Category Archives: Training

Pyrotechnic training at Bremore Point

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This evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a training exercise at Bremore Point, Balbriggan. The exercise focused on the use of signal parachute flares in search and rescue. During the exercise the team deployed several white parachute flares, visible for several miles.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary search & rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard.

Remember – if you spot anyone in difficulty along the coast or cliffs, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

SCG vehicle

Search Training at Rush Beach

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This morning, under the bright Winter sun, the Skerries Coast Guard team were out in force at the South Beach, Rush for some search & rescue training.

The search scenario centred on the extensive South Beach area and was built on the scenario of two persons reported missing in the area. Both search teams successfully searched their respective areas and the missing targets were quickly located.

The team also refreshed their off-road driving with some task based exercises along the shoreline.

Further photos of the exercise are available in our online photo gallery.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty along the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

 

Training with Coast Guard helicopter

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This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in a helicopter operations training exercise with the crew of the Dublin based Coast Guard helicopter, EI-CXS. The helicopter landed at Red Island, Skerries at 10:00 where its crew gave a very detailed operations briefing to the Skerries team. The briefing also covered the various SAR equipment used onboard the helicopter, including infra red cameras (FLIR), Night Sun searchlight, winching operations and flight controls..

In advance of the helicopter’s arrival, the Skerries team cleared and prepared the Red Island landing zone. Smoke flares were also deployed by the team to assist the flight crew with determining the wind speed and direction during the landing.

This very enjoyable exercise forms part of the Skerries Coast Guard team’s regular training program.

Photos of the exercise are available in our online gallery.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard

SARDA search dog training

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Earlier today the Skerries Coast Guard team took up a recent invitation to attend a SARDA search dog training event at Donabate, on the banks of the Malahide estuary. This was a fantastic opportunity for the Skerries Coast Guard team to meet with several SARDA search dog handlers and observe first hand the years of rigorous training their dogs undergo.

The day proved very insightful and impressive, with the Skerries team observing several different searches over varied and challenging terrain, each time the dogs successfully locating their “missing person” with incredible skill and efficiency.

SARDA Ireland is a voluntary emergency search and rescue organisation concerned with the training, assessment and deployment of air scenting search and rescue dogs to search for missing persons. For further information on SARDA visit their website at www.sardaireland.com

Skerries Coast Guard would like to sincerely thank SARDA for this opportunity to attend their training event and look forward to working with them again in the future.

More photos are available in our online photo gallery.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary search and rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard.