Watersafe UK

4^th January 2012

WUKSART would like to wish all of our supporters a very happy and prosperous new year!!  To mark the beginning of 2012 we have aquired a brand new emergency response vehicle.  This vehicle is currently being adapted by WUKSART team members and specialist companies to prepare the van for emergency calls, this includes segregating the vehicle off into seperate compartments to allow for both equipment carraige and incidient command and control and also temporary markings.  Ongoing fundraising will be carried out to upgrade the signwriting to incorporate the best possible materials to afford the highest possible level of safety to our team members.  See our pages on Facebook and Flickr for more photo's. 

22^nd December 2011

Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team is pleased to announce that we have enteredinto a formal parnership with Derbyshire Police.  We will be providin specialist water rescue and safety cover to their specilist officers. 

31^st May 2011

Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team will be exhibiting at the Rescue Day 2011 in Notrh Lincolnshire on the 9th July.  Rescue Day 2011 is a chance for you to witness close up the work of your emergency services whilst also raising money for some very worthy charties including Help for Heroes and the Lincolnshire Air Ambulance! 

Displays will include the Red Devils - The Parachute Regiment Display Team, Humberside Police Dog Section, Road Traffic Collision Extrication Demonstration and of course a live demonstration from Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team including our Water Rescue Dog Section. 

Public interest in the work of your emergency service has always been high, and is ever increasing due to the popularity of 'fly on the wall' television shows following emergency workers through the course of their work.  This is your chance to get up close and personal with the professionals, paid and voluntary who are willing to put themselves in harms way to ensure the safety of complete strangers. 

Last year Rescue Day attracted over 20,000 people who enjoyed a great day of demonstrations, exhibits and the Xtreme Challenge Race. 

Many organisations, agencies and companies ar einvolved this year including: the Battle of Britian Memorial Flight, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, 202 Squadron Search and Rescue RAF, the Maritime and Coastgaurd Agency and much more.  New Exhibitors are being added to the line up all the time - visit the Rescue Day website link below for up to date information. 

Rescue Day will be held on Saturday the 9th July at 7 Lakes Country Park, just off junction 2 of the M180.  For more information please visit THE RESCUE DAY WEBSITE

15^th April 2011

Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team sent 6 team members on a specialist Technician - Rescue from Submerged Vehicles Course.  The course lasts for two days and covers subjects including; Vehicle Anatomy, Hydrology, Acess and Stabilisation. 

The course is very physically demanding requiring high levels of physical fitness and strength in order to fight the force of the current to stabilise the vehicle and access the passenger compartment to rescue people trapped by their environment. 

Rescue from vehicles in water are possibly one of the most common water and flood related incidents that rescue services are faced with.  Changeable conditions such as access, stability, extrication, communication, crew safety and time constraints all have to be considered and overcome. 

Many motorists end up in difficulty in flood water for many reasons, some of the most common include; ignoring advice, urgent need to get somewhere, overconfidence of vehicle or driver ability, being involved in a road traffic collision or simply being unaware of the dangers involved in crossing a flood channel. 

Whatever the reason for the vehicle and occupants ending up in the water, Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team now have an addition weapon in our arsenal to deal safely and effectively with the incident.  Congratulations to all team members who passed the course!!

3^rd April 2011

WUKSART was mobilised today by East Midlands Ambulance Service to assist with the evcauation of a cardiac arrest patient from a boat floating in the centre of a reservoir in Northamptonshire.  A local boat owner offered his services before WUKSART could attend the incident which then led to the team being stood down before arrival. 

23^rd March 2011

WUKSART would like to introduce our newest team members.  Boris (pictured left) and Tuggs (pictured right) are Newfoundlands and will form an integral part of Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Teams operational capability.  The boys and their handlers are already experienced in water rescue with experience gained competing in water rescue trials for a number of years with Watermead Newfoundlands. 

One of our handlers will be travelling to Italy in April to train and gain experience with the teams who use Newfoundlands jumping from helicopters to rescue people stranded at sea - Pete will be bringing this valauble experience back to WUKSART and we aim to develop a fully operational rescue dog section over the coming months.

Newfoundlands (or Newfies, as they are affectionately known) are dogs bred specificly for swimming by fishermen in the Newfoudland region of Canada.  Newfies are a large breed which can grow to 71cm tall and weigh over 70Kg! They have webs between their toes to use as paddles when swimming, their coats are very thick and have a slighltly oily feel to it - this makes it completely waterproof and the bottom layers of fur will remain completely dry even during full immersion in the water.

 The dogs thoroughly enjoy swimming and have an innate desire to rescue people - it has been said that if you don't want to be removed from the water you definitely should not go swimming with a newfoundland    

Many tales have been told of the courage displayed by Newfoundlands in their adventuring and lifesaving exploits; I have no doubt that Boris and Tuggs will live up to the reputation and prove themselves to be a valuable part of Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team.