The City of Cape Town’s vehicle extrication team, the Cape Town Destroyers, is flying to Spain this week to compete with other international teams in the World Rescue Challenge, which takes place from 16 to 21 October.
“The team consists of highly skilled extrication specialist firefighters, who are trained at rescuing victims from trapped motor vehicle accidents,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
“Often during horrific motor vehicle collisions where victims are trapped and getting them to hospital becomes critical, it is a race against time and every second counts.”
The Destroyers is the only South African team invited to compete in the event and have been training religiously throughout the year.
They were first asked to compete in 2016 and participated again in 2017, 2018, and 2019 before the competition was put on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Upon its return in 2022, the Destroyers once again took part and managed a top-ten placement.
“The nine-person team boasts 176 years of experience between them and while they’re stationed at different firehouses, they train together to ensure they can compete in the World Rescue Extrication Competition,” said Smith.
World Rescue Challenge format
The World Rescue Challenge involves the simulation of three possible rescue scenarios in three categories.
The scenarios are 25 minutes each, where there are multiple patients to extricate through complex techniques such as door and roof removals, while also rendering care for multiple patients that were involved in the hypothetical accident.
“The challenge will be tough as this is the stage for the world’s best rescuers. The team will be learning from the teams from the other countries and be exposed to new methods of working, new equipment on the market, and utilising these tools in the pits when doing the scenarios,” said Smith.
“Through exposure to new extrication techniques, it is another investment in knowledge and skills, which allows quicker extrication of trapped victims in horrific motor vehicle accidents.”
Upon their return, the Cape Town Destroyers will mentor the rest of the firefighters at their stations in the latest techniques for saving patients in emergency situations.
In turn, this will upskill the city’s dedicated Fire and Rescue Service workers and enable them to render a more clinical extrication rescue for victims trapped in numerous types of accidents.
“All firefighters are trained on motor vehicle extrication skills and it is through exposure to highly technical and specialised techniques that they gain a better understanding and skill set, which allows for a more effective extrication coupled with patient care,” said Smith.
“We wish the Cape Town Destroyers well and know they will make us proud.”
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