Scott Safety supports firefighters in trans-Tasman stair race

Scott Safety, a supplier of emergency equipment to firefighters and other emergency personnel, will be supporting Aussie and Kiwi firefighters as a gold sponsor of the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games stair race in Melbourne next month (Monday 21 April).

An estimated 25 Trans-Tasman competitors will participate in the full firefighting gear category of the race, wearing Australian Standard firefighting equipment including helmet, turnout coat, turnout pants, gloves and boots and full breathing apparatus. The full weight of the firefighting kit is 23 kg. The 160 vertical metre race is expected to be won in under six minutes.

Scott Safety will sponsor this year’s stair climb as part of their ongoing commitment to firefighters and first responders globally. Scott is also a sponsor of the World Firefighter Games, a biennial event bringing together firefighters from all over the world.

Peter Richards, Scott Safety’s Military and Civil Defence Manager, says the company is proud to be associated with the stair race, and says that Australian and New Zealand firefighters are amongst the strongest and fittest in the world. “Firefighters face a range of hazards on a daily basis - smoke and toxic fumes, combustible gases, falling objects, fire and flame, contaminants and more. Obviously they need robust and reliable protective gear to keep them safe, including respiratory, face and head protection.

“The Scott Safety self-contained breathing apparatus provided to the competitors in the stair race (the ACSi - including back plate, harness, Vision 3 full face mask and 9 L 300 bar cylinder), at 11.5 kg, is significantly lighter than other carrying systems, providing good comfort and flexibility, and will be a considerably reduced burden for competitors.

“The stair race demonstrates the incredible levels of fitness and strength required to be a firefighter, and Scott Safety is proud to support our firefighting heroes,” says Richards.

The stair race will take place on Monday 21 April 2014 up 44 storeys of the Rialto Building, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne, with registration at 8.30 am and the event starting at 9.00 am.

There are two race categories in the stair climb event - one open to all games competitors who will compete in regular athletic gear, and one for those competing in full firefighting gear.