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Major rescue exercise on Dublin coastline

Tuesday, 09 September 2008

OVER 40 coast guard members from Skerries and Howth were joined by their counterparts from Clogerhead and Drogheda in a major rescue exercise on August 30. The purpose of the Combined Unit Exercise (CUE) was to provide scenario based training on key coast guard skills, including land and coastal search, helicopter operations, radio communications, search coordination, casualty first aid and teamwork. The exercise was centred on the scenario of three adults being reported missing, last seen heading out to the islands off Skerries in a small boat. Phase one 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 at the scene. Meanwhile, the coast guard helicopter landed at Red Island taking on board another rescue team and equipment. These were deployed to Shenick Island and the ‘casualty’ was subsequently evacuated. Phase two of the exercise continued in the afternoon with search teams deployed along the coast from Red Island to Loughshinny. The search coordination base remained at Red Island. During this search, the teams located the remaining two missing persons. One ‘casualty’ was found in Smugglers Cave near Loughshinny with minor injuries. The second ‘casualty’ was located further south along the coast and 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 deemed a great success and highlighted the fantastic results that can be achieved through the teamwork of the various coast guard units stationed along the Dublin coastline.