May 22, 2003
By Tendai Dhliwayo
JOHANNESBURG'S Northriding suburb will be host to this year's International Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) Exhibition and 2003 Fire Conference at the Dome from 28 to 30 May.
Some of the renowned professionals in the industry, like Ed Kirtley from the US and others from all over the world, will deliver papers giving informative and educational information for emergency services personnel.
"The conference is aimed at Emergency Medical Services and Training personnel, Disaster Management and Fire Department personnel like fire chiefs, fire officers, fire prevention officers, management, national and provincial government, local authorities and municipalities," said a statement by the City's Emergency Management Services.
According to the statement, running concurrently with the exhibition will be the 2003 Extrication Challenge, where local and international teams compete against each other in events like advanced life support and high angle rescue, as well as extrication challenges which entail carefully removing victims from car wrecks.
Emergency services from Johannesburg will enter teams in various challenges.
"Our industry has come into its own and the world now finally looks to us for assistance, guidance and life-saving efforts when it really counts. For example South African fire fighters went to India and Turkey to assist those countries when they were in need during earthquakes in 2000 and 2001 respectively."
