Firefighters maintain themselves fit for rescue missions

A few days prior, fire faculty in Tambaram crawled down a rope and rescued a 40-year-elderly person who fell into a well. Since the firemen need to remain genuinely and intellectually fit to make such safeguards, the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) have begun obstacle competition for its faculty.

The first obstacle competition was led in Othivakkam commando training centre. More than 100 staff partook in the event and they needed to traverse 1.3 kilometers.

The cut off time was 12 minutes and the staff needed to walk over ladders, bounce falls, swing on ropes to complete hindrances occasions like over extension, bug net, high rise, high-door vault, little cat creep and W Wall. “The event disciplines their mind and body. The firemen have to be focussed as the obstacles are slippery and they have to finish on time. This somewhat replicates a real life rescue scenario. It gives them a sense of confidence too. We will be holding such events regularly so that they can carry out rescues with ease,” said Priya Ravichandran, joint director, TNFRS, Northern Region.

The TNFRS Chennai area has made 138 salvages in 2019 and this incorporates 125 creatures. The number is 66 out of 2020 till date and out of this 60 are creatures. “We have to be extremely fit as most often we carry cows and other animals out of wells. Till now we are used to general fitness workouts, but the obstacle courses build our endurance, concentration and sense of timing,” said TNFRS fire fighter M. Muthukumar, who started things out by finishing the hindrances in 10.15 minutes.

Fireman K. Arun Kumar, who finished the event in 10.19 minutes, said that the TNFRS ought to compose all the more such events. “We have been given training in swimming and even scuba diving etc. As fire fighters we should be in the best shape ever,” he said.