FIRE AID recently returned from a visit to sunny Glasgow where our member United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) hosted the annual Scottish Rescue Challenge. The two-day event included both a water and road traffic rescue challenge and was supported by senior members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) who attended both the events.

The water rescue challenge took place on the first day of the event at Pinkston Watersports Centre. Real-life scenarios tested the teams who were assessed on their boat handling, trauma and rescue skills. Teams from across Scotland and England completed the challenge, each team was judged by World Rescue Organisation (WRO) and United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) assessors. A team of SFRS national instructors won the challenge, followed closely by Ayr’s water rescue unit. London Fire Brigade won the title of best visiting team, with Durham and Darlington following.  

The second day of the event was held at SFRS HQ where six teams completed the road traffic collision (RTC) extrication challenge. The teams faced difficult timed scenarios with multiple causalities and vehicles; they were assessed on incident command, technique and casualty care and extrication.

Durham and Darlington won the title of best visiting team successfully extricating both their causalities safely, professionally and within the time frame set by assessors. Not only did the combined team from Stranraer, Newton Stewart and Drummore win the best Scottish team but on their journey home they stopped at an RTC incident on the A77 to assist, thankfully all involved in the incident were OK!

The event is a fantastic way for fire services from across the UK to come together to share knowledge and expertise, there was a great atmosphere of collaboration and learning throughout the event which brought together different services in both a professional and social way.

The teams were able to practice complex scenarios in a safe environment receiving detailed feedback from all three assessors after their scenario. The feedback highlighted areas of excellence but also areas for improvement this was really useful for each team as a whole but also for individuals to ask questions and pick up tips directly from the assessors.

Following the challenge several teams, including all the host Scottish teams, will now prepare for the National Rescue Challenge in September 2018. FIRE AID would like to thank UKRO for a fantastic event and for the warm welcome we received. We are looking forward to the National Challenge in Cardiff!