THUMBS UP FOR RCR SEASON

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1 NEWSLETTER August 2013 THUMBS UP FOR RCR SEASON YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD YOUR BRIGADE S CAPABILITY ON THE ROAD IS HERE. FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR ROAD CRASH RESCUE TEAM UP AND RUNNING BEFORE REGIONALS. PLUS: WIN CASH IN TWO MINUTES Enter the UFBA s latest contest, and it could just be the easiest money you ve ever made for you and your brigade. NEW DRIVERS CHALLENGE CHAMP Invercargill Driver, Jesse Wilcox earned the top spot at the National Drivers Challenge earlier this month. PHOTO: Mitchell Brown

2 CONTEST WIN $200 FOR YOU, $1000 FOR YOUR BRIGADE IN TWO MINUTES You could win $200 cash for yourself plus $1000 for your brigade in under two minutes. That s how long it will take you to go to the UFBA website and answer a few quick and easy questions. How to enter 1) Go to and log in with your user name and password. You ll need to be registered as a member of the UFBA website to access the contest page. If you re not yet a member of the UFBA website, click the Register link at the top right corner of the page and sign up. Your account will be activated within one business day. 2) Answer the super-brief questionaire and click the Enter Contest link. 3) You re done - be sure to check the October edition of the E-Newsletter (you ll have the option to subscribe to it when you sign up for the website) to find out who won the cash! Conditions: Must be a current serving member of a UFBA member brigade or fire force to be eligible. FIRE SHOP FEATURED PRODUCT: QUELL HOME SAFETY KIT Includes a fire extinguisher, fire blanket, 1 x ionisation and 1 x photoelectric smoke alarm. This item has been reduced in price because the outer packaging is slightly damaged due to getting wet in the rain at an event, but the contents inside are all in fine condition. PRICE: $65.00 $45.00 BUY: Online at SERVICE HONOURS GOLD STAR AND 50-YEAR MEDAL RECIPIENTS Congratulations to the following members who received Gold Stars last month, and thank you for your dedicated service to your community: Gold Stars Debbi-Kaye GARDNER, Lake Tekapo Noel GULLICK, Winton John ELLENDEN, Waimahaka Stephen HILL, Waimahaka James JOHNSTONE, Waimahaka Kevin TROTTER, Te Awamutu David GREIG, New Plymouth Rudi DEN HARTOG, New Plymouth John HURLEY, East Coast Bays 2 United Fire Brigades Association

3 EVENTS BULLETIN BRING A UFBA EVENT TO YOUR TOWN WATERWAY CHALLENGE The UFBA is looking for hosts for the 2015 Regional Waterway Challenges (regions 1 and 2 in the North Island and regions 3 and 4 in the South Island). These events are held from January through March. To find out more or submit your expression of interest visit FIREFIGHTER COMBAT CHALLENGE The UFBA is looking for hosts for the 2014 North and South Island Firefighter Combat Challenges, to take place in February in the lead up to the Nationals. To find out more or submit your expression of interest visit event. NEW DATE FOR INVERCARGILL SECRETARIES AND TREASURERS WORKSHOP The Invercargill Secretaries and Treasurers Workshop has been confirmed for Sunday, 29 September from 9.30am to 3pm at Ascot Park Hotel. Registrations for the workshop close on 4 September, and limited spaces will be allocated on a first in, first served basis. These worthwhile workshops provide secretaries and treasurers with insider knowledge on how they may become more efficient and effective in their roles. It is a fantastic networking opportunity, and a great opportunity to talk to the UFBA about how it can better support your brigade. Several workshops have already been successfully run throughout the country, and the UFBA has received very positive feedback. To register, megan.leggett@ufba.org.nz by 4 September. For questions about this event, contact Megan Leggett or Jane Davie on CALENDAR 7 SEPTEMBER NZFBI Exams, location determined according to where participants are travelling from 8-10 NOVEMBER UFBA Annual Conference, Auckland 5 OCTOBER Region 4 Road Crash Rescue Challenge, Oamaru 12 OCTOBER Region 3 Road Crash Rescue Challenge, Christchurch 23 NOVEMBER Region 1&2 Road Crash Rescue Challenge, Silverdale 6-8 MARCH 2014 National Road Crash Rescue Challenge, Feilding NOTICES REGIONAL ROAD CRASH RESCUE CHALLENGES REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Dates for the Road Crash Rescue Challenge season have been set and are listed in the events calendar to the left. For more information on these events and to register, visit Questions regarding the Challenges can be sent to events@ufba.org.nz. CONFERENCE REMINDERS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 1 October: Delegate forms due 4 October: Registration closes No late registrations will be accepted. Registration information at 3

4 DRIVERS CHALLENGE 2013 TOP DRIVER FROM INVERCARGILL Since the first time he competed in the National Drivers Challenge seven years ago, Jesse Wilcox of Invercargill has consistently placed in the top 10. The effort of turning up year after year has paid off - he finally earned the trophy and the bragging rights of being the top driver in New Zealand after going up against 74 other competitors. Wilcox received a warm welcome home at the airport, greeted by some of his proud brigade members and a journalist from the Southland Times. He says the support from other competing drivers as well as neighbouring Southland brigades has been fantastic. It is a great feeling to share it with everyone. From the beginning to the end, the Challenge was well-organised, and a lot of fun to compete in, said Wilcox. Coming back to see some of the friends I ve met along the way and meeting new people is always a big highlight. I get a lot out of the whole experience. Just before heading out for his lap around the track, he received the assignment of driving Hon Amy Adams, former Minister of Internal Affairs and current Communications and Information Technology Minister. It was great to meet her. She was genuinely interested in learning about the event, said Wilcox. I know she has been a great supporter of firefighters for a while. For now, Wilcox is basking in the afterglow of his success, perhaps a few dollars lighter after putting on a celebratory shout for his brigade. Looking ahead to next year, he said: Well, I suppose I ll have to go back and defend the title. The Drivers Challenge, like many of our events, tends to draw competitors back year after year, which is a really good sign, said George Verry, Chief Executive Officer. It s exciting to see someone like Jesse, who has shown a lot of commitment, win the event. It is well-deserved and I congratulate him on this achievement. There were some familiar names in the top ten, said Verry. But there were also several newcomers and novices who faired quite well. I think part of what makes it an interesting event is that it is accessible for various levels of experience and you never know what could happen until you turn up and give it a try. PHOTO (Kirsten Spierling): 2013 National Drivers Challenge Champion Jesse Wilcox behind the wheel. 4 United Fire Brigades Association

5 HON AMY ADAMS SUPPORTS DRIVERS Hon Amy Adams (above with UFBA Directors Alan Kittelty and Nigel Lilley) dropped by the UFBA National Drivers Challenge to support the competitors and find out what it was all about. Amy briefly served as Minister of Internal Affairs before becoming the Minister of Communications and Information Technology. She has always shown enormous support for our volunteers, and has made it a point to get to several UFBA events. those who put their time and energy into making this such a successful event. I am constantly impressed by the huge commitment that our volunteer firefighters make, not just during their time on call for their brigades but also through all the extra effort they put into training and honing their skills in challenges such as this. Photo contributed by Hon Amy Adams. She says: I really enjoyed my lap around the track with Jesse who is obviously an extremely competent driver, going on to win the overall event. I would like to congratulate all of DRIVERS CHALLENGE TOP 10 Complete resultsfrom the National Drivers Challenge are available to download at 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Jesse Wilcox, Invercargill Todd Pike, Little River Trent Jones, Wellsford Alan Hemsley, Akaroa Peter Williams, Invercargill 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Neil Matheson, Kohukohu Daniel Klaassen, Waiouru Daniel Ohs, Rolleston Matt Browne, Wellsford Grant Scothern, Te Puke 5

6 ROAD CRASH RESCUE CHALLENGE GET YOUR TEAM GOING IN TIME FOR REGIONALS PHOTO: Mitchell Brown FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS The upcoming Road Crash Rescue Challenge season is an unmatched way for your brigade to gain extra experience training for vehicle extrication and it is a lot of fun. Teams that compete are extremely passionate about the Challenge, and freely offer their time and advice to help new teams get going. If you are even a little interested in getting a team up and running, chances are you have a lot of questions. Below, Events Manager Ceara Owen-Perry answers some of the most frequently asked questions. MY BRIGADE IS INTERESTED IN GETTING A TEAM TOGETHER. WHERE DO WE START? First, go online and download the rules from the RCR section of the UFBA website From there, get in touch with the Events Team if you have questions. We can put you in touch with the right people, whether it is the Technical Panel or another RCR team, to give you some guidance. HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE IN A TEAM? Each team consists of six members, one of whom must be designated as the team leader, and one as medic/first-aider. 6 United Fire Brigades Association A FEW OF US ARE INTERESTED, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR A TEAM. WHAT DO WE DO? Composite teams are welcome to compete. Check in with some of the other brigades in your area they may have a few people who would be keen to join your team. DO I HAVE TO COMPETE IN A REGIONAL EVENT TO QUALIFY FOR THE NATIONALS? Competing in a regional is not compulsory, but we definitely encourage teams to make it to a regional event to take advantage of the training opportunity and get the most out of the National event. WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE CHALLENGE? The Challenge is made up of three types of real-life scenarios lasting twenty to thirty minutes each: Entrapped Rescue, Controlled Rescue, and Immediate Rescue. Each event tests different skills, and all the details are in the rules. Teams are held in isolation while the scenarios are being set, and then released to tackle the scenario within the allotted time. There is also a Trauma Challenge that runs alongside the Road Crash Rescue scenarios. This event sets up lifelike trauma scenarios, and tests medical response skills. Only two people are needed to compete in this event.

7 ROLY S QUICK TIPS FOR NEW TEAMS Whitianga team leader Roly Chaney has been around the RCR block several times. Here are his top tips for new teams getting started: 1) Have one person as your medic who is completely dedicated to patient care. 2) Download the rules and apply what you would do on the side of the road to the rules, mainly the highest score bracket - you re looking to score as many points as possible. 3) Do not be afraid to ask questions of other teams. There are no secrets!! 4) Everything you need to compete is on your rescue tender. MORE QUESTIONS? To encourage support and collaboration between new and existing teams, we ve set up a specific forum for the Road Crash Rescue Challenge. Just go to and post your question. An experienced competitor or official, or member of the UFBA Technical Panel will respond as quickly as possible. REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 13! Regional Road Crash Rescue Challenges in Silverdale (Regions 1 and 2), Christchurch (Region 3), and Oamaru (Region 4) are being held in the months of October and November. To find more information on these events and to register online, go to and find the relevant event under upcoming events in the sidebar. 5) Overall, treat each scenario as if you have responded from your own station. Do what you would normally do (that is the best starting point). 6) Do not be afraid give it a go and have fun!! RECOMMENDED READING SUBURBAN FIRE TACTICS BY JIM SILVERNAIL (BOOK, 2013) What s it about? Suburban firefighting in the US will usually mean structure fires. There may be a smaller response capacity than the well resourced urban areas with distinctive company operations. Incident commanders have to manage with one appliance, or a second truck that may be many minutes away, a smaller crew, and water supply issues. In this way, there may be similarities with New Zealand situations. COOL DOWN BY DAVE HOSTLER (ARTICLE) Fire Chief, v57 no5 (May 2013) p28-32 What s it about? Learn the essentials of heat stress and emergency-incident rehabilitation. US-influenced. Borrow the book or request the article from your Fire Service Library infoc@fire.org.nz/ 0800 FIRELIB / MORE SUPPORT FOR FIREFIGHTERS The UFBA is partnered with the Firefighters Welfare Society and Firefighters Credit Union. Any UFBA member is eligible to receive the benefits that come from belonging to these organisations. Go online and find more information on these worthwhile organisations

8 UPDATE YOUR BRIGADE DETAILS New CFO or Secretary? Has your brigade address or contact details changed? Have you launched a new website or set up a new address? Help us keep our records up to date by going to and taking two minutes to complete the Update Brigade Details Form. SIGN UP FOR THE UFBA E-NEWSLETTER Have the latest UFBA news delivered straight to your inbox. Just log onto and register as a member to start receiving your own copy electronically. SUBMIT A STORY IDEA We re always interested in hearing about what s happening in brigades around the country. If you have a story you d like to share with the wider membership in our newsletter, us at news@ufba.org.nz United Fire Brigades Association NZ 86 Main Road, PO Box Tawa, Wellington 5249 P F