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.

home

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

home

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

home

This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a coastal rescue exercise near Loughshinny harbour, 5 miles South of Skerries. This centered on the scenario of the Skerries team tasked to search for a person who had failed to return home from a planned walk of the area.

After a briefing on scene, two search teams were dispatched to search both the pier and the beach area. As the search progressed southwards, the teams successfully located the casualty. The exercise then focused on the team assessing the casualty’s injuries and administering first aid, while awaiting the arrival of additional resources.

For this scenario, the teams were presented with the scenario of the casualty having fallen from the cliff top to the beach below. While the casualty was conscious with minor fractures, their suspected spinal injuries required full spinal immobilisation and evacuation to be effected.

The exercise was repeated, with the casualty having suffered varying degrees of injuries.

home

This evening, the Volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard took part in a night search and rescue exercise.

A search of Red Island was conducted using 2 teams. A casualty was located and was assessed,treated and evacuated by stretcher to an area suitable for extraction by helicopter.

This exercise included training in search techniques, first aid, radio communications and team work.

Weather conditions on the night were fair with good visibility in a moderate S.W. breeze

home

This evening, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard undertook search and rescue training at the North Beach in Rush. This consisted of a scenario based exercise that included rescue of persons trapped on the beach, dealing with suspected shoreline pollution and coastal search techniques.

Weather conditions on scene were challenging with poor visibility and slight SW winds.

home