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09/02/2011
Coast Guard Flies Into Paramedic Status
Medical standards provided by the Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Service have reached full Paramedic Level.
The Republic's Transport Minister Pat Carey has confirmed that the standard has been upgraded from Emergency Medical Technician Level - well over a year ahead of schedule.
According to the Department of Transport, the Coast Guard helicopter rescue service operates from four bases around the country - Shannon, Dublin, Waterford and Sligo.
They perform in the region of 500 missions each year, the bulk of which are from sea-going vessels and mountain and remote area rescue tasks - many of which are carried out in Northern Ireland.
In early January, a cross-border operation saw four people rescued from drowning as their sinking fishing boat hit rocks close to Ardglass Harbour.
The stricken vessel's mayday call was received by Belfast Coastguard with the RNLI Portaferry Inshore lifeboat, South Down Coastguard and the Dublin-based Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter tasked to the scene.
The Irish Coastguard crews are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with Minister Carey underlining that the medical assistance now provided by the service is the equivalent to that provided by an ambulance.
"The introduction of new technology and the improved paramedic level of care will see quite a significant improvement in the capabilities of the Irish Coast Guard service," he said.
Up to now the service had operated at Emergency Medical Technician level with the new, improved level of service taking effect immediately - 14 months ahead of schedule.
Lead Paramedic Daithi O Cearbhallain said: "This is a real boost to the casualty's treatment, should they find themselves in need of our service regardless of their location, we are delighted to implement this change ahead of schedule."
Minister Carey paid tribute to the service provided by the staff at the Coast Guard bases.
"The Coast Guard requires all four Bases to maintain an airworthy search and rescue helicopter at all times throughout the year. "These helicopters will be airborne to a 999/112 call within 15 minutes or 45 minutes if after 9.00pm.
"Last year the level of availability was 99% which is a testament to the management, crews and maintenance personnel of the helicopter fleet," he said.
See: Boat Crew Rescued In Mayday Drama
(BMcC/GK)
The Republic's Transport Minister Pat Carey has confirmed that the standard has been upgraded from Emergency Medical Technician Level - well over a year ahead of schedule.
According to the Department of Transport, the Coast Guard helicopter rescue service operates from four bases around the country - Shannon, Dublin, Waterford and Sligo.
They perform in the region of 500 missions each year, the bulk of which are from sea-going vessels and mountain and remote area rescue tasks - many of which are carried out in Northern Ireland.
In early January, a cross-border operation saw four people rescued from drowning as their sinking fishing boat hit rocks close to Ardglass Harbour.
The stricken vessel's mayday call was received by Belfast Coastguard with the RNLI Portaferry Inshore lifeboat, South Down Coastguard and the Dublin-based Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter tasked to the scene.
The Irish Coastguard crews are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with Minister Carey underlining that the medical assistance now provided by the service is the equivalent to that provided by an ambulance.
"The introduction of new technology and the improved paramedic level of care will see quite a significant improvement in the capabilities of the Irish Coast Guard service," he said.
Up to now the service had operated at Emergency Medical Technician level with the new, improved level of service taking effect immediately - 14 months ahead of schedule.
Lead Paramedic Daithi O Cearbhallain said: "This is a real boost to the casualty's treatment, should they find themselves in need of our service regardless of their location, we are delighted to implement this change ahead of schedule."
Minister Carey paid tribute to the service provided by the staff at the Coast Guard bases.
"The Coast Guard requires all four Bases to maintain an airworthy search and rescue helicopter at all times throughout the year. "These helicopters will be airborne to a 999/112 call within 15 minutes or 45 minutes if after 9.00pm.
"Last year the level of availability was 99% which is a testament to the management, crews and maintenance personnel of the helicopter fleet," he said.
See: Boat Crew Rescued In Mayday Drama
(BMcC/GK)
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