Queensland to host Australia-NZ Road Rescue Challenge next year

Queensland will host road rescue teams from across Australia and New Zealand at the Gold Coast next year, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said today.

Mr Roberts said 24 road rescue teams are expected to attend the Australasian Road Rescue Organisation (ARRO) Road Rescue Challenge to be held at the Parklands Showgrounds, Gold Coast, from 6 to 8 June next year.

“The Road Rescue Challenge tests and assesses teams through a range of simulated road accident scenarios,” Mr Roberts said.

“Sadly, these scenarios depict what occurs on roads throughout Australasia on a daily basis resulting in countless fatalities and injuries to those that are entrapped.”

Last financial year (2006-07), firefighters attended almost 14,000 road accidents in Queensland and had to extricate 758 people from motor vehicles.

“Each team consists of six personnel with each team being assessed across three scenarios over a three day period. The teams are made up of road rescue practitioners from fire, ambulance, SES or mine rescue crews.

“The dedication and commitment by the team members to enhance their knowledge on new vehicle designs, extrication techniques and patient care should be acknowledged and appreciated by the ‘traveling public’.”

Mr Roberts said Queensland had been a very strong performer at the Road and Rescue Challenge, winning the title six times since the championship were first contested in 1996.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Lee Johnson is president of the Australasian Road Rescue Organisation.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson 07 3247 8194, 0418 197 350
Brendan Connell 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976