Community safety week 2012 – update

This morning, members of the Skerries Coast Guard team were at Balbriggan’s farmers market for the official launch of the Balbriggan Community Safety week. The Skerries Coast Guard team hosted a packed water safety stand at the launch. Minister of State, Roisin Shorthall officially launched the event, joined by member of Fingal Council and Balbriggan Town Council. The event was also well attended by the national media. Further photos of the Community Safety Week are available on Balbriggan.net and on Balbriggan.info

Coast Guard helicopter display

Tomorrow, Saturday 22nd September at 10:30 the Coast Guard helicopter will perform an airborne display over Balbriggan beach. Do come down for 10:30 to take a look at this impressive helicopter in action over the Balbriggan skies. Members of the Skerries Coast Guard team will also be taking part in the display, demonstrating their rescue skills.

 

Report of red flare – 23rd August 2012

Shortly before 23:00 this evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate public reports of a red distress flare sighted off the Balbriggan/Gormonston coast. A concerned member of the public in Skerries had sighted the red flare and reported it to the Coast Guard.

The Skerries Coast Guard team immediately conducted a detailed search of the coastline and nothing unusual was found, no further flares were sighted. Visibility in the area was very good with clear skies.

Incident #11 of 2012

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard. 

Report of possible upturned boat adrift – 13th August 2012

This evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate a report of a possible upturned boat adrift near Skerries. A concerned member of the public had contacted the Coast Guard to report the object, drifting in the area of Barnageera Bay, approximately 2 miles North of Skerries.

The Dublin based Coast Guard helicopter (Rescue 116) was also tasked to assist with the search and conducted a thorough search of both the sea and shoreline.

The Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a coastline search from Skerries to Balbriggan, including Barnageera Bay with nothing unusual noted and no objects sighted in the water.

Both the Skerries and Howth lifeboats also assisted with the search.

Incident # 9 of 2012

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty, even if you only think that someone could be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. Your call could save their life.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary search and rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard.

Water safety talk with Balbriggan Order of Malta

This evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team visited their local Order of Malta station at Hampton Street, Balbriggan to deliver a water safety talk to the unit’s cadets. The Order of Malta cadets are aged between 10 and 16 years and are part of the Ambulance Corp.

This highly interactive safety talk focused on lifejackets, in particular the importance of wearing them correctly and how they save lives. The cadets also learned what actions to take to safely help someone in difficulty in the water and most importantly how to raise the alarm.

During the evening, the enthusiastic cadets also had the opportunity to try on the various lifejackets and water safety equipment used by Coast Guard volunteers when they are operating near water.

Overall, the evening was very enjoyable for the cadets, with plenty of questions asked both about water safety and the Coast Guard. This water safety talk is part of a series of safety initiatives the cadets are taking part in for their Order of Malta Achievement Programme.

For more information on the Balbriggan Order of Malta, visit their website.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty in the water, even if you only think they could be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. Your call could save their life.

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