Successful Night and Day Search
28/05/10 Following a protracted search spanning two days including a very wet night and a very hot day. Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue, who have been working seamlessly together with and alongside Police Officers from both the South Bristol District and from many of the Specialist Operational Sections of Avon & Somerset Constabulary. Shortly after the successful location of the casualty the following commendation was received by A&S SAR from Sergeant Mac Macgregor, Avon and Somerset Constabulary,
‘Can I express my thanks to Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue for the tremendous efforts both yesterday and today.
This was the first time that I have worked with your team on such an enquiry, and I was more than impressed with the professionalism displayed by all of the unit.
The conditions were difficult, working on a steep hillside in very warm conditions.
I entered this investigation late on day 2 when most of you had been on it from the start, but the positive attitudes shone through, and as a result of the hard work it was one of your teams who indeed located the lady safe and well.
I feel confident that had she not been found quickly, that her condition could have deteriorated rapidly through dehydration. She is now receiving medical attention, but will no doubt make a full recovery.
Many thanks, well done to you all, and I look forward to working with you all again in the future.’
A&S SAR also received this formal letter of thanks from Acting Chief Inspector Caroline Bullen:NON RESTRICTED A&SSAR Dundry Search and Rescue
For more details please refer to Callout Archive 27/05/10 ASC Log No 372
Posted on 28 / 05 / 2010
Digital Aid for Search and Rescue
26/05/10 Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue (A&SSAR) now have a powerful tool to help them in their role. Known as SARMAN™ it is a system that can assist in the planning, coordination and management of the work of search and rescue organisations.
Thanks to ongoing support from Goodyear each mountain and cave rescue team has been supplied with a laptop to use with SARMAN™. Mapyx, Mountain Rescue England and Wales’ (MRE&W) official GIS & Digital Mapping Partner, have provided all members of MRE&W with the bespoke SARMAN™ application that uses map data kindly supplied by Ordnance Survey.
Duncan Massey, Chairman of A&SSAR, said ‘The SARMAN™ application has been developed from basic principles into a digital mapping platform and incident management system. The powerful combination of the Mapyx operating system and SARMAN™ will make a significant contribution to search and rescue planning and incident management in England and Wales.’
Posted on 26 / 05 / 2010
Bath Police Station Open Day 20/06/10
26/05/10Plans are well advanced for the first Bath Police Station open day – Sunday June 20 from 10am-3pm.
Hundreds of people are expected to come along and see some of the work the police do on the streets and behind the scenes.
There’ll be attractions for all the family, from police horses and dogs to the underwater search unit and a flypast by the force helicopter. And people can see first-hand what it’s like to be locked up in the cells.
Community Safety Sgt Geoff Cannon said; “We want it to be a fun day for everyone with an important community message. We want people to go away with a smile on their face and feeling confident that they can trust the police to make their life safer.”
Visitors will be able to see crime scene investigators at work at a mock incident, dusting for prints and other clues that so often lead to offenders being caught.
Firearms officers will be on hand to explain the dangers of replica guns, so authentic-looking they’re almost impossible to tell from the real thing.
The new University Student initiative exclusive to Bath and North East Somerset district will be launched in the morning at the Open Day. Studentwatch is being piloted at Bath Spa University with the strap line: STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS STAY SAFE.
The outgoing Police Authority Chair has agreed to be locked in a cell for an hour to raise money for charity to mark her retirement. Members of the public will also be invited to lock up their nearest and dearest for a couple of minutes and invited to ‘bail them out’ by making a charity donation.
Posted on 26 / 05 / 2010
Basic Life Support Training
12/05/10 Half the team went through their annual Basic Life Support (BLS) training last night at Southmead Hospital’s new Learning and Research department. BLS training is the minimum expected of all team members and aspirants wanting to join the team. The training delivered by the Resuscitation Team was supplemented by the team members wealth of knowledge and experience. The team includes Doctors, paramedics, nurses and Casualty Care trained members. The second half of the team will have the training next month. Our thanks to Lisa and Bob from the Resuscitation Team for delivering the training.
Posted on 12 / 05 / 2010
Weekend Fundraising Success
04/05/10 Huge thanks to all those people who kindly donated £320 to the team over the weekend. Team members were in Cheddar Gorge, Burrington Combe and the North Somerset Show raising much needed funds to help us operate. The new information trailer kindly donated by the Mendip Hills AONB Unit was a great backdrop for us to explain our work and some of the kit we use.
Thanks again to all those who showed us their support by donating, it’s greatly appreciated.
Posted on 04 / 05 / 2010