Combined March 26 jw v2 - Flipbook - Page 19
Hayling Herald Community update
Hayling Island Coastguard
Rescue Team
By Jonathan Hulls, Station Officer,
Hayling Island Coastguard Rescue
Team
MEMBERS of the Hayling Island
Coastguard Rescue Team have
successfully completed their
annual
Coastguard Emergency Responder Casualty Care (CERCC)
re-certification, following six
hours of intensive written and
practical examinations designed
to ensure the highest standards
of lifesaving capability are maintained.
The CERCC qualification is a
vital component of our role as
Coastguard Rescue Officers. It
ensures that every team member
is equipped with the knowledge,
confidence, and practical skills
needed to provide immediate
medical care in challenging coastal environments, often long before
other emergency services are able
to reach a casualty.
This year’s re-certification process tested our volunteers across
a broad range of scenarios, from
trauma management and casualty
assessment, to resuscitation techniques and incident coordination.
The practical elements were particularly demanding, replicating
real life situations our team may
face on Hayling Island’s shoreline,
mudflats, and surrounding waters.
As a fully volunteer-based
service, our officers dedicate
countless hours to training alongside their everyday professional
and family commitments. Their
willingness to continually develop
and maintain such a high level of
competence reflects the dedication
they have to keeping the public
safe.
‘The re-certification is intentionally rigorous,’ said Station Officer
Jonathan Hulls. ‘When we are
called to an incident, members of
the public are often facing some
of the most distressing moments
of their lives. Our training ensures
we can step in quickly, act professionally, and provide the best
possible care until further help
arrives.’
Hayling Island presents a unique
operational environment, with
fast changing tides, large visitor
numbers during peak seasons, and
areas of difficult terrain. Medical
emergencies can arise at any time,
whether involving walkers cut off
by the tide, water sports incidents,
or vulnerable individuals in need
of assistance.
Maintaining CERCC accreditation ensures our team remains
prepared for any eventuality.
The successful completion of
this year’s assessments highlights
the strong teamwork and professionalism that define the Hayling
Island Coastguard Rescue Team.
It also serves as a reminder of the
unseen commitment required to
keep a rescue service operational
at all times.
‘We are incredibly proud of the
team’s performance, Jonathan
added. ‘Their continued dedication to training means our
community and visitors can feel
reassured that highly skilled help
is always close at hand.’
The Coastguard Rescue Service relies on volunteers who are
prepared to respond at a moment’s
notice, day or night, in all weather
conditions.
Ongoing training such as the
CERCC re-certification is essential to ensuring that when the call
comes, the team is ready to deliver
calm, capable, and professional
care when it matters most.
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