This morning, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard joined forces with their flank station of Howth, and together with the Balbriggan Order of Malta, staged a major rescue training exercise. This was the first time that Skerries Coast Guard and the Order of Malta medics have held joint training and it proved very worthwhile and successful.
The exercise was based on the scenario of an injured person requiring rescue from a remote cove in Loughshinny, about 3 miles South of Skerries. At high tide, this cove is only accessible by boat, and so in this instance required a water borne deployment of the rescue team. The Skerries Coast Guard rescue team boarded the Howth Coast Guard patrol boat at Skerries harbour. The team were then quickly deployed to the scene at Loughshinny.
Once on scene, the Skerries Coast Guard team located, assessed and stabilised the casualty. As suspected spinal injuries were involved, the casualty required full spinal immobilisation. The rescue team treated other minor fracture and bleeding injuries the casualty had suffered. The key priority being to stabilise the casualty’s condition, until the arrival of the medics, when full spinal immobilisation and evacuation could take place.
The Howth boat collected the Order of Malta EMT medics from Loughinny pier and transferred them to the scene.
Once on scene, the medics assumed control of the casualty care. The casualty’s fractures were immobilised in splints and full spinal immobilisation was also effected. Oxygen therapy was also provided.
Once the casualty was sufficiently treated, the priority then moved to evacuating to the waiting ambulance at the pier. Together with the help of the boat team, the casualty was successfully transferred to the Howth boat and arrived safely on the pier to the waiting ambulance.
The scenario was repeated, allowing for a change of personnel in the teams.
Overall the exercise was a great success, proving immensely challenging and realistic. In particular, the Coast Guard would like to thank the Balbriggan Order of Malta for their enthusiastic contribution to the exercise.
More photos are available in our online photo gallery.
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