Category Archives: Training

Land search training – Ardgillan Castle 26th March 2011

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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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Land search training at Loughshinny

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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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First aid training – Diabetic emergencies

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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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Search and rescue training – Red Island, Skerries

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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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