SES familiarisation thread

[Alan (Big Al)]

It even states in the RCR directory that if a rescue brigade is given a stop then they are well within their right to continue to the scene under normal road rules. However if a rescue resource is already on scene and they give a stop to the second rescue because they're not needed then they do look like donkeys when they rock up 15 minutes later lights still going and your heading home???

[squiddy]

As promised to our dear Mr. Toast, here is the list of SASES units and their specialisations.

Adelaide Hills - Storm, GRes, SAR, Landsearch
Andamooka - RCR, UGR, Comms, Storm
Barmera - RCR, SAR, Storm, GRes, Marine
Berri - RCR, GRes, SAR, Storm, Marine
Blanchetown - RCR, SAR, Storm, GRes
Booleroo Centre - RCR, VRes, SAR, Storm
Bordertown - RCR, SAR, Storm, GRes
Burra - RCR, SAR, GRes, Storm, Recce
Bute - RCR, GRes, SAR, Storm
Campbelltown - GRes, SAR, Storm, Landsearch
Ceduna - RCR, VMR, Welf, Comms
Clare - RCR, SAR, GRes, Storm, VRes, Welf, Comms
Cleve - RCR, GRes
Cockburn - RCR
Coober Pedy - RCR, UGR, SAR
Cummins - RCR, GRes, Storm
Dog Operations - SAR, Recce, Landsearch
Eastern Suburbs - GRes, Storm, SAR, VRes, Landsearch
Enfield - GRes, SAR, Storm, VRes, Lighting, Landsearch
Eyre HQ - Comms, EPIRB Tracking, 1st Aid, Logistics
Hallett - RCR, SAR, Comms, Storm
Hawker & Districts - RCR, SAR, Comms, Welf, Horse SAR
Kangaroo Island - RCR, Storm, VRes, SAR
Kapunda - RCR, GRes, VRes, Horse SAR
Keith - RCR, Storm, SAR, GRes
Kimba - RCR, Comms
Kingston SE - RCR, SAR, VRes, Storm
Laura - RCR, SAR, Storm, VRes
Leigh Creek - RCR, GRes
Loxton - RCR, Storm, SAR, Marine
Maitland - RCR, GRes, VRes, Storm, Comms
Marla - RCR, GRes
Meningie - RCR, Marine, GRes, Storm, SAR
Metro South - SAR, Storm, Landsearch, VRes, GRes
Mintabie - RCR, UGR, SAR
Mt Gambier & Districts - RCR, GRes, VRes, SAR
Murray Bridge - RCR, Storm, GRes, SAR, VRes, Marine
Noarlunga - GRes, Storm, SAR, VRes, Air Observer, Landsearch, Confined Space, Dropmasters, Bike SAR
Northern Districts - GRes, Storm, SAR, Landsearch
Nullarbour - RCR, GRes
Onkaparinga - RCR, GRes
Pt Augusta - RCR, SAR, Comms, VRes, Welf, GRes, Storm
Pt Broughton - RCR, GRes, SAR
Pt Lincoln - RCR, SAR, Welf, Comms, Storm, Air Observer, VRes, Marine
Pt Pirie - RCR, SAR, Storm, Marine
Prospect - GRes, Storm, Landsearch
Quorn - RCR, VRes, SAR, Comms, Storm
Renmark Paringa - RCR, GRes, VRes, SAR
Riverland HQ - Comms
Roxby Downs - RCR, Storm, SAR
Saddleworth & Districts - RCR, GRes, Storm, Flood
Snowtown - RCR, SAR, Welf, Storm
South East HQ - Comms
South Coast - RCR, GRes, SAR, VRes, Landsearch
Spalding - RCR, SAR, Welf, Storm
State HQ - Opps Support
Strathalbyn - RCR, GRes, SAR, Landsearch
Streaky Bay - RCR, GRes, Storm
Sturt - SAR, GRes, Storm, VRes, USAR
Tea Tree Gully - USAR, GRes, SAR, Storm, VRes, Landsearch
Tumby Bay - RCR, SAR, Marine, Storm, Welf, Comms, Air Observer, Recce
Warooka - RCR, SAR, VRes, Storm, GRes
Wattle Range - RCR, SAR, VRes, Storm
Western Adelaide - GRes, VRes, Storm, Landsearch, Air Observer, EWP
Whyalla - RCR, GRes, SAR, VRes, Storm, Confined Space, Comms, Welf, Recce
Wuddinna - RCR, GRes
Yankalilla - RCR, GRes, VRes, SAR, Landsearch

These were correct as at April 28, 2006. Not all aspects of each unit's capabilities have been covered, however this is a rough idea of the specialisations of each unit.

[PF_]

dog operations, try hard coppers!!!


IM joking kind of, what do dog ops do is it same as the police dogs.  Sounds cool to get into.

[CFS_Firey]

Thanks squiddy! Can you give a brief explanation of what the different acronyms stand for?

RCR = Road crash rescue
SAR = Search and rescue
VRes = Vertical rescue?
GREs = ?
Welf = ?
UGR = ?
Recce = ?
Etc

[bajdas]

dog operations, try hard coppers!!!

IM joking kind of, what do dog ops do is it same as the police dogs.  Sounds cool to get into.

Many members are ex-police dog handlers or dog breeders/trainers. The dogs have practised / trained at Fort Largs Police long side the police dogs.

Basically they unit dogs can do everything that a Police Dog can do except attack. They specialised in finding lost people.

They are currently recruiting people so that when they search, the team consists of the dog, dog handler & comms / navigator person. Currently they share a portion of Tea Tree Gully's SES LHQ and some equipment is members home based.

The Unit recently bought their own dog, that will move between Unit members houses. Previously the dog left when the member left, thus all trained dog asset was completed lost to SES.

Like the hourse mounted Units and quad bike Units, they are interesting to work with.

I believe they have been used in searches at Whyalla, Adelaide surrounds and Flinders Rangers. They also do alot of PR at Riverland Show and Royal Adelaide Show. They will be at the display in Rundle Mall on 17/11 & 18/11/2006.

[PF_]

quad bike SES, awesome.

I wouldnt mind doing some of this specialty SES stuff. 

[squiddy]

Not quad bikes... Noarlunga use mountain bikes, although there are some units in other states who use quads and atv's. PIRSA will bring quad bikes out for searches if requested, however.

As for the abbreviations:
RCR - Road Crash Rescue
SAR - Search and Rescue
GRes - General Rescue
VRes - Vertical Rescue
Comms - Communications
Welf - Welfare
Recce - Recconnaisance
EWP - Electronic Work Platform (Cherrypicker)
UGR - Underground Rescue
EPIRB Tracking - Emergency Position Indicator Radiobeacon Tracking
USAR - Urban Search & Rescue

[PF_]

dont talk in acronyms FIGJAM

who is PIRSA

[squiddy]

dont talk in acronyms FIGJAM

who is PIRSA

Primary Industry Resources South Australia

[PF_]

and they do what?

[bajdas]

Sorry Squiddy, but Kapunda SES have quad bikes. They used them and the horses at a Onkaparinga Gorge search I attended.

I believe Whyalla SES have quad bikes as well. Two metro SES Units are requesting them, but this is being negotiated via the new funding arrangements.

Also, Booleroo Centre SES have normal trail bikes.

Noarlunga SES have mountain push bikes that have ridden with the SAPOL bike teams at searches. They are also at the Clipsal500 race event each year.

Enfield SES are negotiating a mountain bike team.

[Timbo]

and they do what?

www.pir.sa.gov.au

[PF_]

probably need a bike licence to ride them and live in the area to join the briagde, IM out.

[CFS_Firey]

Can you explain what Recon units do, and also what Welfare units do?
(I take it GRes is for cat rescue etc?)

[bajdas]

Isn't it time for a new motto for the SES? They have expanded far beyond it.

Why don't you guys like taking stop calls from us?

Do you still use a single rope technique in your rope rescue courses?

Will the SES be able to work beside the CFS now that we have numerous 'official' rope rescue brigades?

Current motto is RESCUE & that is a large area of different types 

Single rope techniques are still being used but include larkin frame, rescue litter, multi-point anchors, ascenders, whaletail decenders, etc.

I think there are three levels of training in SES Vertical Rescue.

[Toast]

Isn't it time for a new motto for the SES? They have expanded far beyond it.

Why don't you guys like taking stop calls from us?

Do you still use a single rope technique in your rope rescue courses?

Will the SES be able to work beside the CFS now that we have numerous 'official' rope rescue brigades?

Current motto is RESCUE & that is a large area of different types 

Single rope techniques are still being used but include larkin frame, rescue litter, multi-point anchors, ascenders, whaletail decenders, etc.

I think there are three levels of training in SES Vertical Rescue.

"Natures worst brings out our best" Yep, Rescue...

So the only difference between CFS & SES is that you dont run a safet/belay line? Any particular reason?

[bajdas]

"Natures worst brings out our best" Yep, Rescue...

So the only difference between CFS & SES is that you dont run a safet/belay line? Any particular reason?

The 'natures worst....' phrase is being phased out I believe.

I have not completed the current Vertical Rescue courses so I will let someone else answer that question.

[Mike]

So the only difference between CFS & SES is that you dont run a safet/belay line? Any particular reason?

The 11mm ropes used are rated to ~2500Kg. This rope is rescue rated (unlike the rope supplied with CFS appliances) The main differences being:

The sheath is a different colour to the core, for defect identification
The sheath is bonded to the core so that it doesnt slide off (and the operator goeing with it!)

The SES standards say that the rope is not to be loaded beond 1/8th of its rating, so people are working well within its limits.

As for a safety belay line. Why? Twice as much equipment! and at ~$5 a metre thats a lot of extra money for very little benifit. Particularly if your dealling with  a 200m cliff on the west coast! It also shows a lack of trust in your equipment/skills to do the job properly.

Any more questions on vert?

[squiddy]

Sorry Squiddy, but Kapunda SES have quad bikes. They used them and the horses at a Onkaparinga Gorge search I attended.

I believe Whyalla SES have quad bikes as well. Two metro SES Units are requesting them, but this is being negotiated via the new funding arrangements.

Also, Booleroo Centre SES have normal trail bikes.

Noarlunga SES have mountain push bikes that have ridden with the SAPOL bike teams at searches. They are also at the Clipsal500 race event each year.

Enfield SES are negotiating a mountain bike team.

Thanks for that, mate. Like I said, they were the specs that were handed in to the directory at State. Maybe each unit needs to send in this info so that it can be updated?

Recon units go out and assess damage. They decide priorities and the like with major operations etc.
Welfare units provide welfare (catering etc). As far as I am aware, many SES units are getting rid of welfare at a regional level because the likes of the Salvation Army van can be brought in for major taskings, and there is so many OHS&W/food handling issues with welfare these days that it just isn't worth it... like the old salmonella bus that used to come out 

[bajdas]

... like the old salmonella bus that used to come out 

Hey be easy with the the old EMU (Emergency Meals Unit). I helped fund-raise to build that bus.

The bus was sold a few years ago now & sometimes I see it (with the emu logo) parked on Main North Rd.

[medevac]

I take it GRes is for cat rescue etc?

GRes would be the equivelent of our "extrication rescue" - people trapped in machinery, under objects, in objects, on objects, etc....

[squiddy]

... like the old salmonella bus that used to come out 

Hey be easy with the the old EMU (Emergency Meals Unit). I helped fund-raise to build that bus.

The bus was sold a few years ago now & sometimes I see it (with the emu logo) parked on Main North Rd.

Shame you didn't help fundraise to clean it 

[squiddy]

I take it GRes is for cat rescue etc?

GRes would be the equivelent of our "extrication rescue" - people trapped in machinery, under objects, in objects, on objects, etc....

GRes is basically odds and sods rescue that there isn't a box on the forms for 

[Toast]

So the only difference between CFS & SES is that you dont run a safet/belay line? Any particular reason?

The 11mm ropes used are rated to ~2500Kg. This rope is rescue rated (unlike the rope supplied with CFS appliances) The main differences being:

The sheath is a different colour to the core, for defect identification
The sheath is bonded to the core so that it doesnt slide off (and the operator goeing with it!)

The SES standards say that the rope is not to be loaded beond 1/8th of its rating, so people are working well within its limits.

As for a safety belay line. Why? Twice as much equipment! and at ~$5 a metre thats a lot of extra money for very little benifit. Particularly if your dealling with  a 200m cliff on the west coast! It also shows a lack of trust in your equipment/skills to do the job properly.

Any more questions on vert?

Ok, so, if a component fails on your single rope system, you've got nothing else. You can work well within a ropes max loading and still have something in the system fail. Ill take the whole $500 worth of extra rope thanks

[Toast]

So does SAR cover landsearch? If not, what exactly is it?