NEWS FROM THE DART LIFEBOAT
FLOOD RELIEF WORK C
hris Tracey, a helm on the Dart lifeboat, has recently applied and been appointed to join the
RNLI international Flood Rescue team - a specialist team of staff and volunteers on call, who are trained for flood relief work. they are ready to respond within 24 hours notice to flooding emergencies anywhere in the world. All Flood rescue team (Frt) members, and other lifeboat crew, undergo swift-water rescue training, which prepares them for the complex behaviour of floodwaters and rivers. each flood rescue team has to be inshore lifeboat trained, as D class lifeboats (such as Spirit of the
RNLI Flood Rescue team at work
Chris Tracey (foreground) All pics courtesy of the RNLI
be chosen for the international Flood response team and look forward to the training process and getting to know my newly extended rnli family. i have taken part in one scenario based weekend
Dart) are generally used in relief efforts due to their agility, their shallow draught, and their ability to be deflated, transported and then re-inflated. each team must have a variety of skills such as HgV driver, forklift driver, linguist and a paramedic or doctor to tend sick or injured casualties. Chris, who at one time operated a rib hire business in Dartmouth, has expertise in the launch and recovery and transport of small vessels. the Frt was formed in 2000 and consists of 60 volunteers divided into three teams, which rotate their state of readiness. the rnli Flood rescue team forms the core of the rnli’s national Flood response, with another 240 specially trained volunteers available from lifeboat stations to support them, including Chris tracey and crew member Yorkie lomas of Dart lifeboat.
Since 2000 the Flood rescue team has rescued people
from west Sussex to gloucestershire; guyana to Morpeth. Over the course of 24 hours in Cumbria, november 2009, rnli crews working alongside teams from the Fire and rescue service, Mountain rescue and other volunteers, evacuated approximately 200 people trapped in their homes. the expertise, professionalism and organisation the rnli team brought to the situation was widely recognised. Chris tracey says “i was extremely pleased and excited to
For up to date news of the Dart lifeboat please visit the local web site of
www.dartmouth-lifeboat.org. uk where news of recent launches as well as social events can be found.
Janet Hall, Dart RNLI Assistant Press Officer
www.dartmouth-lifeboat.org.uk
so far and got to work with my new team, made up of crew from all over the country. Various scenarios were played out and working within this new team seemed no different than working with my station crew. it goes to show the universal bond between lifeboat men and women throughout the UK and ireland. the weekend was a great success and the training aspect was second to none.” rob Clements, Dart lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘Flood rescue is a natural progression for the rnli. Saving lives at sea, on estuaries or rivers has always been our aim. Such activity though requires specialized knowledge and i am delighted that two persons of Dart lifeboat are trained and available to respond.”•
The annual free lifejacket check will take place in the Dart lifeboat station on Saturday 16 April, 10.00-15.00 hours. Please bring you lifejackets along to be checked. The RNLI believes that lifejackets save lives and are useless unless worn. A free sea check for your boat, by the Dart RNLI Sea Safety team, can be arranged with John Yunnie (Mobile 0776 800 7365)
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