The exercise was based on the scenario of a mass evacuation required across the estuary. The Coast Guard teams provided support in the form of rescue boats, shore teams and the Coast Guard helicopter.

More photos are available in our gallery.

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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.

Skerries Coast Guard volunteers on Mornington beach, at Drogheda CG combined unit exercise August 2009

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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

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The object of the exercise was to facilitate a helicopter landing under cover of darkness

A landing site was selected on Red Island, Skerries and the volunteers quickly cordoned, prepared and set up the designated landing site. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter (EI-RCG) made their approach and performed a brief landing, simulated casualty evacuation and departure.

The Coast Guard helicopter did some demonstration of their night time illumination equipment or “Night Sun”. This is used for night searches or night approaches for landing the aircraft. The Night Sun is remotely controlled by a crewman from within the helicopter and has a strength of 30 million candlepower.

Some of the Skerries volunteers also had a brief look at how the Helicopter crew uses F.L.I.R (Forward Looking Infra Red) technology to locate persons using thermal imagery.  

Weather conditions on scene were fair with a cold, light to moderate SW breeze.

Our thanks to the crew of EI-RCG for another professional job well done!

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The exercise involved scenario based training in HazChem search techniques,  including use of the international HazChem identification and action codes. The primary aim when responding to such incidents is to quickly identify the specific or generic classification of the material(s) involved in the incident, and to protect both on-scene emergency services personnel and the general public during this initial response phase of the incident.

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These rocket flares are frequently used by the Coast Guard during incidents as a means of illuminating large areas at night and also as a signalling aid.

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Today, the volunteers from Skerries Coast Guard took part in a cliff rescue training exercise, organised by our flank station in Howth.

Howth Coast Guard is one of 17 cliff rescue units based around the Irish coastline. Skerries volunteers were able to see first hand how a cliff rescue is set up and operated, and also how a casualty might be recovered from steep ground.

The Skerries team also had an opportunity to participate and did some descending and ascending on steep terrain under Howth’s expert supervison.

Weather conditions were good with a freshening wind and clear visibility.

Many thanks to all our colleagues in Howth Coast Guard.

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The training also covered a practical demonstration in the use of the team’s night vision equipment.

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Scenario

The exercise was centered on the scenario of 3 adults being reported missing, last seen heading out to the islands off Skerries in a small boat. 

Phase I

Phase I of the exercise took place in the morning and involved search teams being deployed by Coast Guard boats to the three islands off Skerries.

A “casualty” was located by the search team on Shenick island and was treated on scene. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard helicopter, EI-MES, landed at Red Island, taking on board another rescue team and equipment.

These were deployed to Shenick Island and the casualty subsequently evacuated.

Phase II

The exercise continued in the afternoon with search teams deployed along the coast from Red Island to Loughshinney. The search coordination base remained at Red Island.

During this search, the remaining two missing persons were located by the teams. One casualty was found in the “smugglers’ cave” near Loughshinney with minor injuries.

The second casualty was located further South along the coast. The search teams treated both casualties at the scene and transported them to the nearest road access points.

Weather conditions throughout the day were generally fair with light Southerly winds and good visibility.

Overall, the CUE was a great success and the Skerries team appreciate the huge contribution from the volunteer members of their flank stations of Howth, Clogherhead and Drogheda.

More photos from the exercise are posted in our photo gallery.

Read the press article on this exercise that appeared in the Northside People.

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