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Over the last few days the Australiasian Road Rescue Organisation (ARRO) which is a leading body in our region for the development of knowledge and skills in road crash rescue has been conducting it’s yearly road rescue challenge.

The challenge has been hosted in conjuction with the QFRS (Queensland Fire & Rescue Service) and sees 22 teams from across Australia and South East Asia testing their skills in a four day event held at the Gold Coast Parklands. These teams are made of up fire services, ambulance services and other emergency services competing against each other for the title of Australasian Road Rescue Champion.

The event includes a learning symposium on heavy vehicle rescue and several challenges in a range of road crash rescue scenarios. The challenge was also open to the public allowing residents of Queensland the opportunity to witness some of the work that road rescuers undertake. To this end there was also a variety of displays and activities for the public such as mini fire engine rides for the kids, a range of emergency servics vehicles to explore, a cinema tent and a few static displays.

QFRS had four teams competing this year, Cairns, Caloundra, Moranbah and Lowood. These teams were the winners of the RCR State Challenge 2008 held recently at Ipswich. Caloundra did well and took out 3rd place, with Morrinsville UFBA (New Zealand Fire Service) collecting 2nd place whilst the team from Bacchus Marsh SES (Victoria) claimed the title of winner for 2008.

Baccus Marsh and Morrinsville now have the opportunity to represent ARRO at the 2009 World Rescue Challenge to be hosted by the Cherry Valley FD, Rockford Illinois.

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Over the weekend the weekend the Queensland Fire & Rescue Service has held it’s yearly Road Crash Rescue (RCR) State Challenge. Road Crash Rescue is difficult and stressful work that firefighters and paramedics would happily live without, however these types of events are necessary for them to stay up-to-date with the latest motor vehicle technology and developments in rescue techniques.

This year since Jan alone, QFRS has attended over 3,400 road crashes and extricated 507 people who were trapped in their vehicles.

Although it is a crying shame looking a brand new Territory with 70km on the clock being torn to shreds, the RCR provided a very good opportunity for the firefighter and paramedic teams to work on more current vehicles with Ford Australia kindly donating a large number of vehicles for the event. During training more often than not the firefighters are working on older vehicles however with newer cars being involved in crashes there can be extra considerations to be made such as access to the patient. Eg improved strength of the pillars with materials such as carbon fiber may require more powerful hydraulic tools and altered technique.

The winning team for RCR State Challenge 2008 was Cairns. The teams from Cairns, Caloundra, Moranbah and Lowood teams now have the opportunity to compete in the Australasian Road Rescue Challenge 2008 to be held in June.

I don’t have very many photos of the day as I had the rural firefighter hat on helping out and for a part of the day playing patient with a nice head wound.. Cut myself shaving, Bumped into a door, yes yes by the end of the day I’d heard them all… Anyway gave me a good chance to give the helmet cam a run, one of the ARRO (Australian Road Rescue Organisation) assessors was kind enough to wear it for me, so I do have some interesting footage of myself being extricated from a vehicle..

The rurals play an important role in the event, spending a number of days prior rendering the vehicles safe by removing such things as batteries fuel tanks etc and preparing them for them for the position they will be in. By this I mean, when you see a car wrapped around a pole for example and the car is half caved in, that doesn’t happen because the car and the pole are impacted together, the damage to the car is done prior using heavy machinery, and then the vehicle and pole are placed together at the commencement of the scenario. Rural firefighters also operate forklifts, positioning the vehicles etc as required and also man the pit area cleaning up any debris and ensuring the area remains safe.

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The QFRS Regional Road Crash Rescue Challenge has been held at the Ipswich Showgrounds over the last couple of days. The challenge sees teams of firefighters and paramedics showcase their teamwork and dedication, testing their skills in Road Crash Rescue scenarios whilst competing for best time and technique.

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