April 7th, 2010
This evening, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard took part in routine Search and Rescue training at Red Island, Skerries. This centered on the scenario of the team being tasked to assist a person in difficulty in the water. The exercise was based at the Springers public bathing area on Red Island. Upon arriving at the scene, the volunteers’ immediate task was to locate the person in the water and to recover them from the water using a rescue throwline.
SCG volunteers performing CPR on resus training dummy
Once the casualty was successfully assisted to the shoreline, the exercise scenario then progressed to the casualty suddenly developing cardiac arrest. The Skerries Coast Guard volunteers immediately began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). CPR is an important first aid skill used to keep a casualty’s vital organs alive immediately after a heart attack or another event, such as drowning, that can cause a person to stop breathing. The volunteers maintained constant CPR for over 20 minutes, the average expected time for additional medical resources to arrive on scene.
The training was both very realistic and beneficial for all the Coast Guard team members involved. Skerries Coast Guard would like to thank the members of the public who were in the Red Island area during the exercise for their cooperation.
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April 1st, 2010
At 19:30 Skerries Coast Guard responded to reports of abandoned flares at the harbour area in Skerries. Several marine rocket distress flares and smoke flares were located by the Skerries team near the high water line on the beach, several metres from a busy public slipway. The flares appeared to have been in the water for some time. Given the poor condition of the flares and in the interest of public safety, the Coast Guard requested the Gardai to attend the scene. The Gardai took the flares into their possession for later disposal by the Army Ordnance Unit.
Remember – If you see anything unusual on the coast, call 112 or 999 and ask for the COAST GUARD.
Incident # 7 of 2010
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March 31st, 2010
Photo shows Coast Guard winchman returning to the helicopter at the completion of the rescue operation
At 10:05 this morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked by the Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to assist a kitesurfer in difficulty. Concerned members of the public on the South Beach, Rush had contacted the Coast Guard on 999 to report that a lone kitesurfer appeared to be in serious difficulty some 200 metres off the shore. The Coast Guard’s Sikorsky helicopter, Rescue 116, based at Dublin Airport was also immediately tasked to the scene. The Skerries lifeboat was also requested to assist.
Both the Skerries Coast Guard team and the Coast Guard helicopter arrived at the scene within minutes and quickly located the kitesurfer. The adult male’s limbs had become tightly tangled in the lines of the kite. He was unable to free himself and as a result, his movement in the water was severely restricted. Fortunately, the kitesurfer was wearing a suitable buoyancy aid which kept him afloat. Conditions on scene were very difficult with Northwest winds gusting force 7 to 8.
The Coast Guard helicopter launched a winch operation and successfully rescued the kitesurfer from the sea. He was then landed safely on the shoreline. The Skerries Coast Guard team cut the kitesurfer free from his lines and provided medical assistance. Fortunately, the kitesurfer was uninjured and suffering only mild hypothermia.
Incident # 6 of 2010
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March 30th, 2010
This afternoon, members of the Skerries Coast Guard team assisted with the rescue of a stranded seal pup at the North beach in Skerries. Concerned members of the public had reported to local Gardai that the animal was in distress as it was stranded near the high water line.
A member of the Skerries Coast Guard team, who is also a qualified marine wildlife medic, removed the animal from the beach for onward transportation to the Seal Sanctuary.
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March 21st, 2010
At daybreak this morning, the members of Skerries Coast Guard took part in operations training with the Dublin Coast Guard helicopter, EI-RCG. The landing site selected was at Red Island, Skerries. Local Gardai also took part in the exercise.
More photos are available in our photo gallery
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March 17th, 2010
Skerries Coast Guard volunteers marched in the local St Patrick’s day parade. The 2010 parade was as popular as ever, with crowds lining the main street. The Dublin Coast Guard helicopter, EI-MES, also performed a flyover for the parade.
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March 10th, 2010
Shortly after 18:00 this evening the Irish Coast Guard launched a major rescue operation for an injured child near Balbriggan harbour. A 12 year old male had reportedly fallen from cliffs near the harbour area, known locally as “the Bower”.
The casualty was treated at the base of the cliffs by Fire Brigade personnel. Given the difficult terrain, the Coast Guard deemed it necessary to evacuate the casualty by helicopter winch. The Skerries Coast Guard team together with Fire Brigade and ambulance personnel assisted with the highline winching. As a precaution, the Skerries lifeboat was requested to standby in the area.
Once safely winched from the scene, the casualty was taken by the Coast Guard helicopter to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
The Coast Guard would remind members of the public to take extreme care when on or near cliffs, especially in low light conditions.
Incident #5 of 2010
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Local website, balbriggan.net has some photos of the Coast Guard helicopter during the rescue posted on their site, click here to view
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February 27th, 2010
This evening at 20:18, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate reports of a distress flare fired in the skies over the Balbriggan coast. A 999 caller had reported to the Coast Guard’s rescue coordination centre that the flare may have been fired from the area near Balbriggan harbour.
Members of the Skerries Coast Guard team were at the harbour area within minutes of the tasking and commenced a search of the coastline. However, nothing unusual was found and the team were later stood down.
Incident #4 of 2010
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February 20th, 2010
The Skerries Coast Guard team were at Ardgillan Park, Balbriggan today for intensive land search training.
The day kicked off with an early morning woodland search. This was centered on the scenario of a person reported missing in the area since the previous night. Weather conditions at the scene were challenging, bitterly cold sub zero conditions prevailed, with freezing fog hampering visibility. This proved a useful test of the team’s personal all weather kit.
The first search was successfully completed. The casualty was located, treated and evacuated from the scene.
The second phase of the search training involved a mixed grassland and marsh search for a number of objects including discarded pyrotechnics and an EPIRB.
Overall, the training day was a great success for the Skerries team and provided a useful opportunity to test out our response to real life search and rescue situations.
Skerries Coast Guard wish to thank the staff of Ardgillan Park for the use of the ground for this training.
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February 10th, 2010
skerries coast guard
Skerries Coast Guard team members undertook a practical Triage training exercise on Loughshinny Beach earlier this evening. All members were briefed on Triage principles beforehand. This involves a process in which a group of casualties is sorted and prioritised relative to their need for care. The nature of the illness, or injury, the severity of the problem and the facilities available, govern the process thus allowing a an unthinkable situation more manageable.
Tags: loughshinny, night search, Training, Triage
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