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AET firefighters fundraising to defend their title by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Friday, June 5, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Their job is to get injured people out of shattered vehicles so people can receive lifesaving care, but now the Oakville Fire Department's Auto Extrication Team (AET) is asking the public for help. The firefighter group will hold a car wash fundraiser tomorrow (Saturday, June 6) at the Real Canadian Superstore, 201 Oak Park Blvd., from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Any donation is appreciated as the team hopes to raise enough money to send them to the North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge in Hagerman, N.Y. Admission to the event is $1,500 per team and Oakville Fire wants to send two teams. The challenge, taking place Sept. 8-12, tests the skills of auto extrication teams from across North America and Europe. "Last year, we won it -- so, we're looking to defend our title this year," said Steve Sacchitiello, a five-year veteran of the Oakville Fire Department and AET member. "It's pretty cool. They have a large area in New York where they take front-end loaders and pile two cars together (to simulate a vehicle collision) and they'll have obstacles like a pole or wires or a side rail involved in it. You are sequestered while they set this up and then you are called out with your team and you see it for the first time and you have to play with what is given to you." Sacchitiello said there are three parts to the challenge for each team of five. The Limited Pit requires the team to extricate a trapped patient from a wrecked vehicle using only hand and pneumatic tools. This challenge is followed by the Unlimited Pit, which allows the team to make use of all available rescue tools, including heavy hydraulic rescue equipment. For each task, the team must safely free the trapped person in just 20 minutes. This time limit shrinks to 10 minutes for the Rapid Pit, the third and final challenge, where the team is also judged on command structure, hazard and scene control, patient and rescuer safety and the techniques used to disentangle the patient. Sacchitiello said the live patient is also equipped with a microphone and will tell the firefighters things they need to act on or lose points. If the patient says their arm hurts, the firefighter needs to address this. Besides the bragging rights from doing well in this type of competition, Sacchitiello said participating in these events has value because they help the AET prepare for the real thing. see Competition on p.9 Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? Plantar Warts? We can help! Exceptional footcare for all ages. · Routine footcare · Corns & calluses · Plantar warts · Heel/arch/foot pain · Diabetic footcare and education · Thick or ingrown nails · Nail surgery · Sports related foot problems & injuries · Custom made orthotics · Sigvaris® compression stockings · Evenings and saturday appointments available · New patients welcome! J. Richard Werkman chiropodist The Oakville Fire Department's Auto Extrication Team competes during last year's North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge. The team hopes to attend again this year and is holding a car wash fundraiser to help cover the $1,500 fee per team entered. | Facebook photo Ask Us About Custom Made Birkenstocks! located on the north/west corner of maple grove dr. and cornwall rd. 1495 Cornwall Rd., Suite 33, Oakville T: 905-845-4817 www.werkman.ca Voted Number 1 Financial Planner 11 Years Peter Watson MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI Certified Financial Planner Since 1991 DIAMOND 220 Randall Street · Downtown Oakville Phone: 905.842.2100 www.peterwatsoninvestments.com