City of Cape Town Link

City’s specialist team competes on international stage

The event has two components: the aim of the trauma challenge is to assist in the development of trauma related skills of firefighters and rescue workers to enable them to deal successfully with the vast range of casualty centered incidents, while the goal of a rescue/extrication challenge is to save the casualties out of vehicles involved in a collision. 'The City's Fire & Rescue Service responded to 3 516 motor vehicle accidents during the last financial year and the extrication team is often called upon to help free victims from life-threatening scenes. Currently the members from this team come from various stations across the city and perform extrications and rescue as part of daily call outs,' said Alderman JP Smith, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security. <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/team1.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:804px;" /> </figure>The nine person team, who are the current national champions, boasts 176 years of experience between them and while they're stationed at different fire stations, they often respond as a team to accidents where victims are trapped.During the last week before the team jetted off, they prepared for the challenge and worked through the different scenarios they will be judged on.'Our team is on par with the best in the world, and every challenge in this competition gives them the opportunity to learn new extrication techniques, the stabilisation of vehicles, and patient care. They return with skills and knowledge to improve service delivery. <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/team%202ss.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /> </figure>'The extrication of victims from vehicle accidents has become one of the most important life-saving functions and rescuers are responsible for setting up a safe working area, evaluating possible hazards, and getting those trapped out quickly. Some of the team members have faced harrowing circumstances in having to extricate loved ones, but their dedication and commitment is commended,' added Alderman Smith.The team will return to Cape Town on 17 September and the members are:<ul><li>Incident Commander – Station Commander Morne Haskell stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Parow</li><li>Technician – Station Commander Warren Sam ( Interim Team Manager ) stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Belhar</li><li>Technician – Station Commander Virgel Cloete stationed at Strand Fire Station, resides in Strand </li><li>Technician – Senior Firefighter Alvin Kaliza stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Belhar</li><li>Medic – Senior Firefighter Michael Gardiner stationed at Strand Fire Station, resides in Strand</li><li>Medic – Firefighter Robert Stamatiadis stationed at Lakeside, resides in Diep River </li><li>Reserve Technician – Firefighter Gershwin Cloete stationed at Macassar, resides in Somerset West </li><li>Reserve Medic – Firefighter Keenan Walters stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Belhar </li><li>Team Manager – District Head Operations Arlene Wehr, could not accompany the team due to medical reasons </li></ul> <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> <img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/teamss.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure>End

2022-09-08T22:00:00Z

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