EXTRICATION CHALLENGES: A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR RESCUERS

摘要

How do you prepare for man-aging motor vehicle accidents (MVAs)? Reading trade publications, attending classes and educational programs, practicing on the drill ground, interacting with computer-based simulations, and even surfing the Internet for background information are all excellent ways to develop our skills and abilities for mitigating MVAs. However, how many of you have attended an extrication challenge or competition? Although some focus on the word "competition," these challenges are truly educational events and may be local, regional, national, or international. Where else can American rescue personnel gain insight into how a rescue team manages an MVA in Sweden, South Africa, or Australia and, in the same weekend, see how 20 different incidents are managed and mitigated (photos 1,2)?