New member callout for NW SES Search & Rescue
Posted: Sun 22 Nov, 2015 3:45 pm
Afternoon all
I'm writing on behalf of the NW SES Search and Rescue team. As many of you will know, the SAR team specialises in search and rescue operations: particularly in rough or remote areas. While the NW SAR team has a core of dedicated members, some of our more experienced members are are looking at hanging up their boots after years of volunteering and therefore it's time to bring some new faces in. Subject to the requirements set out below, people of any age or gender are welcome.
Training takes place on the third Tuesday and the following weekend each month. Tuesday night training begins at 7:30pm for 2-3 hours and alternates between Devonport, Ulverstone and Burnie. The weekend training is either a long day trip or an overnight trip from late Friday/early Saturday to late Sunday afternoon and usually takes place within 1-3 hours drive of the Central Coast (we generally travel together). In terms of commitment, the more training sessions you can attend the better and there is a expectation that you will attend at least half the training sessions throughout the year.
Over the course of the year there is specific training on navigation (compass & gps), rescue scenarios using stretchers, remote first aid, snow trips, basic caving and rope work including abseiling and raising and lowering patients, river crossings, emergency shelters and pretty much anything else that people put their hand up to run. Training's finished for this year and will commence again in late January or February 2016.
In terms of what we're looking for, the following is probably a pretty good summary:
1) Able to work effectively in a safe and supportive way with other team members and to follow directions from SES or Police leaders during searches;
2) A high level of fitness (or a willingness to quickly gain this!), in particular, able to carry heavy backpacks over rough or steep terrain for extended periods of time in atrocious weather conditions;
3) Some navigational experience, though there are quite a few members who joined with no 'off-track' experience and learnt on the job; and
4) Awareness of those around them and understanding of confidentiality, particularly where we have friend or family members along on searches and where we expect to find someone who has died.
While our actual search and rescue operations are becoming rarer due to the capacity of the rescue helicopter and the regularity in which people carry plbs, we still get called out a few times a year. During the last few years members of the SAR team have found or assisted people who would be unlikely to still be here had it not been for their efforts and those of the Police Search & Rescue unit. In any search, the Police will always be the lead agency and we'll take our cues from them.
If you're interested, please shoot me a PM and I'll send your details onto our Graeme, our team leader who'll get in touch. Given the requirements set out above, any new members have a probationary period of about 3 weekend trips just to make sure that it's going to work for everyone.
I'm happy to answer any questions by PM and look forward to hearing from anyone interested.
Cheers
I'm writing on behalf of the NW SES Search and Rescue team. As many of you will know, the SAR team specialises in search and rescue operations: particularly in rough or remote areas. While the NW SAR team has a core of dedicated members, some of our more experienced members are are looking at hanging up their boots after years of volunteering and therefore it's time to bring some new faces in. Subject to the requirements set out below, people of any age or gender are welcome.
Training takes place on the third Tuesday and the following weekend each month. Tuesday night training begins at 7:30pm for 2-3 hours and alternates between Devonport, Ulverstone and Burnie. The weekend training is either a long day trip or an overnight trip from late Friday/early Saturday to late Sunday afternoon and usually takes place within 1-3 hours drive of the Central Coast (we generally travel together). In terms of commitment, the more training sessions you can attend the better and there is a expectation that you will attend at least half the training sessions throughout the year.
Over the course of the year there is specific training on navigation (compass & gps), rescue scenarios using stretchers, remote first aid, snow trips, basic caving and rope work including abseiling and raising and lowering patients, river crossings, emergency shelters and pretty much anything else that people put their hand up to run. Training's finished for this year and will commence again in late January or February 2016.
In terms of what we're looking for, the following is probably a pretty good summary:
1) Able to work effectively in a safe and supportive way with other team members and to follow directions from SES or Police leaders during searches;
2) A high level of fitness (or a willingness to quickly gain this!), in particular, able to carry heavy backpacks over rough or steep terrain for extended periods of time in atrocious weather conditions;
3) Some navigational experience, though there are quite a few members who joined with no 'off-track' experience and learnt on the job; and
4) Awareness of those around them and understanding of confidentiality, particularly where we have friend or family members along on searches and where we expect to find someone who has died.
While our actual search and rescue operations are becoming rarer due to the capacity of the rescue helicopter and the regularity in which people carry plbs, we still get called out a few times a year. During the last few years members of the SAR team have found or assisted people who would be unlikely to still be here had it not been for their efforts and those of the Police Search & Rescue unit. In any search, the Police will always be the lead agency and we'll take our cues from them.
If you're interested, please shoot me a PM and I'll send your details onto our Graeme, our team leader who'll get in touch. Given the requirements set out above, any new members have a probationary period of about 3 weekend trips just to make sure that it's going to work for everyone.
I'm happy to answer any questions by PM and look forward to hearing from anyone interested.
Cheers
