Santiam Emergency Equipment salutes the Fort Lewis Extrication Team (or “FLEX Team”) for being the best extrication team in America for 2009!
The FLEX Team finished third in the 2009 Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee (TERC) International Extrication Challenge in Puyalllup, Washington, the highest of any team from North America! They were only 1 point short of 2nd place behind WCRT, Sweden and the Two-Time World Champions from Hampshire, UK.
FLEX Team leader Jeff Coffey, was ranked second in the competition’s list of incident commanders, missing the top commander ranking by only 1/2 point. The team finished second overall in the 2008 U.S. Nationals. Coffey was ranked top incident commander in that competition.
Extrication competitions include three scenarios: the Unlimited, Limited and Rapid. Unlimited competitors can use any and all tools in the simulated extrication. In the limited scenario, no hydraulic rescue tools are allowed. For the Rapid exercise, all tools are allowed but teams have 10 minutes to complete the evolution.
Coffey says that competing has not only been fun, but it has improved their ability to do their job. “Extrication is the most common form of rescue that we have,” he says. “These competitions have proved to be a great training tool. Now, we are able to get patients the medical care they need faster.”
Because of the demanding nature of extrication competitions, the FLEX Team has chosen the performance of Genesis Rescue Tools as their rescue tool of choice!
