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Bomberos Medellín Matpel win Colombia's Life-saving DKtlon

Jacqueline Windh and Press Release / 14.01.2007

The Life-saving DKatlon is the final test for all the emergency responders in Colombia. Thanks to this unique race, the degree of preparedness of the rescuers and firefighters is measured, so we can tell how they will face the challenge of saving lives and real emergencies

For 24 straight hours, up to 35 national and foreign teams, of 5 members each and divided into three different categories, will have to travel 60 kilometers inside Medellín and Santa Elena to show their skills in prehospital attention, aerial, vertical, vehicular and aquatic rescue. Participants will have to jog, row, pedal and figure out team strategies, they will face an antipersonnel mines environment, and they will have to be able to use maps and compass. Here is a report of the 3rd annual competition, which took place last month around Medellín.

Although the Bomberos de Cali arrived first at the Finish Line, the winners of the 3rd DKtlon Salvavidas (Life-saving DKtlon) were the members of the Bomberos Medellín Matpel because, interestingly, in this race it is not always the fastest team that wins.

What really matters in the DKtlon is that you take the time to rescue a patient properly – because what really is at risk is someone’s life.

The 3rd DKtlon took place on Dec. 8-10 2006, and started on bicicyles under an intense downpour that caused some slipping and sliding on the route. This did not stop the 130 lifesaving competitors, who were divided into 26 teams mostly coming from regional units of firefighters (Bomberos) and paramedics or rescue crews (Brigadas de Emergencia).

Some of the tests that they had to pass during the race were: water rescue, vertical rescue, and walking through a minefield. A few of the rescue teams ended up in the water. The vertical rescue was a simulation of an evacuation of people trapped atop Mount Rusa. Some teams showed little knoweldge of how to get around the anti-personnel mines and ended up stepping on some of them. This part of the competition was directed by Professional Soldiers from the National Army, using mine simulators.