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Friday, October 01, 2004
Simulated mountain rescue mission achieves objective
A MAJOR simulated mission in the Comeragh Mountains over the weekend involving the various rescue services, has been hailed a huge success.
Over 160 volunteers took part on Friday and Saturday in one of the biggest rescue training exercises ever undertaken in the country.
Hosted by Tramore Cliff and Mountain Rescue Team, ‘Operation Sandman’ was designed to test co-operation and co-ordination between rescue agencies.
Those taking part included four Irish Mountain Rescue teams, Search and Rescue Dogs Association, The Irish Red Cross ambulance units, the Order of Malta, Wilderness Emergency Medical Services Institute, the Civil Defence, the South Eastern Health Board and gardai as well as members of the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team in South Wales who travelled over especially.
The simulated rescue was of a group of 20 people, some nonnationals, who became lost and separated overnight while on a camping trip.
Language problems, confusion regarding overall numbers in the casualty party and unplanned spontaneous volunteer response were all simulated to complicate the issue.
The rescue operation swung into effect at 1pm Friday. Weather was very poor making life difficult for rescuers with low cloud and fog and restricted visibility prevented the use of helicopter and fixed wing aircraft support.
The ‘casualties’ and their ‘families’ were a number of volunteers from local walking clubs including Dungarvan Walking Club and the Comeragh Mountaineering Club.
By the time the operation came to a close on Saturday evening, all the ‘casualties’ were recovered by the various agencies.
They had been briefed to exhibit a range of typical injuries that required various treatments before being taken off the mountains.
They were further ‘treated’ when brought to the rescue base prior to removal to hospital.
Superintendent Tom Saunderson said the exercise was “as real to life as possible.”
“The co-ordination overall went very smoothly with each agency working well in conjunction with each other and achieving the overall objections of the exercise,” he said.
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