It took place on Thursday, September 28: South East Coast Ambulance Service, (SECAmb) staff were joined by Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Rother District Council, Rother Responders, HM Coastguard and RNLI Lifeguards, RNLI Rye Harbour and Pett Level Independent Rescue boat as part of an emergency response plan to a major incident were all tested at Camber Sands.
Members of the public were warned that they were likely to see a large emergency service presence whilst the exercise was taking place. The scenario was based around a significant incident on a busy day in the summer, in which numerous people on the beach would sustain injuries and require emergency treatment. The scenario is called Operation Radcott and takes place each year with the aim of keeping residents and visitors to this popular beach as safe as possible.
SECAmb is responsible for covering West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey and North East Hampshire.
Paramedic and operational team leader at SECAmb’s East Sussex operating unit, Martin Watson said: “The exercise successfully provided us with the opportunity to bring Operation Radcott partners together to safely test our emergency response plans.
“I would like to thank everyone involved. In total we had around a hundred people participating, including personnel from each organisation and volunteers assisting.
“The exercise involved fifteen simulated patients, water rescues involving RNLI lifeguards, HM Coastguard, RNLI Rye Harbour and Pett Level Independent Rescue Boats, casualty evacuation and treatment by ambulance crews including our Hazardous Area Response Team, fire safety and casualty support from East Sussex Fire & Rescue, and scene management and support from Sussex Police.
“The teams were able to work with each other to hone their skills, learn from each other and ensure that we are as best placed as possible to respond in the event of a genuine emergency in the area.
“We will now work with our partners to ensure our response plans are updated accordingly with any lessons learned from today’s exercise.”
A member of the team at RNLI Rye Harbour, Mark Stephenson explained that the Atlantic ’85 was tasked to attend a paddle boarder who had been found face down on his board. The crew transferred the casualty on to their boat where an assessment was carried out and then they took the casualty to the boathouse where Cascare was continued. The crew worked professionally and put into practice all the training that they had undertaken over the last year.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Claire Robus-Bolton , Lucy Green .
I have attended the pre and post-season Operation Radcott meetings as an observer. (Online so none of the drama of the excercise described in the article.)
The professionalism of the numerous agencies involved (including Rother as the coastal authority) is impressive. I wonder how many of those visiting Camber on a busy “red” day realise how much goes into keeping them safe?