SusPol / Op Boulder Exercise 1st Feb 2015

Thanks to all our Responders and all individual teams involved in Exercise Operation Boulder today it was a cold start, But a great days training was had by all participants and by comments received go further to compound the value we hold at Sussex 4×4 Response regarding our use in such joint operations where trained 4×4 Response drivers come into their own to prove their worth in such logistical tasks in working with other agency’s and getting people and equipment to places or off road faster which can be highly regarded by users when searching for a missing person when 10408697_10152744227219436_8180703383284389950_ntime is of the essence or where adverse weather maybe hampering efforts.

Sussex Police Said:
Nearly 200 search and rescue volunteers descended on Ashdown Forest on Sunday (1st February 2015) in a major exercise designed to test the skills and capabilities of a number of organisations.

Organised and hosted by Sussex Police at its Kingstanding training facility near Crowborough, the scenario presented to the teams involved a hunt for four people – in reality, enthusiastic police cadets – lost in the forest.

In addition to search specialists from Sussex Police, there were volunteers from Sussex Search and Rescue, Surrey Search and Rescue, ALSAR Search Dogs Sussex, Sussex 4×4 Response and three Sussex Neighbourhood Watch teams. They were assisted from the air by three fixed wing aircraft and a helicopter from the voluntary Air Search organisation, along with operators of the Sussex Police drone, based at Gatwick.

Sergeant Russ Phillips, who organised the exercise, said: “Conditions weren’t as bad as they are experiencing further north, but the chilly weather was a valuable reminder of just how wild and hostile some of the remoter areas of Sussex can be.

“Our scenario involved four high risk missing people and provided opportunities not only for searching techniques, but also for first aid, recovery and medivac (medical evacuation).
“While the exercise did unfortunately necessitate the recovery of a ‘body’, I am pleased to say that all four of our cadets were successfully found, returned safely and were very grateful for warm drinks and a meal!”

http://www.sussex.police.uk/whats-happening/latest/news-stories/2015/02/02/search-and-rescue-volunteers-test-their-skills-in-sussex-%28with-video%29

Sussex Police, ALSAR Search Dogs Sussex, Sussex Search & Rescue, Surrey Search and Rescue

#OpBoulder #TeamWork #MisPer #Search #Volunteers

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SusPol / Op Boulder Exercise 1st Feb 2015
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