Earlier this year you may have seen on the news that Pyrotechnics i.e. distress flares were being withdrawn from Coastguard service as they were deemed too dangerous. Now this raised hot debate with Coastguard Rescue Offices across the country, much of it unprintable. The key concerns on one side were storage of flares and safety when firing; the CROs stating that the benefits to casualty working easily outweighed the perceived risks.
Our Sector Manager, Pip, and Station Officer, Ian, argued that the Swanage Team should retain flares for use, notably to aid in the large number of searches we have.
The ‘Russian Ferry Jumper Hoax’ incident the other day was a prime example. As we started the search the information given was that there might be up to three people in the water. During the night the team fired half a dozen para-illuminate flares – a parachute flare that lights up the sky as if it was daylight for up to a minute depending on weather conditions.
These are VERY effective bits of kit and allow us to scan a wide area quickly. Perhaps more importantly it tells a casualty who may have given up all hope that we are there for them, often prompting calls for help.
The indecent the other day proves that the decision by Coastguard HQ to allow us to continue to use pyrotechnics was a good one.
Our Sector Manager, Pip, and Station Officer, Ian, argued that the Swanage Team should retain flares for use, notably to aid in the large number of searches we have.
The ‘Russian Ferry Jumper Hoax’ incident the other day was a prime example. As we started the search the information given was that there might be up to three people in the water. During the night the team fired half a dozen para-illuminate flares – a parachute flare that lights up the sky as if it was daylight for up to a minute depending on weather conditions.
These are VERY effective bits of kit and allow us to scan a wide area quickly. Perhaps more importantly it tells a casualty who may have given up all hope that we are there for them, often prompting calls for help.
The indecent the other day proves that the decision by Coastguard HQ to allow us to continue to use pyrotechnics was a good one.
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