UKRO 2024

On average, five people die every day on the road in the UK and 82 are seriously injured (10-year average from 2013-2022). It is important that fire services train to respond road traffic collisions and work with partners to reduce deaths on our roads through road safety activity.

The extrication challenge puts firefighters’ skills to the test by tackling different RTC scenarios. It is designed to improve the knowledge, skills and understanding of Services, enabling them to deliver an improved response to RTCs.

This challenge will take place in The Plaza at Gunwharf Quays.

It will see teams taking part in realistic RTC scenarios, which can include a number of vehicles in differing positions, e.g. on the side, on the roof, etc. and more than one casualty. Some of the casualties may be completely trapped within the vehicle, some may have time critical injuries or medical conditions.

The teams are assessed on how they manage the incident and decisions they take, technical/practical skills and how they keep safe and provide care for the casualties.

The extrication challenge is sponsored by Silverlake Automative recycling

Firefighters respond to a huge range of emergencies, far beyond the house fires and road traffic collisions. Rescues from height can be extremely complex and vary hugely from cliff side rescues to people stuck in cranes or stranded on rooftops.

The aim of the rope rescue challenge is to bring together teams of rope rescue personnel to display their ability and expand their practical skills by learning from and teaching others involved in the same discipline. By exploring new techniques ideas the teams can perfect their skills and be better placed to deal with real life rescues.

There will be seven scenarios involving casualties at height that need rescuing. Each challenge will involve elements of raising, lowering and technical rope work where a casualty is to be accessed, made safe to move, and brought to safety over some height difference.

The rope rescue events will take at Gunwharf Quays, using the Spinnaker Tower, and at various sites in the Historic Dockyard, including HMS Warrior.

The rope rescue challenge is sponsored by Angloco manufacturer of firefighting and rescue vehicles and equipment.

In the year ending March 2024, fire and rescue services in England performed 2,409 rescues or evacuations from water.

Statistics from the Water Incident Database reveal around 40% of people who accidentally drowned had no intention of entering the water with slips, trips and falls often being the cause of these accidents. Many people also underestimate the dangers of jumping into water or taking a dip to cool off especially those with limited experience of outdoor swimming. It is hoped that the water rescue challenge will help increase awareness around staying safe on and around water.

The increasing risk of coastal, river and rainfall flooding along with current known hazards require fire and rescue services to be adequately trained and equipped to deal with the risks identified within their area.

The aim of the water rescue challenge is to bring together teams of water rescue personnel who are committed to expanding their practical skills by learning from, and teaching, others involved in the same field.

The challenge will be run over 2 days with a mixture of scenarios requiring the teams to rescue casualties and demonstrate water rescue skills. The scenarios will also require the practical use of a boat (both powered and un-powered).

Day one of this event will be held on the River Itchen at Eastleigh and day two will be at the Historic Dockyard.

Firefighters are increasingly being asked to deal with more demanding casualty related situations than ever before. Their skills in dealing with casualties at incidents are constantly being challenged.

The objective of the trauma challenge is to develop the lifesaving skills of firefighters and rescue workers to enable them to deal successfully with the vast range of casualty centred incidents.

Firefighters taking part in the challenge will be assessed on their “lifesaving” during a 10 minute trauma based scenario. The Teams will be assessed on how they ensure the scene is safe, how they engage with the patient, assessment of their injuries and condition and the treatment they provide, and the way they hand the patient over to medics.

The Trauma challenge will be held at the Historic Dockyard and is sponsored by ATACC providing training and skills necessary to manage major traumatic injuries, from roadside to critical care.