Do you have the Challenge Bug?
I have just returned from the largest fire and rescue exhibition in the world: Interschutz 2015 in Hannover, Germany.
Along with a team from Holmatro we staged an International Extrication Challenge. This was a first for us and I am happy to report that it was a huge success and made an excellent learning environment for all concerned. I have previously blogged about my great admiration for the extrication challenge concept and those teams who compete, as well as the assessors and crew who make events like this happen. Our event at Interschutz has only served to reinforce my feeling.
No less than 29 teams from 16 countries travelled to Germany to display their technical and medical extrication skills to the world (as we had a live stream!) and each and every person gave it 100%. We were able to provide brand new vehicles (courtesy of OPEL and Renault) which added an extra dimension and made it a little more challenging.
In addition to the Challenge we also invited an expert from Opel who spoke to the teams regarding new car construction. Having such immediate contact with new car manufacturers is not an everyday opportunity and the participating teams made the most of this.
For me, the most satisfying element of the week was to see teams who had NEVER competed before. Although all of these rescuers are professionals and perform technical rescue as part of their job, for many this was their first experience of competing in a Challenge. It really is a big deal to display your skills in front of 300 people who stood watching (most of them your professional peers) and an online audience of more than 15,000 people, watching the event through a live stream connection.
The live stream was recorded, so if you go to the Holmatro Extrication Challenge 2015 Playlist on our YouTube Channel, each team's extrication scenario can be viewed in high definition and from multiple camera angles. This serves as an excellent reference for rescuers. Just like this one:
Each and every team, whether new to this kind of experience or not, accepted the Challenge with great enthusiasm, humour and professionalism. Many new teams have told us that they are very keen to repeat their experience: they have the Challenge Bug, which is fantastic.
I would urge anyone who is thinking of competing in an Extrication Challenge to put a team together and go for it. Please consult the website of the World Rescue Organisation for upcoming events in your neighbourhood!
Keep an eye out for the next one, and give it a go!
As always I value your feedback.
Ian Dunbar