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Regional Civil Defence exercise Roscommon 15th October 2011

Sligo Civil Defence team came third in a very competitive competition held at Roscommon Race course. At this exercise skills in First aid, Team work, Flood Defences and Communications were put to the test with the team fromGalwaybeing the outright winners on the day. Exercises like this are great for volunteers to test the skills learned in the classroom during the winter training program.

Sligo Civil Defence Team 
- Sligo Civil Defence Team 
 

Waterford City Civil Defence - Tall Ships - 30th July 2011

Over 400 Volunteers from 18 counties including Sligo assisted Waterford City Civil Defence over a 4 day period in what was a major operation for Civil Defence. Civil Defence were central to the City Council’s implementation plan for the event, operating under the Council’s Event Controller with a major presence alongside the Gardaí, Naval Service & HSE in the Control Centre co-ordinating the response to a range of problems as they arose from casualty calls to missing children.

Volunteers, vehicles and equipment were deployed throughout the event on a shift basis including 10 ambulances, 10 boats and 2 bicycle units and duties concentrated mainly on casualty/rescue cover, radio communications, stewarding and assisting the public generally and welfare at the accommodation centre. 7 radio networks were in operation simultaneously throughout the event, manned by Volunteers from various counties. The networks were established with the assistance of Pat Kennedy, Communications Officer who attended throughout to assist senior Waterford Volunteers.

26 volunteers from Sligo attended and assisted in the role of stewarding

The Chairman, Dir General and Technical Officer attended part of the event to view the extent of the Civil Defence operation and were briefed by the Event Controller.

Training year end night 2011

On April 26th Sligo Civil Defence held their training year end night for 2010 / 2011 training season which was attended by County Manager Hubert Kearns, Chairman Civil Defence Board Joe Meagher, An Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council  Joe Leonard , Bill Smith Director General Civil Defence, Paul Coyle Chief Fire Officer and Deidre Finnerty on behalf of Director of Service for emergency services, Michael Toolan Chairman of Sligo Rovers football club together with 80 volunteers.

On the night a review of what happened in Civil Defence for 2010 was reviewed and the plans for 2011 were unveiled In 2010 Sligo Civil Defence volunteers attended 114 events equaling 600 volunteers and 556 hours of volunteering compared to 79 events in 2009. Each year sees an increase in the demand for Civil Defence services.

County Manager Hubert Kearns thanked the volunteers for their commitment and especially those who assisted during the inclement weather in December.
Volunteers who assisted during inclement weather 
Chairman of Civil Defence Board Joe Meagher presented 10 and 20 year medals and informed volunteers that a new medal was being designed for 30 year and 40 year service of which we presently have 2 volunteers falling intro each category. This came as welcome news to them. 

10 Year medals

20 Year medals

30 years service

40 years service

An Cathaoirleach presented certificates to new Instructors and our first group of EMT’s a new level of first aid within Civil Defence 

Instructor Certificates

EMT Certificates

Deidre Finnerty presented Kathleen O’Gara and Padraig Maye a plaque to mark their retirement from Civil Defence 

Retirees:

Paul Coyle Chief Fire Officer thanked volunteers for their devotion to the organisation and assistance to the fire service during the gorse fires of 2010.
Bill Smith Director of Civil Defence brought volunteers up to date of whats happening nationally within Civil Defence and congratulated all those volunteers who were successful in their CFR, and OFA exams and wished those waiting to sit their EFR and EMT exams the best of luck.

Ballymote CFR / OFA

Enniscrone CFR / OFA

Dromore West CFR / OFA

Sligo CFR / OFA

Grange CFR / OFA

Cloonloo CFR / OFA

The following are sitting their exams during month of May
Civil Defence volunteers were thanked for their commitment to providing a very professional service for the Sligo Rovers home games and their silverware for 2010 was put on display for all to see and admire.
The night ended with numerous photo calls and light refreshments