Crab, I am a great supporter of SAR work and the RCC. I have spent many weeks at such SAR Flights then based at Coltishall, Brawdy and Lossiemouth, flying and being educated by good SAR flight crews about what SAR work entails. This was as a result of a lack of knowledge within the organisation I work for. At the time I was involved in none aviation work, but set out to educate myself and pass that training/experience on and have done so since. I am now involved in aviation work and continue to educate SAR work where I can.
However, your comments:
“Your paramedics did very well but I suspect not all of them are as brave as those 2 - it's not exactly in their job spec to fight fires and rescue people is it?”
is just insulting to other paramedics and other Emergency workers. I am not a paramedic to make that clear.
What do you think the average Emergency worker does each and very day when they are sent to incidents. Whether it be on the roads, railways, industrial accident, house fire or any type of incident you want to think of. The Police, Fire or Ambulance can’t choreograph their response so that if there is a fire, the Fire Services will arrive first and put out any fire. Then when its safe, the Ambulance crew arrives and deals with any casualties. Finally, the Police could then come along and sort it all out for a Coroner etc. This is the real world. The call goes out and they all make their way to do what they can – to save lives – not matter what the risk. Who gets there first, means they do what they can until the specialists for that situation arrives and deals. Sometimes they even come across incidents. What would you have them do then?
Prior to my aviation days, I have found myself times in the above situation where I could have done with another specialist service on scene befoe me and my colleagues. But my colleagues and I did the best that we could to help people.
This is going on every day by ORDINARY people. I have been to umpteen Cab crashes over the years where the ORDINARY public have done ORDINARY actions to save the crew, both civil and military.
Crab, your talk of bravery as you have, is an insult. Bravery - “quality of spirit that enables you to face danger of pain without showing fear” - is not selective, its generally spontaneous and without thought. It is in anyone, given the right circumstances.
Now going back towards one of your earlier posts. Your issue was that the RCC was not informed. Well I think two posters have said it was, one giving an approximate time.
Instead of moaning about not being called, why don’t you educate. Again, another poster has pointed out the situations within Ambo control rooms. It’s the same at Police and Fire too. Not so at the RCC and I have been there to see for myself. One of my SAR educators from years gone by works there. It may get busy, but not to the level of the others I have spoken of. So why not start an education program. Educate the civil control rooms, come along to controller courses, come along to HEMS and Police ASU courses. There are lots of inputs your organisation could contribute towards. I do not think I have ever been on a course where RAF SAR has ever been a contributor. And if you were to say to me, your organisation does not get invited, then I would politely suggest that RAF SAR should be approaching the civil Emergency Worker world and selling themselves at grass routes level.
The grass routes level is the important bit. They are the one's that press the big red button at times we are speaking of, not those who may have attended very expensive conferences on such subjects which your organisation may send a rep to, but grass routes cannot.
The other area you could look at is trying to get your protocols for attendance changed, Instead of you having to rely on requests. It may be difficult, but at least try.
Another problem is the perception of SAR. People still call it Air, Sea, Rescue. People (including most emergency workers) still think its all to do with winching out of water at the seaside. Perception, not the reality. But that view gets firmer the more inland you go. You need to do something about that.
And by the way, post crash management is just the same as preserving the scene at any fatal / major road traffic collision, with all its H & S issues considered. They do that lots every day to, getting it right nearly 100% of the time. Do you get it right 100% time?
Last edited by EjectEject; 16th May 2005 at 19:15.