The 2008 World Extrication Challenge (World Rescue Wales) will be hosted in Cardiff, UK by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Held under the auspices of the World Rescue Organisation, World Rescue Wales comprises a number of individual rescue challenges that will attract fire-fighters from around the globe. These are:

• The World Extrication Challenge
• The World Trauma Challenge
• The UK Fittest Rescuer Challenge
• The UK Urban Search & Rescue Challenge (demonstration)

The principal competitive event is the World Extrication Challenge whereby teams of fire-fighters demonstrate their rescue skills during a series of simulated road crashes. There will also be a further World Challenge when pairs of medical rescuers from around the world compete against each other in the World Trauma Challenge.

Whilst the World Extrication Challenge and the World Trauma Challenge are the centre-piece events of World Rescue Wales, a new event that is already attracting considerable media attention is the UK’s first ever Fittest Rescuer Challenge. This event is designed to test the stamina and endurance of fire-fighters from around the UK via a series of job-related tests run against the clock. Whilst competitors will have to compete on one day only, the likely demand is such that the event will be staged over two days on 11th and 12th July 2008.

The fourth event is the Urban Search & Rescue Challenge, which is to be held on the 10th July. This event is open to USAR teams from the United Kingdom only.

All four Challenges will be staged indoors in the main Cardiff International Arena Cardiff International Arena.

Attention all Extrication and Trauma Teams the 8closing date for registration of 1st May 2008 has been extended to the 16th May*. After this date places will be offered to the UK teams who have been put on stand-by for World Rescue Wales 2008.
World Extrication Challenge Fees £1600
World Trauma Challenge Fees £100

International Disaster Management Conference

Running alongside the World Rescue Challenges on the 10th and 11th July will be an International Disaster Management conference that is a must-attend event for policy makers, practitioners, academics and experts in the field of disaster management. The conference theme is “Putting Resilience into Response” and will explore and highlight best practice in the emergency services, disaster healthcare, post disaster forensic investigation, natural hazards and business continuity. An impressive speaker list includes a wide range of national and international disaster management experts from professional organisations and universities.

‘Out of the Blue’

As if this wasn’t reason enough to attend, in nearby Bute Park on 11th and 12th July the Welsh emergency services will be hosting two free-to-enter fun days that could be the biggest events staged in Wales. The event is called ‘Out of the Blue’ and aims to deliver a range of community safety messages in a fun environment that makes learning memorable and enjoyable for young and old alike. The Friday event is designed specifically for school children whilst the Saturday event is open to families and members of the public. ‘Out of the Blue’ includes interactive displays, demonstrations, activities and exhibitions and much, much more.