Entries open for 5th annual EMS challenge
Modderfontein – the challenge provides EMS personnel with the opportunity to put their skills to the test.
In commemoration of this year’s World Trauma Day, emergency services personnel are expected to fight it out against each other at the annual Emergency Medical Services and Firefighter Challenge.
This year’s challenge will take place at the South African Emergency Care (SAEC) training school in Modderfontein on 21 October.
World Trauma Day is observed annually on 17 October and the day focuses on creating greater public awareness of trauma in an effort to change behaviour and reduce trauma-related injury.
In its fifth year, according to a statement issued by Netcare on 12 October, the challenge will provide emergency services personnel with the opportunity to put their skills and professional capabilities to the test in a series of challenging individual and team events.
Mande Toubkin, Netcare general manager emergency, trauma, transplant and corporate social investment, said the event provides an opportunity to pay tribute to emergency services personnel who often put their own safety on the line in order to save lives.
“While World Trauma Day usually commemorates trauma patients and those who have lost their lives or require ongoing support due to trauma, this event is about giving back to the people managing trauma patients,” said Toubkin.
“Although undoubtedly challenging, it is meant to be a fun day to acknowledge the emergency personnel and all their hard work.”
Netcare Milpark Hospital trauma programme manager, Rene Grobler, said the event provides the public with the opportunity to see the level of skills and teamwork required by emergency personnel to perform the critical work they do on a daily basis, often in dangerous situations.
“The Challenge has become an increasingly popular event. We always seek the broadest possible level of participation and in previous years, competitors have included teams of firefighters, paramedics from both public and private emergency medical services including Netcare 911 and medical staff from Netcare hospitals,” said Grobler.
“While the competition is stiff there is always great camaraderie among the competitors, and it is a great way for Netcare and the public to say thank you for the incredible service these remarkable men and woman provide within our communities.”
The competition is open to anyone volunteering or working in the field of emergency medical services including the police, and the public is also invited.
Details: Martina Nicholson 011 469 3016.
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