The competition for Disaster Risk Management volunteers is a fixture on the annual calendar. Not only is it a good opportunity to ensure that their first aid and firefighting skills are up to the task, but the event is also an opportunity to celebrate the crucial role that the volunteers fulfil.
The 2024 edition of the First-Aid competition was held at the Epping Fire Station with seven teams in attendance.
Volunteer bases represented included Belhar, Ottery, Mitchells Plain, Milnerton, Scottsdene, Melton Rose and Fish Hoek.
Participants were put through their paces in a number of emergency simulations, where they were assessed on their ability to provide immediate, lifesaving and medical care before the arrival of further medical help.
The team from Fish Hoek won the firefighting category, while Milnerton was crowned First Aid winners.
The DRMC’s volunteer corps is the largest in the City, with more than 500 members.
They assist with education and awareness efforts, but are also crucial to the City’s efforts in dealing with disasters – whether floods, fires or other public safety incidents.
Over a three month period this year, the volunteers clocked more than 18 000 hours of service.
‘The City is truly privileged to have such an amazing and dedicated resource at its disposal. The Disaster Risk Management Volunteers have shown their mettle time and again in Cape Town’s hours of need, and we thank them for their service. I also want to applaud everyone who participated in the annual competition. As we have come to expect, the skills on display were top class, and a useful reminder of the calibre of skill and talent that is available to us when the need arises,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith
Supplied by: City of Cape Town
