SURVIVAL
The Coast Guard in action in Doolin, Co Clare.
assess them and reassure them.
A lifeboat coming upon a drifting
yacht, miles from where they should
be, will never ask them why they didn’t
have enough petrol in their engine to
make port.Instead they will throw them
a towing line.The rescue helicopter
crew arriving at a Spanish trawler 200
miles offshore, will not complain about
the heavy swell, the lousy weather or
being called out after midnight.Instead
they will simply take the sick or injured
to hospital.
Ireland’s
rescue network
Most of my work was done from
Shannon airport.There has been a
rescue helicopter there since 1989.I
was part of the rescue crew there from
1995, having been in Donegal before
that.The rescue helicopter could be
best considered as an ambulance
service for those out of reach at
sea and in inaccessible places who
needed medical care.Trawler crews
and fishermen, people on the island
communities around the coast, people
that were missing or lost and those in
the mountains with sprains, leg breaks
or worse.
Rescue helicopters are an essential
part of the network, but there are
some things they cannot do. And
when weather prevents them getting
in amongst mountains, Coastguard
and Mountain RescueTeams do the
necessary.When it’s impossible to get in
amongst the many bays and inlets and
with each and every one of the rescue famous running shoe slogan;they“Just do islands around the coast, Coastguard
teams at various stages, either on training it.” And in situations when the weather is and RNLI teams are called upon.When
exercises or on actual operations.Let me terrible, it’s dark and their own lives may hopes fade for the missing, and divers
tell you about those teams.About why be at risk, you can add another word to have to search for bodies, it’s the
they do it and how they do it. that slogan;they“Just f#*#ing do it”. Gardai, Navy or the civilian teams like
Go back to the previous paragraph. I wrote a memoir about my years in Limerick or Boyne or Killala Grainne
I was serious; you were not a fool.The rescue last year. I called it‘Nine Lives’ Uaile that plumb the depths.
rescuers that will come to your aid know because I think I used up a few of those There are over 50 Coastguard teams
that.They love the ocean if they are in over the years.I wrote it because I think around the coast.The same number
lifeboats.They love the mountains if they I had a few demons to exorcise. I found of RNLI lifeboats.And around a dozen
are in Mountain RescueTeams.They love that that slogan reoccurred a few times mountain rescue teams.They all talk
the air and the ballet of flight if they are over the years, I abbreviated it to JFDI. It to each other via the emergency radio
in a rescue helicopter. And because all was my way of letting the reader know network provided by Dublin,Valentia
of them love life, love the outdoors, and that I was scared.Or that someone was and Malin Head Radio. It is an incredible
understand that accidents are not only scared.That there was real danger.That array of talent.All trained.All equipped.
caused, but do just happen, they come to the outcome could have been bad.For All ready. 24/7.The Government, that
your aid. us.The rescuers. is Ireland incorporated, gives them
Emergency people share a number So when a Mountain Rescue some money. But in general, they
of traits.Media sometimes ask them; Team arrives to find a hypothermic, fund themselves.They react to rescue
“Are you never angry or frustrated with lost, shivering party of five missing callouts without hesitation and they get
the situations that confront you?”And hill walkers in the early hours of the paid nothing.
universally the answer will be given morning, illuminated by their darting And there are more.Many more.The
that“No, we just deal with the situation.” head torches in the mist, they will never Air Corps and the Defence Forces.The
Rescuers generally don’t give out, ask,“What were you doing?”They will Gardai.The Civil Defence.Military and
question or blame.That’s for later.That’s instead give them clothes to wear and civilian.Professional and voluntary.
for management.Rescuers abide by the fluids to drink.They will medically During my time flying rescue
50|June-July|OUTSIDER
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