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Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
Gauteng urban search and rescue (USAR) simulation exercise held in Ekurhuleni, South Africa
T
he Gauteng Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) held an urban search and rescue (USAR) held a simulation exercise at the Leon Ferreira Fire Station in Ekurhuleni on 28 and 29 March 2022. The simulation exercise was held to showcase various USAR skills acquired by fire fighters and technicians such as rope rescue, hazardous materials (hazmat), structural collapse rescue, confined space rescue as well as swift water rescue capabilities. The agencies that was involved in the simulation included Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA); the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Volume 6 | No 4
Services, Disaster Management and Metro Police; the City of Tshwane Emergency Services; USAR SA 01, which included the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, the City of Johannesburg Emergency Services and Midvaal Fire and Rescue; Gauteng Department of Health Emergency Medical Services, the South African Police Service (SAPS) K9 unit and local response; Gauteng Forensic Pathology Services; Search and Rescue South Africa (SARZA); Standard Bank and The FIRM. The main objective of the exercise was to evaluate preparedness and response mechanisms for Type 3 incidents. The sub-objectives are:
• To test the level of integration
of stakeholder planning for the management of incidents and incident resources, including the Gauteng USAR team on a Type 3 incident and to make the necessary adjustments to all plans to remain relevant • To test the effectiveness of the Gauteng’s inter-municipal fire services memorandum of understanding (MOU) in terms of activation • To develop and improve flexible plans enabling emergency services in the province and their counterparts to ensure integrated response efforts for effective and efficient all-hazard incident management FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 49
