Creating more space and releasing people who are trapped, most commonly in a vehicle as the result of a road accident, is a complex task carried out by firefighters. The competition is being held at the Llevant fire station, at C/ Castella, 6, on 23 and 24 April.
The event involves 14 teams from different shifts and fire stations in the city, each made up of 6 people with specific tasks: a captain, a medic and four firefighters. Two teams from the Catalan government’s firefighting corps will also be taking part.
The competition is being held from 8 am to 7.30 pm on both days (lunch break from 2 to 2.45 pm), with teams successively carrying out a release operation. After the mock operation, which will be as real as possible, higher-ranking command staff will give teams scores for the tasks completed.
To help spectators understand the exercises, members of the Barcelona Fire Service will be explaining the techniques used at each point over the loudspeaker.
How will accident rescue operations be carried out?
The mock rescue operations will last around twenty minutes, with roughly an hour between each team.
Firstly, teams neutralise any risks detected (type of vehicle, possible spills and fire risks etc.). After that, they attend to the person inside the vehicle and then decide on the best strategy to release them.
A space will be created inside the vehicle and all elements removed which could interfere with cutting out and releasing the occupant (doors, elements beneath the roof etc.).
Using the necessary tools and in coordination with their medic, teams will then release the affected person with maximum attention to vertebrae and the best possible care. The person in question will be a medic and will assess the techniques applied.