Washington Extrication Team Places Third in International Competition

October 1, 2009 – Fort Lewis, WA Local F-283’s extrication team – The FLEX Team – finished third in the 2009 Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee (TERC) International Extrication Challenge in Puyalllup, Washington, the highest placed team from the United States.

Additionally, FLEX Team leader, F-283 fire fighter Jeff Coffey, was ranked second in the competition’s list of incident commanders. “The team experience has been a great one,” says Coffey. “In the two years we have been competing, we have gotten a lot of support from our local and the department. And we are getting better and better.”

The FLEX Team previously finished second overall in the 2008 U.S. Nationals competition held in Chili, New York. Coffey was ranked top incident commander in that competition.

Joining Coffey on The FLEX Team are Local F-283 President Scott Powers and members Art Doss, Chad Cozby and Eric Teel.

Extrication competitions include three scenarios: the Unlimited, Limited and Rapid. Unlimited competitors can use any and all tools in the simulated extrication. In the limited scenario, no hydraulic rescue tools are allowed. For the Rapid exercise, all tools are allowed but teams have 10 minutes to complete the evolution.

Coffey says that competing has not only been fun, but it has improved their ability to do their job. “Extrication is the most common form of rescue that we have,” he says. “These competitions have proved to be a great training tool. Now, we are able to get patients the medical care they need faster.”

The average time for vehicle extrications is 45 minutes. Because of the competition training, F-283 fire fighters can do it in half the time.