Donegal Civil Defence Working with Helicopters Training

16 November 2017

On the morning of Sunday 5th November at Downings GAA club, as part of their ongoing Search & Rescue continuous training programme, Donegal Civil Defence teamed up with the Coast Guard Rescue 115 Sligo based rescue helicopter and crew to further advance their training in Working with Helicopters.

The training afforded both services a wonderful opportunity to work together and demonstrate their rescue capabilities in rescue and recovery. During the morning Civil Defence volunteers undertook training in the loading and unloading of a casualty to the Helicopter and the protocols for carrying out such a task. Rescue 115 also completed a number of winching exercises, during which Civil Defence participated. 16 volunteers participated in the training. The day was rounded off with a rescue site exploration tour around Rosquil, Horn Head and Fanad Lighthouse. Civil Defence would like to thank Downings GAA club for the use of their pitch and clubhouse for the training and Fanad Lighthouse for giving them a tour of the lighthouse with a view to holding a rescue training exercise there in the early spring.