Its all about 999

Whilst the Carnvial has a theme of a safari the team are using the busy week to promote the use of 999 in a maritime emergency.

In a recent survey it was found many didn’t know who to call in a coastal emergency so what an opportunity with lots of visitors to promote the Coastguard and the 999 system.




Just for carnival .... 999 shirts. The team at the carnival swim last night.


So yesterday whilst enjoying the afternoon the Station Officer spotted a broken down jet ski in the bay and a person waving for assistance.

A 999 call to National Maritime Operations Centre saw an incident start with rescue assets about to be alerted. A passing jet ski came to the aid of the broken down ski and towed it back to shore to be met by the Coastguard for some advice.



The second time this week a rope has been sucked into a jet ski causing it to break down.

Rain doesn’t stop Carnival

After weeks of sunshine, the one day we wanted the weather to be nice ...:: we got rain.

Sadly yesterday carnival was a little damp.




Team members and families from both the Swanage and St Albans Coastguard teams deploy in their wet weather clothing.


The theme for this years carnival was “ safari” , sadly the weather was far from that.


Thank you to all the public who turned out and waved.
Sadly our specially printed shirts for carnival didn’t come out today so more on them in the week.

999 call for jet ski

A 999 call requesting assistance under Ballard with a jet ski saw the team called out on Saturday afternoon.

As the team proceeded they were made aware of a child being swept out to sea on an inflatable dinghy. Diverting from the jet ski the Coastguard arrived to find a lifeguard and safety boat bringing the young Male ashore. With some safety advice the Coastguard left and carried on with the original task.

The four people using the ski had got a rope caught which saw them struggling and damaging the hull.

Due to the distance to the nearest slipway and the rough conditions, Swanage RNLI ILB was requested.

The Coastguard team stood by to provide safety cover as there was concern if the ski was damaged there could have been some pollution.

The lifeboat arrived and go a tow rope to the ski and took it back to the boat park. The Coastguard took the four back by road to be reunited with the ski.

Search and Rescue......and More

The team was tasked again on Friday to a kayaker who'd capsized as she tried to cross the tide race at Peveril Ledge, heading out of the bay towards Durlston. The lady was unable to get back on board the kayak in the turbulent water and was washed onto the rocks at the base of Peveril Point.

The team was on scene within minutes of being paged, but as they approached the location it became apparent that the lady had been pulled from the water by some passers by - well done and thanks to the couple in a canoe and a couple out walking their dogs. The team was asked to stand down as the lady was safely ashore but instead chose to carry on, find her and check her welfare.

On arrival the lady was shaken from the events that had just unfolded, so the team calmed her down and checked that she was OK.  Safety advice was given and a discussion took place about planning routes, informing the Coastguard when on passage, flares and radios.  For the second time in as many days, the casualty was surprised that there were no signs warning her of the dangers of strong tides at that location.  The team gently pointed out the Ledge Buoy marking the end of the rocks and the line of breaking white water out to it and said that to someone familiar with seas that ought to be a warning sign in itself.

Once the lady was happy to continue, it was agreed that she'd be better off staying in the bay and the team helped move the kayak and launch it in a safer location.  A route was agreed along the shore, under the pier and back into the bay and accompanied by the couple in the kayak, she set off.

The team monitored her from the Coastguard Rescue Vehicle and once the lady had reached the main beach the team once again checked for her welfare before returning to base.

As HM Coastguard Rescue Service, we are there for search and rescue - indeed we are classed as a Category 1 Responder.  However, on occasions we do more than that, such as today.  Whilst a member of public rescued the casualty (ahead of the lifeboat which was also called), the team reassured the casualty, cared for her welfare and, by gentle safety advice, has hopefully avoided her having a repeat incident.

So it isn't all search and rescue.  Sometimes, its advice, guidance and prevention too.

Coastguard shocked at response to safety advice.

The Coastguard team returning from an incident at Ballard this evening spotted a member of the public in a very dangerous position at Old Harry Rocks.

Rushing over to call the male back who had walked along the ridge of the outcrop with a 90ft drop each side complained there were no warning signs to highlight the danger he was in.

The ridge was no more than 20cm wide and a trip or slip would have seen the male fall and be seriously injured.

The team were somewhat surprised at the response and had hoped the risks were clear to those out enjoying the area.

The dry conditions have made the cliff tops very dusty and slippery and we urge real caution anywhere near a cliff edge.
Despite the views please step back away from the edge as you won’t know what is actually underneath and in some cases the cliff has given way.

The team had earlier been tasked to an object , possibly a submerged boat off Ballard Point. It was confirmed this was a large plastic container floating with the tide.

999 Coastguard

Up to half the UK's adult population still have no idea they should dial 999 in the event of a coastal emergency, a survey shows.

Of 2,000 adults questioned across the country, almost 50% were unaware of the phone service despite it being launched 50 years ago, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.




With the schools breaking up this week and the good weather continuing around the UK the number of visitors to the coast will increase.

If you get into trouble or see someone you think is in trouble on the beach , cliffs or out to sea then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

HM Coastguard are the coordinators of Maritime Search and Rescue around the UK coast.

With around 300 volunteer rescue teams ( 3500 volunteers ) on call 24 hours a day along with colleagues in the RNLI , rescue helicopters and other emergency services - ready for any emergency on the coast.

Lifeboat and Coastguard called to Studland

The team and Poole RNLI ILB were tasked to Studland this evening for a boat that had run aground.

The boat with a number of children on board had got stuck and required the lifeboat to tow it back into deeper water.

Having checked all was ok the boat went on it’s way releasing the lifeboat and Coastguard back to their stations.

School's Out!

As the schools break up for the summer, there seems to be no break in the beautiful  summer weather.

This weekend was another glorious one in Swanage although you'll see in our picture from Sunday how the greenery has turned decidedly yellow.  Take care with BBQs, camping stoves, naked flames etc as everywhere is tinder dry.

This weekend's patrols were both busy - on Saturday we attended a diving incident where the diver had been airlifted to hospital after surfacing too quickly, whilst Sunday's patrol were alerted to a young man who'd slipped from a pleasure boat and sustained a nasty gash on the back of his head. The wound was cleaned and the bleeding stemmed before he was also taken to hospital.

We wish both individuals a speedy recovery.

Don’t jump into the unknown

We don’t want to spoil people’s fun during the summer but please think about jumping off jetties, quays and piers.

The team were called two nights ago to offer some advice to a group on the pier.

We know it’s fun but do you know how deep the water is ? Do you know what is underneath the water.

Stay safe

Call to group Tomb-stoning

The team were called tonight by concerned members of the public about a group “ tomb-stoning” from the pier.

Tombstone is a term given to someone jumping into the sea from a high point. Doing this can lead to serious injury especially as in this case it was near the pier that has some major construction work being done at the moment.

The groups were given some advice about the dangers both from jumping or from hidden objects under the water.

If you see some in danger or out to see , call 999 and ask for the Coastguard

Exercise interrupted by real incident

The Swanage and St Albans Coastguard teams were exercising tonight just off the Parish Slipway when they were alerted to an incident on the stone quay.

The water rescue exercise of a person fallen from the sea wall suddenly took a twist for real when a 55 year old male jumped down off the wall at the stone quay landing 5 feet below injuring his ankles.

The teams immediately provided first aid and treated the male for a potential spinal and neck injury along with his ankles.

An ambulance was tasked and with the help of the Coastguard recovered him back over the sea wall to the ambulance.

Team called to collapsed people

The team had an early call on Sunday morning with a male struggling to breath close to the Anvil Point lighthouse.

On arrival the team provided first aid until the arrival of the Durlston Rangers buggy which helped move the casualty to the road.

With an ambulance on scene it would appear having got hot walking to the site and then jumping into the sea this may have cause a sudden reaction to the coldwater.

Later in the day the patrol were tasked to a report of a collapsed male at Sheps Hollow.
On arrival the person was located and confirmed ok. A very small grass fire caused by a discarded cigarette was also put out after which the male left the area.

Hot afternoon at Studland

Another busy time for the Coastguard this afternoon.

The first incident was to provide some support to a young girl who was taken ill on the beach at Studland.

A missing 5 year old sparked a search on Studland beach. Along with national trust staff the patrol searched the beach until a member of the public located the child about half a mile away. All were reunited and given some safety advice.

As the afternoon drew to a close the patrol and full team were tasked to Shell Bay to assist the ambulance service. A Male had dived into swallow water injuring his neck so along with the Poole lifeboat crew the Male was carried to the ambulance.

When England play ....

The scene last week when England was playing football....

The usual busy view point over looking Poole Harbour was almost empty !




At least the queue for the ice cream van wasn’t long !

Swimmer rescued at Poole Harbour entrance

A swimmer had a lucky escape this afternoon when they got into difficulties near to the chain ferry.

Poole Inshore Lifeboat launched along with Coastguard teams from Swanage and Poole tasked to investigate.

On arrival the Swanage Coastguard team were pointed to the direction of the male and managed to spot the swimmer struggling in the water.
A small passing boat went to the swimmers assistance but were unable to recover him aboard.
The Coastguard team directed the lifeboat to the swimmer who took him aboard and ashore to North Haven.

Due to the condition of the swimmer an ambulance was requested and conveyed the male to hospital.

The swimmer had started his swim at shell bay when he was swept across the path of the chain ferry.
He was lucky to be spotted with rescue units close by to rescue him.

Due to the strong current it is not advisable to swim near to the harbour entrance.

Coastal emergency dial 999 - Coastguard.

How to call the Coastguard

So if you decide to head to the coast. ( to avoid the football)

See someone in trouble or need assistance.

Studland

The Station Officer and Deputy joined forces with the Neighbourhood Police Team last week to brief the wardens at  Studland.
The National Trust employs its own Rangers and these are supplemented in the summer by a private security firm. Last week's meeting gave us all a chance to agree the common approach on calling the emergency services and how we could expect each other to respond in a  variety of incidents such as missing children, the discovery of ordnance, antisocial behaviour etc.  It's good to get these protocols established at the start of the season and we look forward to another successful summer with the NT.

An Evening at St Albans Head

Our flank team at St Albans invited us to a joint training session last week, so the team headed to Worth to join them and from there, out to St Albans head itself.

teams working together at the top

It's always good to train in unfamiliar locations and the cliff at St Albans offers an opportunity to run the set up over a double ledge - ie the technician decends from the operating level down the cliff face to the next ledge below, before walking out to the edge of that and descending over the edge of that too.

The view going over the second ledge

On a glorious summer evening, we managed to get 6 technicians over the cliff whilst the rest of the teams took it in turns to operate the main and safety lines and the tugger recovery system.

Assisted descent (the second, untrained person could be a paramedic or police officer etc)

Policy is to task two teams to a rope rescue, and so it makes sense for flank teams to train together, and our thanks to the team at St Albans for the invite.

Some different scenery at St Albans!