A life-saving training session
Writer: Liu Xudong, Lin Songtao | Editor: Liu Minxia | From: Shenzhen Daily | Updated: 2022-09-01
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The Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation (SRVF), formerly known as the Shenzhen Mountain Rescue Team, was initiated by the Shenzhen Mountaineering and Outdoor Sport Association right after the May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. It is a self-organized, civilian professional rescue team, with all operating funds raised on their own.
Since its inception, the SRVF has been actively involved in major disaster rescue and response work. From May 2008 to April 2009, the team sent more than 100 people to the disaster areas in Sichuan Province to help with disaster relief and reconstruction. Between 2008 and 2016, the team participated in rescue operations in 48 major natural disasters, saving nearly 100 people in distress. They also took part in rescue work during the 2010 Yunnan-Guizhou drought, the 2013 Ya'an earthquake, the 2013 Shanwei and Yingde floods, the 2014 northern Guangdong floods, the Hainan windstorm and the Yunnan earthquake.
The federation has six professional teams: mountain rescue team, aerial rescue team, medical aid team, urban search and rescue team, water rescue team and emergency communication team. All SRVF members are volunteers, aged between 18 and 65 years old. After nine years of development, the federation now has 912 rescue volunteers and members, coming from all walks of life, becoming energetic, socially responsible and public-spirited examples of Shenzhen residents.
The following photos were taken Aug. 26 at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain. The training session on that day mainly involved high-altitude rope rescues, aiming to hone their skills such as assisted climbing, making transverse movements with the help of apparatus and rope throwing.
Rescue volunteers of the Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation (SRVF) prepare to climb ropes during a training session at their training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26. Photos by Liu Xudong except otherwise stated
A rescue volunteer of the SRVF is seen before climbing ropes in a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26.
A female member of the SRVF is seen during a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26.
An SRVF volunteer is seen during a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26. Lin Songtao
An SRVF volunteer is seen during a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26. Lin Songtao
A female volunteer is seen during a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26.
An SRVF rescue volunteer shows to her teammate how to use an aparatus during a training session at their training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26. Lin Songtao
An SRVF rescue volunteer shows to his teammate how to use an aparatus during a training session at their training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26. Lin Songtao
Shi Xin, head of the SRVF, talks to Shenzhen Daily reporters in an exclusive interview Aug. 26.
An SRVF volunteer is seen during a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26.
A female volunteer is seen during a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26.
SRVF volunteers are seen during a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26.
An SRVF volunteer is seen during a training session at the federation's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain on Aug. 26.
A bird's-eye view of the SRVF's training base at the foot of Wutong Mountain.