Following a highly creditable second place at the national RTC competition, hosted by Lincolnshire in 2012, Greater Manchester Fire Services’ Ashton / Moss RTC team were selected to represent the UK. Fire service at international level against the best from around the world in the WRO (World Rescue Organisation) Competition. This would be held in Clearwater, Florida in the United States in October 2013.

Following the 2013 national competition held in Liverpool where the team achieved 6th place out of 50 UK teams a new training regime was planned.

The WRO event has a few slight but significant changes compared to the UKRO competitions including various scenarios which the team had not trained for.

Usually within an UKRO event 2 x scenarios are used;

1. 20 minute unlimited run off with no limit on tool selection with one casualty.
2. 30 minute unlimited tool run off with two casualties, one of which will be time critical.
(Unlimited tools = hydraulic cutting equipment and small tools i.e. reciprocating saws and other battery powered tools)

WRO event has 3 x scenarios:

1. 10 minute rapid with unlimited tools with one time critical casualty.
2. 20 minute limited tools (no hydraulic cutting equipment allowed) one live casualty and the possibility of a dummy simulating a deceased passenger which would have to be dealt with appropriately.
3. 30 minute unlimited tool run off with two casualties, one of which will be time critical.

This represents a substantial change in the team’s tactics with only four months to adjust.

Following a 20 hour journey we all tried to adjust to the time difference and get used to the Florida heat – something that could cause problems when drilling in full fire gear. Our first run off would be a 20 minute limited tool extrication – one that we have only trained for over the last few months. As predicted the heat can cause dehydration issues when dressed in overalls, boots, helmets, dust masks and two pairs of gloves (one latex for casualty handling). Potential problems had to be managed from ensuring a high fluid intake to having to put talcum powder on your hands to get your gloves on because of the sweat.

The first scenario as to be expected is nothing short of challenging. A car placed on a concrete barrier with its front end seven feet up in the air, the casualty sat in the driver’s seat (approx. 5 feet off the ground) and a dummy in the rear seat simulating a deceased casualty.

Each team was transported to their scenario in a fire truck to ensure no team member sees the drill beforehand. On arrival it was immediately apparent that the drill would be a difficult one but it is the World event after all. Whilst Ian Melville (The Teams Officer in Charge) did his 360 risk assessment of the mock incident he relayed back to us that there was in fact a telegraph pole through the windscreen of the vehicle too – just to add an extra thought process. Throughout the next 20 minutes the team worked hard carrying out Ian’s plan to stabilise the vehicle and gain access to the casualty. This was followed by removing the deceased casualty from the back seats and removing the telegraph pole by the Technical team of three Tom Weate, Tom Hague and Kirpal Bangor (better known as Pali).

We progressed to remove the roof with reciprocating saws and small tools as no hydraulics where allowed in this run off gaining the important level of handing control of the extraction to Jonny Ward (our team medic) just as the 20 minute whistle went to signify that was the end of the time limit.
Feeling we had progressed fairly well considering the amount of work we had to achieve in a short period of time we inspected our work and wiped buckets of sweat from our fore heads and went for our debriefing from the three judges.
The judges gave us various bits of feedback from the exercise including “ A thorough overall performance by the whole team communicating well “ and “ That’s the fasted I’ve ever seen a car stabilised in that position… 28 seconds it took you well done!!!! “ which we felt fairly happy with…

The following Day we had our next scenario which was the 10 minute rapid extrication. Again nothing straight forward – a car on its roof positioned on another concrete barrier and surprise, surprise another telegraph pole involved too!!!

This was a more dynamic run off with the team working hard within a very tight time frame. Using various glass management techniques, we effectively gained access for our second medic Mark Palin to gain the maximum available marks for the team. Again time got the better of us and as we were just about to present the board to bring the casualty out the whistle ended the session. Following a respectful de-brief from the Judges we had a day’s down time to reflect on our performance so far and to get ourselves mentally prepared for the last day of competition.

On the Saturday we woke to find some good old British weather had followed us to Florida. A cool rain filled day was in front of us which to be honest was a welcome change from hot sweaty conditions. We went into the final run knowing that this one was our strongest of all three, we have done the complex 30 minute scenario quite a few times in competitions over the last few years and we always work the exercise to a high standard. The team faced a large SUV on its side with heavy damage and concrete barriers blocking rear and side entry points as well as another vehicle T-boned into the back of the car.

This run off proved no different to the others as more props and obstacles where in the team’s way which had to be overcome and worked around. Ian’s dynamic plan enabled us to extricate the time critical patient within 12 minutes making room for the technical team to evaluate the second more entrapped casualty. On getting into the vehicle it was ascertained that the casualty had his full arm trapped down the side of his seat, preventing extrication. Team members worked quickly and efficiently using hydraulic spreaders. Very close communication was required between the medics Jonny and Mark and the tool operators. The seat was moved off the ‘B’ post thus removing the entrapment. Whilst Tom Weate was working inside Pali and Tom Hague worked fast to create extra space by preparing the roof to be folded down with some excellent dual tooling. Ian made the call that we had enough space to proceed with his extrication path and used every inch of space created to remove the casualty ensuring they were as comfortable as possible. Having removed the second casualty and placed him on the floor, Jonny and Mark carried out additional checks to gain points. Ian produced the trusted Greater Manchester team Union jack compact umbrella for Tom Weate to hold over the casualty to protect them from the elements which always gains a few nods and claps of approval from the teams who are watching. Soon after the whistle sounded signalling the time had expired in our final run off of the WRO competition. Handshakes and a look of relief that the pressure was now off after nearly 9 months of training and competition.

That evening we received our results placing us 11th overall out of 31 teams from around the world and we reflected on a good few years where we have raised our game to compete amongst the best in the world.

UKRO 2012 – 2nd
UKRO 2013 – 6th
WRO 2013 – 11th
The above demonstrates that we are ranked highly both domestically and at international level. Without support from various sponsors and backers of the team we would not have progressed to this level.

From the team of:

Ian Melville (Officer in charge)
Tom Weate (Technical tool op)
Tom Hague (Technical tool op)
Kirpal Bangor (Technical tool op)
Jonny Ward (Medic)
Mark Palin (Medic)

We thank you for all your help and on-going commitment to the team, ensuring our success in future events.