Volunteers from Police, Coastguard, LandSAR, Surf Life Saving pilots and regional emergency service staff will be involved in the Air Observers Course, which is being led by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ), taking place on Saturday (26 June) in the Raglan area.
“Aerial searching is a complex discipline that takes patience, concentration and a host of other skills. Without effective training, it’s easy for a search to be conducted too fast, at the wrong altitude, or not cover the area properly,” says RCCNZ training manager Rodney Bracefield, who is leading the training.
“The ability for searchers to spot clues from the air is a vital skill that can make all the difference between life and death for someone in the water or lost in the outdoors,”
Mr Bracefield says the course, being hosted by the Hamilton Police District, will focus on a mixture of classroom refresher training and practical skills development – including participants taking to the air in aircraft to put their training into practice.
While many of those involved in the training have been through similar exercises before, the course is an opportunity to refresh existing skills and learn new techniques, he says.
“You can never have too much training in search and rescue – particularly when it may ultimately help save someone’s life.”
Media Release: Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand, Rodney Bracefield, 24 June, 2010