The Irish Coast Guard has revealed that transfers from Letterkenny to University Hospital was the service’s busiest inter-hospital route of 2019.
The group’s end of year review showed that 378 lives were saved by Coast Guard crew members this year.
The Coast Guard flew a total of 123 emergency missions from the offshore islands to the mainland.
Coast Guard helicopters also provide HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) to the National Ambulance Service including inter-hospital transfers.
The Coast Guard’s three Rescue Coordination Centres at Malin Head, Valentia Island, and Dublin operate on a 24/7 basis. In the past year the three centres managed a total of 2487 incidents compared with 2647 for 2018 and 2503 incidents in 2017.
By year end, Coast Guard helicopters will have flown in excess of 770missions, operating from bases in Dublin, Shannon, Waterford and Sligo.
The publication of the end of year statement came with a key message with regard to safety at sea or on inland waters.
The capacity to Raise the Alarm and Stay Afloat, are central to the prevention of drownings at sea or on inland waterways.
The Coast Guard’s core safety message Stay Afloat – Stay in Touch; highlights the importance of never engaging in any commercial or recreational boating activity without wearing a fully serviced Life Jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD), coupled with a capacity to raise the alarm via means such as a VHF radio, Personal Locator Beacon, EPIRB or mobile phone. This should be supported by informing shore-based colleagues of your intended activity and anticipated return time.
The Coast Guard has also cautioned that mobile phones should not be considered as a suitable substitute or be relied upon as the only means of emergency communication at sea. Phone coverage at sea is limited and unreliable. Mobile phones are also highly susceptible to failure due to water ingress.
If you see somebody in trouble or if you think they are in trouble at sea, on the water or along the coast, dial 112 and ask for The COAST GUARD
