We are running a series of articles on a bi-monthly basis explaining what we do, how we do it and the volunteers that make it all happen. This is our third article in the series of four search capabilities, focuses on our Water and Bank search capabilities...

Sadly, Lowland Rescue does not enjoy the fame of the RNLI, and as such we have to work very hard just to raise the funds we need to exist. Hopefully these articles will help raise our profile just enough, so that we continue to receive adequate funding for the future. You can help here.

For a landlocked county Berkshire has a wide network of waterway, lakes and reservoirs. BLSAR has the capacity to search in water thanks to our specialist water team and their equipment. We have 3 basic levels of water search technicians, Bank Search Technician, Water Rescue First Responder (WRFR) and Swift Water Rescue Technician (SRT). Along with our 2 Rescue Boats, 1 Rescue Sled, Side Scan Sonar and Underwater camera this give us excellent ability to search these waterways effectively.

Working in and around water can be dangerous, and all our Search Technicians are trained to Department of Environment Fisheries & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) standards. These are the same standards used and recognised by all emergency services and rescue teams. In line with these regulations it is required that all members must wear life jackets, helmets and carry throw lines. They must also maintain strict Continuing Professional Development to protect the safety of themselves, our team members, and partners.

Every Search Technician is trained to DEFRA MOD 1 standards in Water Awareness. This means they can recognise and understand the risks of working around water. Members can’t respond directly to any in water incident, but they can provide support. Additional training is required for our Bank Search Technicians, this allows searchers to work safely near water, using land-based techniques, and can assist Mod 2 & 3 technicians in searches. Bank search poles are also used to provide support in and around the water and to check the stability of the ground, they can also be used to pull persons to safety, however throw lines can be deployed when the person is out of reach up to 20m away.

To qualify as a member of the Water Team, Search Technicians must undertake DEFRA MOD 2 training, as a minimum to become a Water Rescue First Responder (WRFR), which gives them the skills to work safely in the water This includes understanding how wade safely in water and if need be self-recover. Because they may work in the water the level of equipment needed is much more than our Bank searchers. They are required to wear a dry suit with water boots, gloves, and a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) along with the helmet, and throwline. You can recognise our WRFR’s by the yellow helmets they wear.

Once qualified, our Water Team members can train in a range of roles, for example, we have several Search and Rescue Helms which allows us to deploy our two rescue boats. We also have technicians who are trained to use our sonar equipment and our underwater camera.

Experienced Team members may also wish to develop further skills by qualifying as Swiftwater Rescue Technicians (DEFRA MOD 3). Being a SRT gives the technician to carry out rescues in Swiftwater and Floods, by using swimming techniques and technical rope work, such as the use of pulley systems. The qualification requires attendance on a four-day practical course and ongoing CPD training.

However, the Water Team couldn’t do their job without the help of our Support Team members, who help us maintain our bespoke water rescue vehicle, boats and equipment, help us with our decontamination procedures, and most importantly, make sure our welfare needs are looked after when we are deployed.

Aerial Support

As it may not be safe to deploy our boats and crew into certain situations, such as near wears, thankfully this is where our Drone Team is able to provide aerial support to survey and search such hazards. Decisions can then be made with the regards to the risk factors involved, and whether alternate services may be called upon.