In depth training

This week some specialist training took place at the Fire Training tower in Poole.

Kerry

Some good news from our training on Sunday; Allan, our SCOO (Senior Coastal Operations Officer), having let Kerry run the session, decided that she had demonstrated all the competencies to be approved as an OIC, or Officer in Charge.

That's great news for the team, as Kerry is something of an expert on rope rescue systems, being both a climber and a trainer of ropes course instructors, amongst other outdoorsy adventurey type things.

Well done Kerry!

Kerry and the SCOO discussing OIC-type stuff on Sunday

Line of enquiry

Well it appears our Cornwall man has gone missing or has been unable to locate any more Coastguard stations on his travels.

So mean while back in Swanage........

The work on station just doesn't stop.




Kerry and Kyle changing the rope bags over and checking the rope itself. All 250 metres in each bag.

Another form of transport

Having realised the Land Rover wasn't going to fit in the garage and that step up was just too big for some of us - we returned the keys.

We carried on and spoke to some amazing mountain rescue and cave rescue teams that span the country.

Kerry discovered a mountain bike and now wants to set up a Coastguard Bike Response Team.

Roger wasn't quite so sure about that saddle.

So that left just the Station Officer working out how to get home.

Well thanks to this charitable trust who work with Devon and Cornwall Police one of these kit cars will do.

These kits are supplied in Devon and Cornwall to primary and secondary schools.

Well job done - fits in garage and low step in.

Any one seen Kerry and Roger ? Last seen heading south with Roger sat on handle bars?

Swanage Coastguard on Tour

A delegation from the team headed north to Birmingham this week to the Emergency Services Show at the NEC.

The range of equipment , knowledge and skills is massive and such an opportunity to see what is available.

Of course the team had a mission statement of gather what you can especially if it's free.

Good effort Rog and Kerry who collected the keys to this brand new Coastguard Vehicle which was part of the Coastguard stand - beat my free pen from that other stall !

Tall Stories

There's a bit of light hearted banter and some fierce rivalry amongst the team about who's the tallest. And more importantly who isn't. You see there are three members of the team whose uniform sizes read XS and yet they're still too big.

So yesterday we decided to judge once and for all

On the far left and right we have the judges, Jayden (coastie overalls) and Roger (minion hat - no, we don't know why either). In the centre of the shot, the three competitors, Ian in the high viz, Kerry in the shades and Terry in the, in the.....Terry, where are you?  Terry?, Terry?....oops, clearly not quite tall enough to make the photo.

So that's it, Terry's the most down to earth member of the team, the one who still gets half price at the cinema and the last to know its raining when he goes outside. And as for the other two...has Ian spiked his hair up?  Is Kerry on tip-toes?   The reader must decide.

Kerry's Helicopter

Kerry headed off to join the Southbourne team this morning for some helicopter training.

She was a bit cross they wouldn't let her fly the aircraft but said they showed the team how to be winched up and how to use the stretcher.

Coastguard Rescue Officers train with the helicopter crews to ensure the safety of everyone during an incident. This includes landing areas, winching and flight safety.

Birthday Girl

It someone's birthday today........she doesn't want to be identified so decided to look the other way when we took the photo.

So happy birthday Kerry .... As a lady we won't of course reveal your age, however we would point out that the summer Olympics was held in Munich in the year you were born.