Coastguard Campaigns

For Coastguard Campaigns please click on the links below

Contacting the Coastguard in an Emergency

Lifejacket – Useless Unless Worn

Register your Vessel – See why

 

February Training

Training – Inverness Marina

This evening Inverness, Nairn & Cromarty teams met up at Inverness CRE for a water search based in the new Inverness Marina.  This was to improve water search techniques for the Water Rescue Team at Inverness, to allow Nairn and Cromarty to gain a understanding of the teams capabilities and inter-team working.

21 people took part and put to use their search, communication and first aid skills.  The teams were given a brief of 8 targets to find around the new Marina which had been placed in the water or around the pontoons.  Upon locating each target the team had to perform First Aid to the observing First Aid trainer.

Library Picture

Once all 8 targets were located another scenario was set up to rescue a person with possible spinal injuries from the water.

Library Picture

All be it a cold night, temp zero celcius everyone enjoyed the evening and learnt new skills.

2010 Callout #1

Caledonian Canal, Inverness

At 1100 on New Years morning the team were called out to a report of a person who may have fallen through the ice on the Caledonian Canal.  The canal was frozen with approx 4-6inches of ice.  Footprints could be seen going out to an area where there was a hole in the ice.  A search was carried out using the water rescue equipment and a sledge hammer to break the ice.  No-one was found and the team were stood down.

During this past month we have experience extremely low temperatures plumating to -16 degrees Celsius in places causing the canal system, ponds and lochs to freeze.  No one knows how thick or strong the ice is and a reminder is given for people to stay off the ice and not risk their lives.

If you see someone in difficulty on the Caledonian Canal call the COASTGUARD on 999

2009 Callout #44

Raigmore Hospital, Inverness

Four members of the team were tasked to assist with the landing of  Rescue 100 from Stornoway and moving the casualty to a waiting ambulance.

Christmas 2009

A very Merry Christmas to the community of Inverness and everyone we have worked with throughout 2009.  Have a very good Christmas and New Year and all the best for 2010.

2009 Callout #43

Cromarty Bridge, by Dingwall

At 0850 this morning the team were tasked along with Cromarty CRT, Invergordon Lifeboat and R137 to a report of a person in the Cromarty Firth near the Cromarty Bridge.  The team proceeded with the water rescue equipment and after a short time onscene the casualty was winched into the Rescue Helicopter and taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

2009 Callout #42

River Ness, Inverness

At 0134 this morning the team were paged to a report of a female in the River Ness by Ness Bridge.  The team proceeded with their Water Rescue Equipment but upon arrival the female had managed to make her own way out of the water.  The female was then convey by ambulance to hospital.

Extreme care should be taken around water especially in the winter months as expected survival time is about 15-30mins.

In an emergency dial 999 and ask for COASTGUARD

2009 Callout #41

Divach Falls, Drumnadrochit

Picture courtesy of Martin Douglas Loch Ness Lifeboat

At 1400 on Tuesday 1st December the Inverness team were called out along with Fort Augustus, Cromarty and the Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 100 from Stornoway after reports of a male being spotted at the bottom of a 100ft gorge called Divach Falls.  Ambulance, Police and a local Dr attended to render medical treatment to the casualty.  Rescue 100 flew down into the gorge with precision to lower the winchman.  Given the nature of the terrain is was considered unsafe to bring the helicopter in again.   The Coastguard Rescue Teams set up the Rope Rescue Equipment to aid in the recovery of the casualty to the top of the gorge in a stretcher.

Click Here Northern Constabulary Press Release

Click Here for BBC News Report

Picture courtesy of Martin Douglas Loch Ness Lifeboat

If you see anyone in difficulty around cliffs or gorges on the coast

DIAL 999 and ask for COASTGUARD

Distress Flares Reminder

DISTRESS FLARES

Its that time of year again where we celebrate bonfire night with our families.  The Inverness team would like to celebrate it with there families too and not out searching for Hoax Distress Flares.

We would like to remind the public that Distress Flares are for use only when someone is in grave and imminent danger at sea.  They are not toys and not for use at firework displays.

What does a distress flare look like? You get various types. The main one that causes the most hoax calls is a Parachute Flares which is designed to fire a single red star high into the sky which will burn for about 30secs.

The team will be oncall as normal over this period and urge anyone seeing a Distress Flare to contact the COASTGUARD on 999.

Even though its a criminal offence to fire a distress flare in an non-distress situation the main point is it diverts valuable search and rescue assets away from real distress situations

Have an Enjoyable Bonfire Night

2009 Callout # 39

Beauly Firth,North Kessock

7th October 2009

Paged to boat aground at North Kessock found to have broken away from its moorings

Towed off by N/Kessock ILB

2009 Callout # 38

Cromarty Firth

6th October 2009

Paged to sighting of red flare in the Cromarty Firth. Team stood down at station. Flare set off from Dingwall area

It is illegal for anyone to set off RED DISTRESS flares if they are not in a danger situation as this can divert search & rescue assets away from genuine emergencies

Anyone sighting a red flare at sea around the coast should call  999  & ask for the Coastguard