The Waterhouse Trophy—Defence Medical Competition 2009
By WOMEDIC David Murray, Medic Trade Manager
The annual NZDF medical competition for the Waterhouse Trophy was held in Burnham on 7 November. Fourteen teams from across the Defence Force were joined by an enthusiastic specialist rescue team from Christchurch Civil Defence for the day. Our Navy team consisted of:
- POMED P. Sedgeman, LMED M. Bainbridge, LMED S. Mellsop and AMED K. Ratapu.
The Joint Services Health School staff had created a series of scenarios that tested leadership, teamwork and situational awareness, along with advanced First Aid skills. The scenarios were set out in a series of six stands located in and around Burnham Camp.
The teams’ challenges included mass casualty events, combat medicine, confined space rescue, and the use of current trauma protocols. Teams dodged paintballs, crawled under fly-blown animal intestines (strategically placed for maximum effect) and dragged casualties through, around, and over obstacles. They were subjected to loud sound effects simulating collapsing buildings and wailing alarms.
A written test, presented via a timed power-point, played alongside a TV showing the action scenes from Band of Brothers and accompanied by loud music. This was to test the teams’ academic ability along with their concentration and focus.
The CPR test included, for the first time, the use of defibrillators and the latest Q-CPR high definition assessment technology provided by Laerdal (NZ). One of the team tests included sixteen casualties (cadets from NZ Cadet Forces) strewn in and around the JSHS technical rescue training area. This was a particular favourite among the four-person teams, as it tested triage skills to the limit.
The 2009 competition set a significantly higher standard of challenge compared to previous years, both physically and mentally. Despite this, the final team scores were the closest seen in over five years with most teams scoring well, and only a narrow margin separating the eventual winners, 2nd Health Support Team One from 2 HSB in Linton.
The RNZN team placed 7th overall. They put in a typical gutsy effort (especially in the stretcher carry) and demonstrated the Navy core values throughout the day. And in the spirit of continual improvement, we already have plans in place for a Navy victory in next year’s competition!
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