Rescue teams up for the challenge

Posted By CHELSEY ROMAIN THE DAILY PRESS

First aid skills were put to the test Friday for teams from four local mines that participated in the Adamson First Aid Competition.

Teams came out from four local mines, Liberty Mines, Goldcorp, Xstrata's Kidd Creek Metallurgical site and Kidd Creek Mine site, for the annual competition that allows contestants to hone their skills in basic first aid.

"These first aid skills are used anywhere," said competition chief judge Blake Roy.

"It's good to keep up with practice."

Along with a written test, teams were faced with a scenario where two cyclists are injured during a charity race. The teams of two would provide any first aid needed until paramedics arrived, including scene survey, treating the wounds and documenting.

"You need to hone first aid skills," said Roy. "If you don't use it you're going to lose it."

"First aid is used anywhere, so we try and make it as realistic as possible."

The competition is strictly focused on basic first aid, unlike the competition earlier this year that dealt with all of mine rescue.

But most team members are also a part of their company's mine rescue team.

Terry Willett is both a Liberty Mines mine rescue team member and a volunteer firefighter, and remembers times both on the job and at home where his training has come in handy.

"These competitions make us more confident in general," Willett said. "It's good practice."