After a long two-year break from the National First Aid Competition due to COVID-19, cadets from all over the UK descended on Holcombe Moor Training Camp over the weekend of the 21st – 23rd October 2022 to compete against each other in the respective National Competitions on Saturday before moving forward to compete in the Tri-Service competition.
National & Tri-Service First Aid Competition
After a long two-year break from the National First Aid Competition due to COVID-19, cadets from all over the UK descended on Holcombe Moor Training Camp...
National Competition - Army Cadet Force
Despite being lower on numbers this year, we still had representation from the following areas:
National Competition - Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force Competition was lower than usual but there was some great competition. The areas represented were:
Guest Teams
This year we were sad not to be able to see the Sea Cadet Corps at this year’s competition but look forward to welcoming them back next year. We did, however, have the pleasure of hosting the London City Police cadets and look forward to welcoming them and any other emergency service cadets back next year.
Saturday…
On Saturday all the teams competed in two streams and every team competed in a team test and an individual test. This year the teams had to contend with a campsite fire, resulting in burns and scald injuries or a footballing accident which saw some lacerations, fractures and a dislocation.
The individual tests were a range of medical conditions and accidents including, diabetes, anaphylaxis, poisoning, asthma, seizures, burns and scalds.
The teams performed well, and our Honorary Colonel Sir Jonathan Van-Tam visited the cadets in the afternoon to see what they had been getting up to
Before he kindly handed out the awards at the end of Saturday’s competition.
Sunday …
The inter-services competition has historically seen the top two teams from each stream compete against each other. This year we also welcomed a RAFAC team who had won their regional competition who came along on the Sunday to compete for the inter-services champion. This competition sees all competitors compete on the same tests.
This year, the teams had to deal with accident between a car and two cyclists, in the pouring rain, as well as the individual tests which included angina, a stroke, a non-breathing casualty, where CPR needed to be carried out and a hypothermia scenario.
Despite the challenging conditions, the teams were not phased and performed quickly and professionally to the situation in front of them, resulting in a 13 point difference between 1st and 3rd place. Colonel Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, who had watched every team compete in the team test, remarked during his closing address that some teams were of such a high standard that it reminded him of his days working within an emergency department.
Once everyone had dried off, it was time for the presentations (inside because it was still pouring down).
These competitions only run with the hard work of the dedicated Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and the cadets who come along to act as casualties, the First Aid team would like to extend a huge thank you to the cadets of Merseyside ACF who provided the casualties for Saturday’s competition and to Greater London Southeast Sector ACF and Dollar Academy CCF who provided the casualties for Sunday.
Also, thank you to the volunteers who provided the media coverage, the casualty simulation, judged the scenarios, drove the teams, and supervised the cadets throughout the course of the weekend. We look forward to seeing you all in 2023.
