Volunteers at Hornsea Inshore Rescue are celebrating the arrival of their first thermal imaging camera (TIC) which gives them the ability to literally see in the dark!
Having a clear view is an absolute essential when searching for missing persons but what happens when night falls or weather conditions are bad?
Thermal imaging is not a new thing, but as technology moves on and devices become much smaller and more efficient, many emergency services have benefitted by being able to move on to the newer generations of equipment. Understanding the value of using TIC's and realising the needs of the volunteers from Hornsea, the Chief Fire Officer for Humberside, Dene Sanders, has generously donated a thermal camera to the independent lifeboat team. All this comes a few weeks after the tidal surge along the East coast during which Humber Inshore Rescue and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service attended numerous calls along Hornsea sea-front.
Unlike firefighters who use TICs in hot and smoky fire situations, Hornsea Inshore Rescue volunteers will utilise the camera at all times of the day and night, as anything vaguely warm in the North Sea will show up straight away, saving vital minutes in a life and death rescue situation. As well as working at sea, their flood team will be able to use the device in situations similar to those encountered during the recent flooding.
Sue Hickson-Marsay, Chair and Coxswain at Hornsea Inshore Rescue expressed her thanks:
"We are indebted to the Chief Fire Officer for this generous donation. The introduction of a thermal camera increases our ability to conduct effective searches safely, not only from our rescue boat, but also on land as we are always available to assist the Police and Coastguard with missing persons searches."
Hornsea's lifeboat volunteers have been training with the thermal camera in recent weeks including a search and rescue exercise which simulated an aircraft crash.
[Pictured right is volunteer Andrea Gillyon with the new thermal imaging camera]
The thermal imaging camera is now in frontline service with Hornsea Inshore Rescue, giving their teams a huge advantage when dealing with emergency incidents and on the plus side - it will save on carrots too!
To find out more about Hornsea Inshore Rescue please visit their website www.hornsearescue.org.uk
Hornsea Inshore Rescue
The Boathouse
Hornsea Burton Road
HORNSEA
East Yorkshire
HU18 1PU
Crews train on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Facebook: Hornsea Inshore Rescue
Twitter: @hornsea_rescue
Hornsea Rescue, the facts...
Hornsea Inshore Rescue (HIR) provide a lifeboat which covers an operational area into the North Sea between Withernsea and Bridlington.
HIR is independently funded and not affiliated to the RNLI, however our standards and work ethics are based upon those of the RNLI. In view if this, we are responsible for all of our own income generation . We work alongside teams from other emergency services at any incidents and have strong partnership arrangements.
How it all began...
In 1995, HIR was brought together after the Coastguard Patrol Boat was withdraw. This team had a safety role, overseeing our local fishing boats and the many visitors who swell the population figures during the summer months, many of them seeking enjoyment and thrills on our beaches or in the sea. A group of locals indentified the need for a rescue boat and facility in the Hornsea area and taking matters into their own hands, began fundraising. After a lot of very hard work managed to bring together enough funding to purchase and maintain the very first boat 'Charity Venture'.
Through years of hard work, volunteers and trustees have got the service to such a level that it is now a declared HM Coastguard (HMCG) asset, an integral part of the east coast search & rescue network. In partnership with the HMCG and other emergency services HIR work to ensure that people remain safe whilst at work or enjoying their time in the locality.
Not only inshore rescue...
In more recent time HIR has become a part of the flood response resilience, not only in this area but are also available to respond throughout the UK when needed. Similarly the HIR Flood Team work in partnership with Humberside Fire & Rescue Service honing their skills and developing operational techniques. The team responded in the 2007 floods and the 2013 tidal surge in Hull.
Seasafe Education Centre...
For the volunteers at HIR it's not all rescue and glory, we also have the well established Seasafe Education Centre which has played host to significant numbers of school pupils from a very wide area. The students are welcomed to the Seasafe Centre where they enjoyed and educational journey which included lesson not only about water safety but also information about local wrecks and a lesson about the fruits of the North Sea, how the seas are fished and where the different catches can be located.
RYA Training Centres...
Finally HIR is an established Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training provider offering a range of courses from not only their sea front facility but also yachting course on Hornsea Mere and Powerboat course at King George Dock in Hull.
Any profits raised go directly to the Hornsea Inshore Rescue charity enabling us to keep our rescue teams operating.