Eight rescue squads from across the Shenandoah Valley faced off in a regional rescue challenge at Stuarts Draft High School Sunday for the Virginia Association of Volunteers Rescue Squads District 1 Meet. They competed for points and to hone their skills in dealing with car crashes, trapped victims, and medical emergencies.
All squads were dispatched to the same accident scenario.
Katie Clark of the Buena Vista Fire and Rescue Squad explained the scenario, "We were dispatched for a male subject who had fallen off of a roof. He also had a compound fracture and he was going through an allergic reaction."
Stuarts Draft High School's gym turned into the scene of the accident.
Jacob Flickinger of the Stuarts Draft Rescue Squad said, "We try to do calls that we don't normally do a lot of."
Buena Vista's rescue squad sprung into action while judges watched their every move. Jamie Henderson, of the Stuarts Draft Rescue Squad said, "We work a scenario like it's live." Flicking added, "We are looking for proper assessment of vital signs."
Points are given and taken away based on how well the team assesses the patient's condition and treats injuries. Flickinger stated, "If they don't meet the criteria we don't give them the point."
Members of a Stuarts Draft boy scout troop played the role of patients.
Sunday's meeting will prepare their teams for whatever accidents they may respond to in real life.
Clark said, "This helps us because these are real life scenarios that we can run up on in everyday life, so it gives us the opportunity to practice with out there being a real patient."
The winners in the competitions were announced late Sunday. Waynesboro won for EMT skills. The Staunton Augusta Rescue Squad won for their response to an emergency vehicle operation. Covington took first place for extricating a patient.
Winners from all districts will compete in the state convention in September in Virginia Beach.
