HEMS & HART Awareness
ASSAR operates with other emergency services on a regular basis during the rescue stage of callouts. Training visits to these services are vital to ensure awareness of capabilities is maintained. These visits are also important for ASSAR to ensure other services are equally aware of our role for Avon & Somerset Police. ASSAR trainees and members recently visited the Great Western Air Ambulance base at Filton and the nearby HART – Hazardous Area Response Team.
Operating safely around helicopters is a fundamental requirement of any search and rescue team. An appreciation of what assets are available to help is important, from the fast air ambulance that can bring expert medical care to the RAF Sea Kings that can winch casualties to safety. Team members and trainees visited the air ambulance base for a tour and briefing delivered by one of the critical care paramedics, also an ASSAR member.
HART were established after the London Tube bombings in 2007 to train paramedics to work alongside Fire & Rescue and other emergency services in difficult areas. They have responded to various incidents involving cliffs, caves and floods alongside ASSAR. The tour demonstrated the type of vehicles and supporting kit that HART can bring to a rescue.
Our thanks go to all those involved that showed us around their respective units, especially Pete Sadler Critical Care Paramedic from the Great Western Air Ambulance for organising the day. Please support the valuable work of this charity through their site.
ASSAR members and trainees visiting the Filton HART base.
ASSAR trainees learning how to load the Great Western Air Ambulance.
Posted on 30 / 06 / 2013
Police cadets shine at Search & Rescue
Members of ASSAR have spent the last couple of Thursday evenings helping police cadets from North Somerset understand how we support the police with search and rescue. Their learning was put to the test on Saturday with an exercise involving finding clues, working out the direction of travel of a missing person, searching paths, looking after a casualty and moving them to a safe location. Quite a challenge. The cadets were brilliant. Their teamwork and communication shone through. Even our ‘casualty’ said she felt ‘safe and secure’!
North Somerset police cadets place a casualty in a vacuum mattress during a search and rescue exercise with ASSAR.
Posted on 16 / 06 / 2013
Joint Exercise with Exmoor SRT
ASSAR and Exmoor SRT have supported each other several times over the years on call-outs. To ensure knowledge and appreciation of each team’s techniques a joint training exercise was organised by Exmoor SRT.
The two teams, joined by Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, combined for a multi-scenario exercise involving injured canoeist, injured bird-spotter and a horse trapped in a ditch on top of its rider. Luckily the horse was a mannequin but still the average weight of a horse with articulated limbs.
ASSAR, Exmoor SRT and D&S Fire and Rescue Service debrief after the exercise.
The secretary of ASSAR said, “The three agencies worked extremely well together, sharing ideas and gaining a realinsight. It’s the little things that count, our standard procedures are the same but each team will develop it’s own techniques according to the local circumstances. Our thanks go to the training team at Exmoor SRT and all their members for setting up the day.”
For more details on Exmoor SRT.
Posted on 10 / 06 / 2013
Blisters on the Big Black Mountain Challenge raises £1055
Eight members of the University of Bristol’s German Department raised an amazing £1055 for their chosen charity: Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue. The team included an ASSAR volunteer. They took part in the Big Black Mountains Challenge enduring blisters, injured ankles and sore muscles but they said it was all worth it.
We would like to thank all those involved for their fantastic effort.
Members of the University of Bristol’s German Dept presenting the cheque for £1055 to Duncan Massey, Chair of A&SSAR.
Posted on 06 / 06 / 2013
Critical Care Experience
A member of A&SSAR accompanied a Critical Care Paramedic on a shift recently to increase his skills in dealing with medical emergencies. As volunteers who never know when they’re skills are going to be called upon it’s important they undergo a variety of training and experience to maintain their competency levels.
The air ambulance base at Filton also provides rapid response vehicles for their critical care paramedics alongside the helicopter. A&SSAR is a co-responder with South West Ambulance Service allowing its members to act as ‘observers’. Operating from here with the paramedic the member was able to gain valuable insight into the high professional standards along with hands-on experience at a cardiac arrest.
Members of A&SSAR all need to hold an annual Basic Life Support certificate, including paediatrics. Many also hold a Casualty Care certificate, a qualification specific to mountain rescue teams. The member commented, ‘I’ve recently re-certified as a Casualty Carer so this was a great chance to develop my skills. As volunteers on call 365 days a year we never know when we’re going to need these skills so it’s important to keep them up-to-date. My thanks to the Great Western Air Ambulance team for this opportunity’.
The Critical Care Paramedic is also a member of A&SSAR. The combination of unique skills brought to the team by each volunteer ensures A&SSAR remain the search and rescue specialists for Avon & Somerset Police.
A&SSAR observer accompanying Critical Care Paramedic.
Posted on 29 / 04 / 2013