Statewide competition to test lifesaving skills of electric line workers

Raleigh, N.C. —North Carolina’s top electric cooperative line workers will assemble in Raleigh on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 16 to determine the 2014 Pole Top Rescue Champions. This competition pits line workers against the clock and each other as they demonstrate essential lifesaving skills. Each competitor had to win a local competition in order to advance to the championship in Raleigh.

The event will be hosted on the lawn of the Raleigh office for North Carolina’s electric cooperatives. The building is located at the intersection of Capital and Sumner Boulevards. The competition begins at 9 a.m. with 24 local cooperative champions competing to secure one of the top spots. You can also follow along live on Twitter @NCelectriccoop using the hashtag #ncpoletop. Click here for more information.

At the Pole Top Rescue competition, a line worker must perform in a scenario which finds a fellow worker unconscious atop a utility pole. The competitor, dressed in full climbing gear, must radio for help, scale 20-feet up a utility pole, rig a rope, lower a 105-pound mannequin and begin CPR. Previous winners have completed the competition in less than two minutes. There will be two competition categories this year, each receiving prizes for first, second and third place.

The scenario used at the Pole Top Rescue competition is the same scenario all of North Carolina electric cooperative line workers must perform in less than five minutes in order to maintain their certification to work on co-op lines.

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide energy to 2.5 million people in 93 of 100 counties, primarily in the rural parts of state. The electric cooperatives own and maintain 98,000 miles of power lines.

The list below will provide you with the names of participants, the electric cooperative the participant works for and the counties served by that co-op. The list reflects the order of competition, which begins at 9 a.m. Please note, this is not a public event, but it does make for compelling pictures and footage.