Photo Essay: SURF mine rescue competition hones skills for next generation of first responders

Responding to emergencies that happen underground requires a unique skillset and specialized training.

Part of this training includes mine rescue competitions that teams from around the country participate in frequently. Two university-based mine rescue teams, from South Dakota Mines and Colorado Mines, recently took part in a competition at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) that was set up to test a range of skills and mimic real-world emergency scenarios underground.

Barry VanSickle is the supervisor for SURF’s Emergency Response Team (ERT). With 370-miles of underground vertical shafts and horizontal drifts, SURF’s ERT is equipped and ready to assist should an emergency occur on site. VanSickle says facilitating this collegiate mine rescue competition fits SURF’s mission to advance world class science and inspire learning across generations.

“This is really about the education of these students, and we are happy to provide a place and help facilitate this real-world training that builds the expertise in the critical skills needed to safely accomplish emergency response and rescue in underground areas,” VanSickle said.

SURF ERT members also helped facilitate this university competition. This included filling a drift at the 300 Level of SURF with smoke to mimic a mine rescue situation in low-visibility conditions. Each team had to enter the drift and perform a set of tasks to safely locate and rescue injured people during this mock drill.

The competition also featured various challenge stations that tested participants’ abilities in crucial areas including: 

• Medical triage practices to prioritize and simultaneously treat common mining injuries.
• Troubleshooting and fixing problems with an underground breathing apparatus. 
• Identifying, diagnosing, and fixing issues with underground gas detection equipment.
• Rope rescue training,  led by the ERT at SURF’s own rope rescue training area.