The City of Cape Town’s vehicle extrication team within the Fire & Rescue Service, the Cape Town Destroyers, are jetting off to Lanzarote in Spain, where they will compete with other international teams in the World Rescue Challenge, which takes place from 16 to 21 October.

Local vehicle extrication team to compete internationally

The Cape Town Destroyers are the only South African team invited to compete in the event and have been training throughout the year. This included simulating possible scenarios in three categories.

There are three scenarios of 25 minutes each, with multiple patients to extricate while also rendering patient care.

The Cape Town Destroyers jetting off soon

The team is using the World Rescue format for the scenarios and using more complex training scenarios with door and roof removals; as well as patient care for multiple patients in conjunction with extricating other patients.

‘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.

He says often during horrific motor vehicle collisions, victims are trapped and getting them to the hospital becomes critical.

“It’s a race against time and every second counts.”

 

Smith elaborated that exposure to new extrication techniques is another investment in knowledge and skills. This allows for quicker extrication of trapped victims in horrific motor vehicle accidents.

Nine-person team boasts 176 years of experience

The 9-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.

MORE ABOUT: World Rescue Challenge

The team will return and take on the role of trainer and mentor to the rest of the firefighters in the latest techniques and this allows the Service to upskill all its firefighters to render a more clinical extrication rescue to trapped victims.

World Rescue Extrication Competition

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.

‘With more vehicles on our roads, motorists are exposed daily to the possibility of being involved in an accident. Should this happen, rest assured, there is a Fire & Rescue Service that can deal with such incidents’

The team members are:

• Incident Commander – Station Commander Morne Haskell stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Parow
• Technician – Station Commander Warren Sam stationed at Goodwood Fire Station,  resides in Belhar
• Technician – Station Commander Virgel Cloete stationed at Strand Fire Station, resides in Strand
• Reserve Technician – Senior Firefighter Alvin  Kaliza  stationed at Goodwood Fire Station, resides in Belhar
• Technician – Senior Firefighter Michael Gardiner stationed at Strand Fire Station, resides in Strand

• Reserve Medic – Firefighter Robert Stamatiadis stationed at Lakeside, resides in Diep River
• Main medic – Firefighter Gershwin Cloete stationed at Sir Lowry’s Pass Fire Station, resides in Somerset West
• Medic–Firefighter Keenan Walters stationed at Milnerton Fire Station, resides in Belhar
• Team Manager – District Head Operations Arlene Wehr

Smith has wished the Cape Town Destroyers well on taking part in the competition. He says he knows, they will make citizens proud.

THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY THE MEDIA DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN