Water Rescue Challenge - Ironbridge, Shropshire & Bartley Sailing Club, Bartley Green

For this challenge, teams will use a boat and other specialist equipment to rescue a casualty from the water, assess them and bring them to safety.

Each team will consist of three people, including an officer in command and a medic. They will take part in two different scenarios - one at Bartley Sailing Club, Bartley Green (a “still water” challenge) and another on the River Severn at Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire (a “swift water” challenge).

This challenge will take place at Bartley Reservoir, so spectators will be near the water while observing. There will be barriers in place, but this should be factored into any risk assessment.

This will be an opportunity to not only talk to students about the role of the fire and rescue service, but also the importance of water safety, and the need to behave responsibly around bodies of water.

Vehicle Extrication - Smithfield, Birmingham

In this challenge, teams compete to remove a casualty who is trapped in a vehicle using a range of specialist cutting and lifting equipment. Teams are expected to protect the injured person throughout, while working to ensure they can be extricated as quickly as possible.

Teams of six will compete in two different scenarios (one of 30 minutes, one of 20 minutes) which will feature realistic casualties within the vehicle and other vehicles and props on site to make the situation as realistic as possible. Causalities may have simulated injuries which teams will have to take into account, and may be trapped in various ways.

The vehicles could be in various combinations (such as on their roof or side) and larger vehicles (like a lorry) may need to be stabilised so that the crews can work safely.

It should be noted that this challenge will be noisy due to the tools used and the fact that vehicles are being dismantled. Casualties may have simulated injuries which may be quite graphic.

This will be an opportunity not only to discuss the rescue role of fire services, but also the importance of road safety, as well as potential scientific topics relating to the forces required to operate the machinery  and successfully and safely dismantle a vehicle.

Rope Rescue - Forum Building, Smithfield, Birmingham

For this challenge, teams of five are competing to safely and securely rescue someone from a tall building or structure, using ropes and a range of specialist equipment.

The teams are made up of a Team Leader, a Medic and three team members. Aside from their skills in various rope rescue techniques, competitors will also need demonstrate skills in pre-hospital medical care when rescuing the casualty.

This is a visually very exciting challenge, and the teams will be undertaking it on a number of buildings in and around Birmingham City Centre, including a large block of flats next to the main challenge site.

This is an opportunity to not only discuss the importance of being safe at height, but to also scientific considerations of the forces involved in using ropes to lift and support weight.

Firefighter Fitness Challenge - Smithfield, Birmingham

This is an individual challenge, which will see participants undertake the standard firefighter fitness assessment, which involves rolling out hose, carrying a casualty (a dummy) and wearing breathing apparatus while completing lengths of the course against the clock.

A quick time is not all that matters, technique and maintaining personal safety are also important.

The competition will be broken down by age group, and is open to both male and female participants.

For this challenge not only firefighters will be taking part - it is open to people from all parts of our service, including our support staff. We're keen to demonstrate that firefighting is a career for everyone!

This should serve as a great demonstration of the basic fitness skills that are expected of firefighters upon entering the fire and rescue service. There are also opportunities to link to any health and fitness topics you may be covering with you students.

Urban Search and Rescue - Smithfield, Birmingham

This challenge is all about rescuing casualties from collapsed structures, as one might encounter following an earthquake or explosion.

Teams of six will have an hour and a half to use specialist equipment and a range of techniques to gain entry to a simulated collapsed building and then safely remove a trapped casualty.

Teams will have to “shore up” the structure to keep it safe, and ensure they take account of injuries that the casualty may have suffered.

It should be noted that this challenge will be noisy due to the various tools used. Casualties may have simulated injuries.

This will represent an opportunity to not only learn about the work of USAR teams, but also to consider the scientific aspects relating to different materials that the teams will be seeking to break through.

It may also link to discussions about education regarding the work of the UK International Search and Rescue team (UKISAR) who have participated in the response to various international disasters such as the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami and the Haiti earthquake

Trauma Challenge, Smithfield

This challenge puts the medical and life-saving skills of firefighters to the test. A team of two will be given ten minutes to assess and provide emergency trauma treatment to a simulated casualty.

They will need to not only consider how to treat any injuries, but also the safety of their site as they work.

It is important to note that the casualties may have simulated injuries which are quite graphic, having been prepared by professional make-up artists.

This is an opportunity to not only learn about the important trauma care skills of firefighters, but to consider important life-saving techniques with your students.