In support of local fire departments and the East Patchogue community, Gershow Recycling donated the use of 10 vehicles for the Northeast Vehicle Extrication Challenge, which was held on June 28 at the fire department’s training grounds in East Patchogue.
Ten teams from Long Island, upstate New York and New Jersey and volunteer judges from Canada took part in the daylong competition. Each team participated in two challenge pits: Limited Pit (where only hand and pneumatic tools are used), and Unlimited Pit (where all rescue tools are available, including heavy hydraulic rescue equipment). Those who competed in the Limited and Unlimited Pit had 20 minutes to extricate a “victim” from a “crash.” All teams were judged based on the command structure, hazard and scene control, patient and rescuer safety and techniques used to disentangle the patient.
