Chemical Technology July 2015

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Chemical Technology • July 2015
The Southern African Emergency Services
Institute (SAESI) is hosting its 30th conference
from 4-6 November 2015. Not only will the
conference include an exhibition and training
events, but therewill also be a fun run andworld
record attempt taking place.
Resilient communities
This year’s theme is ‘Building resilient com-
munities’. The conference will look at a strategy
for resilient communities, seeking to devolve
responsibilities beyond provincial governments
to local government, communities and individu-
als. It will also look at improving management
of incidents at all levels, by both emergency
services and private companies.
This year the conference will feature a new
breakaway session conference structure to
allow delegates to be more interactive (and
proactive) in becoming part of the solution.
The training events this year include:
The high angle rescue challenge
The focus of the event will be on skills develop-
ment and enhancing the high angle rescuer’s
ability to improvise in adverse conditions.
The high angle rescue challenge will com-
prise a learning symposium, and three scenar-
ios. Each teamwill compete in all events. There
will be no final. The final tally of marks achieved
for the skins event and the three scenarios
completed will result in a final placing of teams,
with an overall winner. The challenge is to not
only compete, but also to co-operate, share,
and learn. If you’ve learnt or taught, you’ve won!
The extrication challenge
The three extrication challenges will be:
• Complex rescue: Sufficient space will need to
be created for medical assessment and
intervention, with the casualties release/
packaging reflective to their mechanism
of injury. Teams are expected to triage the
casualties and identify the medical priority
for extrication.
• Limited rescue: Teams are expected to assess
the casualty and identify the correct pathway
for extrication, whilst recognising the limita-
tion of the tools available.
• Medical emergency rescue (rapid): Teams are ex-
pected to recognise the immediate lifesaving
needs of the casualty.
There will be intermediate and advanced cat-
egories and teams will have to provide all their
own rescue, personal safety and emergency
medical equipment.
Emergency medical services (EMS)
challenge
The challenge will be open to all approved
Emergency Services providers, and agreed
rescue-based organisations. Teams will con-
sist of three members and all should have
permission from their respective managers.
The firefighter challenge
• Do a stair climb of some four storeys up a
makeshift obstacle, while carrying a hose;
• Hoist a 21 kg donut pack up the tower, and
then run down, not missing one step;
• Hit a Keizer (hammer machine) with a 75 kg
slide, with a hammer;
• Make your way around a series of cones;
• Grab and run with a fully charged 32 mm
hose through a gate to spray down a target;
and
• And then finally drag an 80 kg dummy
dubbed Rescue Randy over 30 m to the
finish line.
PIER training event
The PIER training event and challenge will entail
a theory session that will include fire and safety
educator training with basic firefighting skills
and first aid. The practical training will take
place at one of the Ekurhuleni fire stations that
will be announced. All attendees will be trained
on how to educate communities on:
• Safe cooking.
• Lighting and dangers.
• Keeping warmwithout adding to the fire risk.
• Basic firefighting skills.
For more information on the conference, the
speakers and the events, go to
z
SAESI 2015 conference: Get your gear ready!
FOCUS 0N PLANT MAINTENANCE, SAFETY, HEALTH & QUALITY