The long weekend has arrived and the evenings are getting brighter, summer can’t be too far away! ​ This time of the year traditionally sees people starting to dust off BBQ’s and start planning outdoor parties. There’s plenty of ways to impress your friends in your garden from showing off your latest Samba dance moves to showcasing your sugar free ice cream deserts. Dance to the Samba while eating ice cream to your heart’s content but one thing we’d ask you to not take out this year is your collection of Chinese Lanterns.
 
Chinese Lanterns when released can travel quickly over the water and be easily confused with marine distress flares which are very similar in colour. When a flare call is reported to the Coast Guard emergency operations centre an immediate response is activated as this could indicate someone is in difficulty in the water and needs urgent assistance. Equally our colleagues in the Fire Service have had to respond to fires over the years after the flame from a Chinese Lantern ignited materials when they landed.
 
The Irish Coast Guard unit in Howth has already responded in the last week to reports of flares over Dublin Bay which has tied up resources until it could be confirmed to be a false alarm. If you do see what appears to be flare near water never delay, call the Coast Guard @ 112 or 999 immediately. Have a safe and fun weekend.

It's been a busy week for the unit so far. Futher incident updates to our post earlier in week.


On Wednesday evening at 20.15 Howth CG were tasked to reports of an unattended jetski on the beach at Malahide estuary.
The unit responded along with RNLI Howth ILB. The initial HCG team on scene made contact with the owner who reported that it had engine problems so it was left on the beach until a tow could be obtained. It was towed back to the marina.
The unit stood down at 20.35.

Incident 22/16



On Thursday morning the unit was asked to check report of an oil slick seen at sea near the Burford bank in Dublin Bay.
The area was checked from land with nothing to report. CG helicopter rescue 116 also did a sweep of the area.

Incident 23/16



Later on Thursday morning a report from a member of the public of a car below the Summit car park was investigated. It was found to be remains of a car that has been there for some time. Considered call with good intent.

Incident 24/16

Sunday 17/4/16
Incident: 19/16
A unit was tasked along with CG Helicopter Rescue 116 to investigate reports of a parachute off Howth Head. False Alarm. Good Intent.
 
Monday 18/4/16
Incident: 20/16
The CG national operations centre received a 112 call reporting an animal in difficulty off Burrow Beach in Sutton. Animal returned safely to shore.
 
Monday 18/4/16
Incident: 21/16
Pollution reported off Ireland’s eye. CG Rescue 116 and Howth CG boat were tasked. Container recovered,

Today the Irish Coast Guard joined members of the emergency services to help the Dublin Lord Mayor launch the ‘Save a Selfie’ app at the Mansion House.

‘Save a Selfie’ is an interactive mobile app that allows members of the public to take ‘selfies’ alongside emergency equipment such as defibrillators, first aid kits and Life Rings. The images are uploaded to the platform and their locations are tagged on a map, making critical life-saving devices easy to find for both the public and the emergency services. The locations of devices can also be shared on social media.

Dublin Fire Brigade member and paramedic Seán Peters who developed the app said people typically walk past about 15 life-saving devices every day, but there is no data base of them or their locations. The app is available from the app store and the Google play store and can be downloaded from www.saveaselfie.org. @saveaselfie @dubfirebrigade @LordMayorDublin
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​At 05.50 this morning (4th April) the Irish Coast Guard emergency operations centre were alerted to a person who had fallen on the cliff path near Whitewater Brook and sustained a head and ankle injury.  The Irish Coast Guard cliff rescue unit from Howth were tasked; within ten minutes of the call, using a smartphone text locator, the first team found the faller and provided medical care to the casualty. Further members arrived and the casualty was then stretchered off the cliff path to an HSE ambulance. Gardai also attended the incident.
 
By 07.00 the incident was closed and the team were released.
 
Incident 18/16

At 14.30 yesterday, Thursday, Howth Coast Guard received a tasking to prepare the landing area at Beaumont hospital for Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 which was incoming with a casualty. A person had fallen on the Sugarloaf mountain in Wicklow and the HSE and mountain rescue had requested a helicopter evacuation.

The team assembled and on landing assisted the helicopter crew to transport the casualty to a waiting HSE ambulance.

The casualty's injuries were not critical.

Also on scene were the Dublin Fire Brigade providing fire cover and the Gardai

The team were back on station at 16.00

Incident 17/16