Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Team prepare to defend world title at ‘Rope Rescue Olympics’

Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Team prepare to defend world title at ‘Rope Rescue Olympics’

2023-04-03

A team of firefighters from Kaohsiung have a very unusual specialism. The Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Team are the world champions in emergency rescue on ropes. In 2019 they won the world cup, and next month they’re off to France to compete again. Rope rescue is an important specialty for firefighters. It can save time, and save lives, during emergencies in tall buildings.

A firefighter fixes his ropes, attaches the rescue equipment, and slowly descends the side of a building.

The team are simulating a rescue mission, using a hanging stretcher to rescue a casualty.

The Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Team are composed of Kaohsiung City firefighters who can be seen at many difficult rescue scenes. In May, the team will travel to France to compete in the “Olympics of Rope Rescue.”

Kung Chui-hsiang
Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Team head
We won the world cup in 2019. The contestants have been competing for all these years and they have a lot of experience, but inevitably their physical stamina is on the decline. So basically, what we need to work on most is constantly maintaining our physical condition.

The team first took part in the contest in 2018, winning the “Best Newcomers” medal that year. In 2019, they won the world cup. But the competition has been suspended for three years due to the pandemic. Their goal this year is to defend the world title.

Kung Chui-hsiang
Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Team head
The hardest thing is they don’t announce any of the tasks in advance. So you only know what you’ll be doing in the tasks five minutes beforehand. The organizer tells you what type of rescue to complete. So we have to adapt spontaneously to the task.

The team has a lot of real-life emergency experience, as well as regular group practice to build trust. The competition is a chance to meet peers from around the world, but also just another day to practice the skills that could save someone’s life.

法國遠征"繩索界奧運" 高市消防隊盼衛冕

2023-04-03

由高雄市消防隊員組成的繩索救援隊，曾在有繩索界奧運之稱的「國際繩索救援挑戰賽」中獲得世界冠軍，但疫情中斷三年沒有參加，如今疫情趨緩，他們今年五月，也將再度遠征法國挑戰，希望衛冕冠軍。

身上固定好繩索，帶著救難配備，沿著大樓牆壁緩緩垂降。

消防隊員模擬出勤救護，用吊掛方式將傷者放到擔架，順利救起。

他們都是高雄繩索救援隊的成員，由高雄市消防隊員組成，不少艱困的搜救場合都能看見他們的身影，而隊員們5月也將遠征法國，挑戰有繩索界奧運之稱的「國際繩索救援挑戰賽」。

[[高雄繩索救援隊隊長孔垂翔]]
"因為2019年已經有拿到世界冠軍，參賽人員比賽這麼多年了，經驗很豐富，但體力難免都會有下降，所以基本上要一直維持體能條件，是我們比較需要去補充的部分"

高雄繩索救援隊，2018年第一次參賽，就獲得最佳新人獎，2019年奪得世界冠軍，但受到疫情影響停賽三年，這次目標在重登冠軍寶座。

[[高雄繩索救援隊隊長孔垂翔]]
"最難的地方是他不會公布任何一道題目，所以要到達現場的前五分鐘，才會知道這題目在做些什麼事，關主會告訴你應該要做到什麼樣的救援，所以我們要臨機應變"

除了豐富的救災實戰經驗，成員還得固定團練、培養默契，這次除了要抱回冠軍，也希望繩索技能，未來能在救災上能幫助更多人。

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Sunday was Tsai Ing-wen’s last day in Guatemala. She made her final public appearance at a donation ceremony for the National Hospital of Chimaltenango, a project backed by Taiwan.

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We will continue to work with Guatemala in line with the principles of steadfast diplomacy and mutual assistance for mutual benefits, and support the long-term, substantive development of our diplomatic partner, as we also cooperate with our democratic partners in the international community.

The two heads of state toured the medical facility. Giammattei said his country would continue to support Taiwan’s sovereignty unconditionally.

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As the leader of this pacifist country, I hope that the tensions created by mainland China in the Taiwan Strait will end soon. These tensions cast a shadow and steal the happiness and peace of the people of the R.O.C. Taiwan.

As a parting gift, President Tsai gave her host a miniature model of the hospital. She was bid farewell with a heartfelt sentiment.

Alejandro Giammattei
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President Tsai, you are taking with you a piece of our hearts. Take good care of it. Because Guatemala is also keeping a piece of your heart here.

Tsai Ing-wen
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In a few weeks, we’ll be receiving President Giammattei in Taipei.

Tsai said her heart would remain in Guatemala, and that she would welcome her host to Taipei in just a few weeks’ time.

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Ma Ying-jeou (April 2)
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During his visit to Hunan University, former President Ma Ying-jeou spoke about Taiwan’s and China’s Constitutions. The Mainland Affairs Council on Monday responded to his comments.

In a statement, the council stated that Ma was echoing China’s “One China” principle, which the CCP uses to justify its attempts to annex Taiwan. It added that Ma’s statement ran contrary to mainstream opinion in Taiwan.

A DPP lawmaker also protested Ma’s remarks. She said that according to Taiwan’s Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Republic of China only comprises Taiwan proper, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. She said that Ma was out of touch with reality.

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Mr. Ma’s words yesterday disappointed many Taiwanese people. He’s completely fallen for China’s carrot-and-stick policies on Taiwan. The “1992 Consensus,” “one China with different interpretations” and the R.O.C. Constitution have all been refuted by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

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Wang Chih-sheng
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The definition of the inherent territory of the R.O.C. is a political matter. But Ma Ying-jeou has ignored the constitutional interpretation by the justices. All Ma Ying-jeou wants to do is use his so-called “one China Constitution” to ease in Beijing’s “One China” principle. It’s to confuse the international community into believing that Taiwan’s own Constitution states that we are part of China.

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今天,帶大家去淡水的一座花園,一位迷上鹿角蕨的日式餐廳老闆,花了三年左右的時間,種植了上千株大小不同的鹿角蕨,現在已對外開放給民眾參觀,一起來瞧瞧。
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Another popular staghorn here is the Ridley’s staghorn fern, which greatly resembles a monkey’s brain. Coming in different sizes and shapes, these staghorn ferns were all planted and cared for by Wang Kuo-hua, a successful restaurant owner with several Japanese restaurant chains under his belt. It’s a team effort with his daughter, who is in charge of social media marketing for the garden. The pandemic had a major impact on his restaurants, which is why he decided to start planting his own staghorn ferns. The fruits of his care are now on view for anyone who wants to visit.

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We started in the restaurant industry, but due to some changes during the pandemic, we started planting staghorn ferns. At first, it was my father’s hobby, but under the impact of the pandemic on the restaurant industry, it gradually became a therapeutic activity. It only took us two years from planting the first staghorn fern to now, the 1,000th.

Wang says staghorn ferns can grow both indoors and outdoors in low to medium light and moderate moisture. Outdoor plants should be located in spaces with partial shade or low light conditions, while indoor plants need bright indirect light. To water the staghorns, they submerge them into a bucket of water.

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Staghorn ferns originally grow in forests, attached to trees, so they like environments that are partially shady and humid. So, I will suggest that if you want to take one home to grow, the most important thing is the environment. We don’t want it to be too hot. What it likes is filtered light. If it is planted indoors, it must be equipped with growing lights. You don’t have to water it that regularly.

Here in this greenhouse garden, one designer is in charge of decorating the staghorn ferns by putting them on boards.

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In the future, we want to combine our garden with a restaurant. Our greenhouse is 200 ping, and the restaurant, which will be built outside in the future, is still under construction.

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