KILLALOE Coast Guard has greatly enhanced its search capability after becoming an approved drone unit, writes Dan Danaher.
Two volunteers have been fully trained on how to use a drone during a search and this footage can be live streamed back for viewing in the new Coast Guard Communications Vehicle, which was obtained last year.
Images from the drone can also be sent back to Valentia Coast Guard Coordination Centre, which is significant in terms of directing Rescue 115 to a precise location if a casualty is detected.
A drone can be used on most occasions, apart from rain and very strong wind. Officer in charge, Damian Quigley said a drone can search inaccessible areas very quickly.
New recruits to Killaloe Coast Guard were shown what to expect if the rescue helicopter had to land in a field to airlift a casualty.
Killaloe Coast Guard, Killaloe Fire and Rescue and members of An Garda Siochána from the Killaloe station took part in a two-hour inter-agency training exercise with Irish Coast Guard Rescue helicopter Rescue 115 which is based at Shannon Airport in Ballina GAA field on Saturday morning.
Officer in charge, Mr Quigley recalled the helicopter landed and shut down before new recruits were shown how it operated.
Once the helicopter restarted, a casualty transfer was completed into the aircraft with Coast Guard an Killaloe Fire and Rescue members to give them vital experience of what to do in a real life situation.
Volunteers in two emergency services wore a special safety helmet and goggles to cope with the downdraught.
Rescue 115 also took six volunteers for a spin around the locality as part of the familiarisation exercise.
Mr Quigley said if the Coast Guard was ever badly stuck for members, local firemen could step in to take their place for a helicopter casualty transfer.
Seven new recruits have joined Killaloe Coast Guard to bring their total membership to 22.
The landing area in Ballina GAA field was cordoned off at 9am for the safety of the public.
Tadhg Cronin, a Galway native now living in Killaloe, who joined the Coast Guard last September, is an emergency medical technician, serving garda and firearms instructor in Templemore Garda Training College.
Mr Cronin joined to get to know people in the locality and felt it is a great way to learn more information about the River Shannon.
He found the training exercise very beneficial in terms of learning about the loading and unloading of a casualty in a helicopter, how to deal with a downdraught and how to approach a helicopter.
“If a rescue is taking place in Moylussa, I will not be daunted if there is a casualty transfer to a helicopter.”