Dublin Civil Defence – Operational Activity 2015

29 January 2016

Introduction

As a Statutory Voluntary Organisation 2015 was an extremely busy year for Dublin Civil Defence with 397 community Events, 11 Search and Rescue operations (7 bodies recovered), and 2 Call outs for Flooding. Our HRD dog Max was called out on 17 different occasions last year (number of them to assist the Gardai). We were also involved in the management of the victims of the Carrickmines Fire with the Mass Fatality Tent.

We played a Major role in particular with the Barretstown Dublin Mountain Challenge where we provided Communications, Rescue and Medical across the Dublin Mountains. We also provided a hot Meal for over 750 participants’ on the top of Three Rock Mountain at this event and for 480 participants’ in the Arc Cancer Event in the IFC. Other major events included Ironman, Great Dublin Cycle Run and the Dublin City Triathlon. We provided pontoons on the Liffey for three major Events including the Liffey Swim.

Our water rescue boat crews rescued over 37 people from the water while on duty for the Open Sea Swims across the four Local Authorities.

Please note that we provided Medical and Water Rescue Teams at 78 Government organised events.

The approximate breakdown of events directly covered for the Local Authorities is as follows;

Dublin City Council         46

Fingal Co. Co.                  31

South Dublin Co. Co.    14

Dun Laoghaire Co. Co.   11

Please note that in addition to above, we also covered over 300 Local Community Events across the four Local Authorities.

We also provided Emergency shelter for the Homeless from January to April. This involved providing emergency shelter in the Esplanade for 20 people from 21.00 to 09.00 seven days a week with a minimum of three Civil Defence volunteers each night.

We would like to thank in particular Dublin Fire Brigade for their continued support and the Events Section in Dublin City Council for their support and for organising all the main event meetings which we attend.

We have 18 training Units across the Four Local authorities training in a wide variety of roles in order to fulfil our competencies for Emergency Management.

In 2015 we undertook to train Instructors as R3 Swift Water Technicians Instructors and R3 Flood Responder. These instructors have trained 52 Volunteers as Flood Responders. Also with the assistance of Dublin Fire Brigade we trained and certified 12 Volunteers as Pump Operators.

 

James Mc Connell C.M.I.O.S.H.

Civil Defence Officer

 

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