Lonehill Fire and rescue to represent SA in World Emergency Extraction competition

Hanno van Loggerenberg, Rudy Nell and Dawie de Villiers of Lonehill fire station are leaving for Ireland on Wednesday September 1, 2010.
World class rescue teams compete annually in an event designed to challenge emergency service personnel and raise awareness of the global problem of road death and injury.

Up to 30 international teams participate in the challenge each year. Each team consists of six members, the team leader, a medic, two technical rescue personnel, one person responsible for operational support and a reservist.

All teams compete in three evolutions.
• Unlimited Challenge, where all types of rescue equipment can be used.
• Limited, which has an emphasis on small hand tools and does not permit the use of hydraulic rescue equipment.
• Rapid, which sees teams perform a rescue of a casualty whose condition has deteriorated.

A team of international assessors observe Incident Command and Management and Medical & Technical Rescue. Lonehill Fire Station has the distinct prestige and privilege of having three of its members as part of this team who will be representing South Africa. They will be competing from 2 - 5 September in some of the most gruelling and dangerous situations imaginable.

As Lonehill Residents, we all rely on these guys to help us out in times of trouble and distress, so the LRA agreed to sponsor the team’s shortfall of R15 000. "We wish them success and hope that they can return to SA with a trophy in their hands", say LRA.