ER24 Joburg West, and the West Rand K9 Unit recently had an exhilarating day as they hung over a 120 metre drop during a joint rope training exercise in Roodekrans.

The exercise was held in Jarrah Street on Wednesday, 2 November on the face of a steep hill in a ravine overlooking a small stream.

ER24 uses these initiatives and training exercises in order to focus on being prepared for any type of emergency. The aim of the exercise was to test readiness, skills and equipment.

Hentie Malan, branch manager of ER24 Joburg West, believes that their search and rescue teams need to be prepared if their assistance is needed by the K9 Unit.

“There are a number of cliffs in the area,” said Hentie.

“The more we do these exercises at different locations, the better prepared we will be should there be an emergency.”

Hentie also said the more they do these exercises the more they realise community members could easily plummet 50 to 100 metres down the cliffs in the area. “We see areas where accessibility to patients is going to be a challenge.”

ER24 has identified several areas in Northcliff and Roodekrans that pose an imminent danger to the public. “A lot of people do rock climbing in these areas. We have to be prepared if someone falls.”

ER24 plans to do these exercises regularly.

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