The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department competed on a national level with other fire rescue departments’ vehicle accident extrication teams. JFRD claimed the top award and will advance to the international competition in Paris.
The two-day event, hosted locally at Florida State College at Jacksonville‘s Fire Academy of the South, involved more than a dozen crews from fire departments across the U.S. and as far as South America and Canada.
The first scenario involved a large concrete pole in or on a vehicle that had to be removed to extricate the patient. All teams were allowed to use hydraulic tools, including the “Jaws of Life” cutters and spreaders. JFRD recorded the best extrication time of 12 minutes. In the next scenario, hydraulic tools were not allowed, and the pole was wooden. JFRD extricated the patient in 18 minutes.
The competition tested firefighters’ effective use of specific tools and techniques, including patient care. This is the first year the competition was hosted in Jacksonville.
Congratulations, Team JFRD!