On  the recent May bank holiday weekend the Sun was up early and so were the Swords  Scouts who were up to earn their Air Badge. The Coast Guard team from Howth assisted the scouts in ensuring a landing site was prepared in Rolestown, north west of Swords village. A local football pitch served as the landing zone for Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 116. The scouts did a sweep of the pitch to ensure any debris that could interfere with the landing was removed.

The scouts safely observed the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 116 land and when the all clear was given the scouts got a tour of the helicopter by the crew.  Particular attention was given to the importance of safety when approaching the  helicopter.


 

At 19.34 Howth Coast Guard were tasked to a report from Gardai of persons trapped in a cave at Drumleck point. The team responded along with Howth Inshore Lifeboat and Helicopter Rescue 116. While searching for the casualties the incident was stood down by NMOC as Gardai reported that the casualties had been seen leaving the cave and getting to safety.

Incident 10/13

Held in April 2013 at White Waterbrook. Read the full story.

One of the more common callouts we receive are for people enjoying walking or running in the area who slip and fracture a lower limb or ankle injury. The team regularly train for this scenario, ensuring all members are able to stabilise, package, and evacuate by stretcher a casualty in this situation.

Shortly before midday today (Sunday 21st April) a clothed person entered the water at the slipway in Clontarf.

A local resident witnessing this contacted the Coast Guard 999 operations centre. Following this the resident entered the water after the person who was now face down in the water and assisted the casualty to the safety of the shoreline.

Gardai and members of the Irish Coast Guard were very quickly on the scene. Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics arrived and transported the casualty to hospital by ambulance.

The Coast Guard would like to thank the local resident whose quick thinking in contacting the Coast Guard and bravery in entering the cold waters led to a successful outcome. It also a reminder of the importance of having public Liferings along a seafront ready and in place for when they need to be used like today.

Incident 09/13

Last night the Irish Coast Guard unit based at Howth Harbour undertook a medical exercise with the Irish Red Cross. A number of qualified & trainee Emergency Medical Technicians including the 4 and paramedic from our own unit were lowered into Whitewater Brook by our heights rescue team.

Once foot access by steps was confirmed, over 40 personnel from the two organisations joined the effort to triage, treat, and evacuate 8 serious trauma victims with injuries sustained from rockfall on the beach.

PHOTO ALBUM

Conditions included Pelvic Fracture, Standing Spinal Takedown, Head Injuries, Altered Level of Consciousness, Myocardial Infarction, Unconscious with Spinal Injuries, and airway difficulties.

Thank you to the Irish Red Cross for providing medical personnel, and the patients for the evening. Our team were able to gain a lot of experience assisting you as medics.

The Irish Coast Guard Unit from Howth were undertaking helm training with a passage to the Irish Coast Guard unit at Drogheda to support the Drogheda Marina launch on the Boyne River.

A vessel planning to take part in the flotilla lost power on the Drogheda Bar and requested assistance from the Irish Coast Guard. The Howth unit responded and took the ski-boat with 4 persons on-board under tow.

While returning the boat to safety, a mother and child suffering from serious sea-sickness in a second vessel were also transferred to the Coast Guard boat.

The boat under tow and the persons aboard were handed over to Drogheda Coast Guard at the shore.

Incident 8/13

Howth Coast Guard was tasked on Friday 29th to check a report of a person in the water at Sutton. A local volunteer was quickly on scene and confirmed that it was a fisherman standing out in the water in waders. Dublin MRCC was informed and Howth was stood down. Considered call with good intent.

Incident 06/13

The Irish Coast Guard received a request from Dublin Fire Brigade this afternoon for person with a broken leg at a remote section 2km from road access on a Donabate beach.A full team call out of the Coast Guard team in Howth was requested. Along with Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics Coast Guard personnel were quickly on scene to provide pain management, packaging, and transport.

The casualty was transferred down sanddunes in a stretcher and transferred by Coast Guard four wheel drive to a waiting fire brigade ambulance at the beach car park.


Incident 05/13

Incident 04/13

Date: Sun. 17th Feb. 15:00 hrs

The Irish Coast Guard 999 Operations centre received calls today of a kayaker in difficulty at Broadmeadows Estuary in Malahide. The report said that the kayaker had fallen out of his boat and was clinging to another kayak. He was unable to get to the bank of the estuary.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Dublin Airport and a Coast Guard Shore team from Howth being tasked to attend the scene. The teams began searching the estuary and quickly located the kayaker, who was making his way ashore. The Rescue 116 helicopter landed on the northern side of the estuary and a Coast Guard paramedic checked the casualty, who by this stage had been in the water for a period of time. The casualty didn’t require any further assistance.

The Irish Coast Guard said it would like to remind the public if they see someone they think maybe in danger on the water to call 999 immediately, as “their call could save a life”.