Emergency Services Exhibition at Porlock Weir
| Published: 24th August 2007 09:17 |
[All photos in this article were received, with thanks, from Michael Ireland]
Rain fell mercilessly on Porlock Weir, which must have been the reason for most people staying indoors. Personally, knowing that a bunch of fit guys wearing helmets were due there and I could legitimately observe them in action, not even floods on a Biblical scale was going to keep me away!
Thanks to organiser, Lynn Purvis, representatives from all our emergency services were brought together to give us a display of their respective duties on Tuesday evening (14th August) for the purposes of educating the public and collecting funds. Although most of these services are run solely on donations, money collected from these events (this is their third year) is sent to a chosen good cause elsewhere. This year the collection will be sent to the Gloucester & Tewkesbury Flood Relief fund.
With Coastguard, Martin Coleman commentating, first off to demonstrate their skills were the Fire Service. The retainers from Porlock showed the power of the water from the various hoses they use. From the least, which could be operated by one man, to the most powerful which needed the strength of no less than four retainers to control the force.
Info: In the event of a fire and calling for the Fire Service, it helps them to know of the nearest source of water - i.e. swimming pool or pond in your garden.
We waited patiently for the RNLI to arrive and rescue two men, Richard Binding and Will Purvis, in ‘trouble'. The need for this wait was a reminder that these services are on call 24/7, and while this event had been pre-booked the need, if it did arise, of forces having to be sent elsewhere was always going to take priority. On this particular evening we were not able to see the RNLI's Bessie, and one of the Coastguard crew were called to an emergency at the docks in Bristol.
The water looks calm now, but conditions can change very quickly.
But the RNLI didn't disappoint and they turned up in one of their D Class boats to save our men. Only to be sent back out to bring back a ‘casualty' from another boat. Once their patient was brought back to the shore the Exmoor search & Rescue team took over and ‘treated' an unconscious victim with suspected hyperthermia and possible internal injuries, requiring a full body splint.
The Red Cross were also in attendance teaching the public "How to be a lifesaver".
Battling against the elements, the 1st Porlock Scouts were on hand with hot food from their barbecue tent.
Remember: We take all these services for granted at our peril and when given the chance to donate to their up-keep or benevolent funds we must all give as much as we can.
Did you know?
You can tell the sex of a canoeist when they come out from a roll.
Having mistaken two very masculine gentlemen in canoes out along the coast as one male and one female (in my defence, one had very long hair) Coastguard Dave Parkin of Allerford was on hand to educate me.
The first thing a man will do when coming out of a roll is take a breath. The first thing a woman will do is sort her hair out.
Was he having me on? Well, the first thing the guy with long hair did on resurfacing was to fling his head back. In that one movement he was able to take a gasp of air as his hair fell neatly behind his head and down his back. However, I would be very interested to know if any women use this gesture under similar conditions.
Clara Lawrie
Related article: Happy Birthday Exmoor Search and Rescue
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