Training with the Fire Service - 27-03-2010
Scouts Train with the Specialist Fire and Rescue Service
On the 27th March, the Scouts visited Abingdon Lock in order to train with the Specialist Rescue Team (SRT), who work in the Oxfordshire area. The SRT attend road collisions, perform animal rescues and also go to emergencies on water. The team had organised a series of activities on the water for the Scouts (which also formed part of their own training).
Firstly, the Scouts learnt about eddy currents in the water, and saw how dangerous they can be. They also were told about the water flow in the lock and weir and why people should not swim near either of them.
After this, the Scouts used the water hose (from the Fire Engine) pumped full of air to save a fireman from the river. This proved to be more difficult than they expected as the inflatable follows the flow of the river, often in the way you don't want it to! Click here to see a video of them attempting this.
The Scouts also used throw-lines to pull the fireman from the river and, once they became good at that, used throw-lines to pull two fireman from the river (one who went in to save the other).The Scouts learnt a few other ways of pulling people from rivers and from locks using two ropes. See the Photo Gallery for shots of them performing these.
Once they had been shown all about rope work on the side of the river, the Scouts then had a chance to go in the SRT's power-boat and 
go around the river and weir. The river was quite choppy, which added to the excitement of the ride! The Scouts even had a chance to save a fireman from the water. The Scouts really loved riding in the boat (as did the Leaders!).
Overall, the Scouts had a really great morning working with the rescue team. Here are some of the comments from the Scouts:
"My favourite part was going on the boat and saving the firemen. If I could go again I would"
"I really enjoyed going on the boat!"
"I enjoyed taking part because we got to learn how to save people from drowning with specific equipment. We also got to ride a motorised dingy and use a very long rope in a bag to pull people to land. It was really good fun and I would recommend other scouts to take part if it is on again. I learnt a lot."
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