Final Rankings

Mayday Rescue Challenge – What is it?

This is a training-oriented competition focusing on firefighter mayday emergencies. The competitive setting introduces time pressure. Teams must handle three challenging operational scenarios. Each team consists of either a 2-person or a 4-person crew. Test areas allow participants and visitors to try unfamiliar or new equipment and tactics.

Exhibition Area

The stand covers approx. 300 m². On this area you will find:

• the 3 stations: Hoarder Apartment, Obstacle Course & Fall/Drop
• a staging area with various equipment
• a test area: forcible entry, establishing an emergency air supply, rescue tools, stair rescue (floor change)
• an after-action review area
• a breathing apparatus glossary

Breathing Apparatus / PPE

Breathing apparatus (SCBA) will be provided to all participants. It is not required to bring your own SCBA.

However, each team must bring its own personal protective equipment (PPE). Applicable standards:

• firefighting boots according to DIN EN 15090
• protective jacket and trousers according to DIN EN 469 (e.g., Nomex, PBI …)
• protective gloves according to DIN EN 659
• fire helmet according to EN 443
• full-face mask and self-contained breathing apparatus according to EN 136 and EN 137
• flame protection hood according to EN 13911:2017

Comparable national standards are accepted; in case of doubt, the instructor’s decision applies.

Registration

You can secure a starting slot in advance. In some cases, spontaneous participation at our stand will be possible – however, there is no guarantee.

Walk-Up Trials

Knee pads, gloves, and zero-visibility goggles are available on site for loan, allowing you to try the stations yourself during available time slots.

Scientific Evaluation

The stations are accompanied by external assistants using questionnaires to gather insights on procedures, equipment, tactics, and challenges.

Scoring

Scoring is based on professional criteria (e.g., patient harm, violations of safety regulations). Each station is debriefed and evaluated together with the crew and the responsible instructors.

Stations

Station 1 – Mayday “Hoarder Apartment”

Fire in a multi-family dwelling, no lives at risk. The attack crew of the first engine advances through a heavily cluttered 2-room ground-floor apartment under zero-visibility conditions. Under high physical strain, the crew leader collapses. The firefighter is unable to transmit a radio message or rescue the partner independently, exits the apartment alone, and declares a MAYDAY.

Assignment to the RIT: “Water team HLF 01, MAYDAY situation: you become RIT for HLF 01. Rescue the crew leader, establish a safe air supply, and perform a patient-oriented rescue. Proceed with C-hose, RIT bag, suitable rescue tools, forcible entry tools, and SCBA, following the attack crew’s hose line!”

Your task: Rescue the attack crew leader. Under zero visibility: advance with hose line, perform forcible entry, establish a safe air supply, and carry out a patient-oriented rescue.

Station 2 – Obstacle Course with Rescue

Ceiling collapse in the basement, one firefighter missing. Explosion in a multi-family dwelling with unclear smoke conditions. The crew was sent into the basement via a street-side coal chute. During operations, a partial collapse occurs; the firefighter falls into a narrow basement compartment and is unconscious. The partner cannot establish radio contact, exits the building, and declares MAYDAY.

Assignment to the RIT: “Water team HLF 01, MAYDAY situation: you become RIT for HLF 01. Immediate rescue of the crew leader. With suitable rescue equipment and SCBA, proceed into the basement via the coal chute, following the attack crew’s C-hose!”

Your task: Rescue the missing crew leader as quickly as possible. Obstacles include level changes, collapsed beams, hanging cables, and confined spaces. Rescue is performed along the entry route. Scenario under normal visibility.

Station 3 – Fall/Drop

Fire involving a sewer flushing vehicle; fall into an open manhole. The firefighter falls into the shaft and lies unconscious at a depth of approx. 2 m.

Assignment to the RIT: “Water team HLF 01, MAYDAY situation: you become RIT for HLF 01. Immediate rescue of the downed firefighter. With suitable rescue equipment and SCBA, proceed into the sewer via the manhole!”

Your task: Rescue the fallen firefighter as quickly as possible. As the sewer has not been gas-tested, operations below ground level must be carried out using SCBA; at street level, work may be performed without SCBA. Scenario under normal visibility.