White parachute flares were deployed from the high cliffs overlooking the bay, proving very effective at illuminating large sections of the shoreline. Overall, the exercise was very useful with all the search teams successfully and quickly locating their missing person “targets”.

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

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

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This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a search training exercise at Bremore, one mile north of Balbriggan harbour. This scenario based exercise included a detailed shore search covering several miles of the North Balbriggan coast. Weather on scene was favourable, with good visibility and dry conditions. As part of the exercise, the team also fired several marine flares. Photos of this exercise are available in our online gallery.

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 rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard

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This evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in oxygen awareness training. This interactive session centred on the use of oxygen in pre-hospital medical and trauma emergencies. Oxygen is one of the most commonly used medications in the pre-hospital emergency care environment.

The training session included an explanation of the different types of oxygen cylinders available and the important safety considerations with their use. The team took part in a practical instruction in the use of the common white CD portable oxygen cylinder, which holds up to 460L of compressed oxygen.

The brief also covered the range of oxygen delivery devices used in the pre-hospital emergency care environment, including; non rebreather mask, venturi mask, nebuliser mask, nasal cannula, and the bag valve mask (BVM). The appropriate flow rates for each mask was also discussed along with the resulting oxygen % delivery.

The team explored the vast range of pre-hospital emergency scenarios where oxygen is used and the special considerations required for COPD (Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease) casualties.  The team also received a practical demonstration on the typical oxygen saturation (SpO2) measuring devices used in pre-hospital care, and their associated limitations.

Overall, the evening proved extremely informative and emphasised the importance of awareness of the use of this vital component of pre-hospital emergency care management.  

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From early morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in a large scale land search exercise at Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan. The day was divided into two principal training events: the first a challenging initial response land search for a missing person; the second, a wide ranging orienteering course.

The land search kicked off with a initial brief on a recently reported missing person. As the search was centred on the initial response phase, techniques such as purposeful wandering proved very effective as the teams tackled the dense forest area.

The second phase of the exercise focused on challenging the team’s orienteering skills, taking them through a series of compass and bearing scenarios. This brought them across the many acres of open parkland, overlooking Barnageera Bay and Skerries harbour in the distance.

Overall, the training day was a great success and also proved a useful opportunity for the passing members of public to find out more about their local coast guard.

More photos are available in our online photo gallery

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This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard volunteers were out in force for a land search training exercise at Loughshinny, 3 miles South of Skerries. With clear skies and light winds providing excellent weather conditions on scene.

The training was centered on the scenario of a missing person search of the remote grassland area. The area of the exercise has been the focus for several missing person incidents that the Skerries team were tasked to in recent years.

 The team’s 4WD vehicle acted as the on site communications and control base for the exercise. The volunteers were split into separate search teams, each tasked to search designated zones. The searches progressed well and all objects successfully located. 

For the final search exercise, the search zone moved to an area of mixed and undulating grassland, dissected by a small river. Again, the teams were challenged by the rough terrain, however the search objects were successfully locate.

You can view more photos of this exercise in our online photo gallery

Remember – if you spot someone if difficulty on the coast or cliffs, or even if you think that someone could be in difficulty – dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

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This evening, members of the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in routine first aid training. The focus for the evening was on first aid treatment for diabetic emergencies – specifically hypo/hyperglycaemic emergencies. The training commenced with an introduction to the condition, from the point of view of the diabetic themselves and included a practical demonstration of the medications and control devices commonly used.

A hands on use of the blood glucose monitoring devices was also covered.

The training also included a demonstration of the Glucagon IM kit (commonly referred to as the “hypo kit”), used by Paramedics to attempt to reverse a hypoglycaemic coma.

Overall, this training proved very useful and informative, building the team’s awareness of diabetes and the critical emergencies that can occur to those with the condition.

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This evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in a large scale search and rescue training exercise. The search area was focused on the headland of Red Island, near Skerries harbour. The exercise was based on the scenario of a person reported missing, last seen in the Red Island area before darkness fell. Following the initial search brief, each of the teams dispersed to their respective search areas and the systematic search of the area commenced. Despite the challenging terrain and poor on scene weather conditions, the casualty was successfully located.

At this point, the exercise moved to the rescue aspect as the Skerries Coast Guard team demonstrated their casualty assessment and emergency first aid skills.

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Today, several members of the Skerries Coast Guard team successfully completed their first aid recertification. This PHECC accredited recertification was carried out for the first time in conjunction with the Civil Defence training college. Key topics assessed in the recertification included casualty assessment and monitoring, treatment of trauma and medical emergencies, environmental related emergencies, treatment of burn injuries, and handover techniques. This first aid training represents one of the core search and rescue skills held by the Skerries Coast Guard team. 

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At daybreak this morning, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard took part in their first training exercise of 2011. The team joined forces with the crew of the Coast Guard’s Dublin based Sikorsky S-61N helicopter (EI-MES) for some routine training.

The chosen landing site was at Red Island, near Skerries harbour with on scene weather conditions proving favourable to the training event.  After landing and rotor shutdown, the Skerries team were given an excellent ground briefing by the helicopter crew. This served as a useful refresher on helicopter operations, landing site selection & preparations, comms, embarking & disembarking techniques, winching, and the helicopter’s search & rescue equipment.

Once the ground briefing was completed, the team then took part in a practical winching exercise with the helicopter. The recent new additions to the Skerries team also took part in a familarisation flight along the coast.

]]> http://www.skerriescoastguard.com/2011/01/02/training-with-coast-guard-helicopter-5/feed/ 0 http://www.skerriescoastguard.com/2010/11/28/training-photos-updated/ http://www.skerriescoastguard.com/2010/11/28/training-photos-updated/#comments Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:31:06 +0000 admin http://www.skerriescoastguard.com/?p=1039

We’ve added more photos of Skerries Coast Guard’s recent pyrotechnics training to our online gallery.  Click here to view the gallery.

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