finally drag an 80kg dummy dubbed Rescue Randy over 30m to the finish line.

Whether you have or have not competed in these challenges before, this opportunity to have all the challenges together under one roof only comes around every two years so grab the opportunity, get your gear, and enter now!

PIER training event
The PIER training event and challenge will entail a theory session that will include fire and safety educator training with basic firefighting skills and first aid. The practical training will take place at one of the Ekurhuleni fire stations that will be announced. All attendees will be trained on how to educate communities on:
• Safe cooking.
• Lighting and dangers.
• Keeping warm without adding to the fire risk.
• Basic firefighting skills.

All EMS and disaster management personnel are invited to attend as well as any prospective reserve force members from the communities.