newsnew volume 2 issue 3 online

Welcome to the third and last issue for this year of the Emergency Response and

Rescue Corps newsletter. The aim of this newsletter is to share with our readers our

achievements, projects and experiences. It is highly advised that in order to stay

tuned with the current ERRC activities, to follow us on Facebook and on our website.

From the Editor

In this issue

The word of the Hon. President

Page 2

Cycle around Sicily

Page 3

EXPO

Page 3

E.R.R.C. new premises

Page 4

On the Guard

Page 6

Certi icate presentation

Page 8

Caught red handed

Page 8

Codice 3

Page 9

A successful season

0

Annual blood drive

Page 10

Underwater photo with Santa Page 11

Winter 2013

Volume 2 Issue 3 Mobile: 00356 99800886 Email: [email protected]

ERRC Newsletter - Volume 2 Issue 3

The Word of the Hon. President of E.R.R.C.

Two years ago, the Governing board, volunteers, cadets and

members of the ERRC had placed in me the trust to oversee this

growing organisation. ERRC has become a household name not only

in Gozo and its islands Comino and Cominetto (especially in sum-

mer) but also in mainland where the majority of our activities take

place.

2013 was another great year and if one looks at the annual report

for 2012 and one can see through the achievements – a record

number of European Union funded programmes and activities in a record number of countries; a

record number of training courses; a record number of new members and cadets and more

importantly a growing social heart where the ERRC gives to our society. ERRC by means of its

dedicated volunteers gave a record number of free training courses and services to various

Government Ministries, Departments, parastatal institutions, Local Councils, NGOs and organizations.

The most notable contribution was a irst ever Emergency and Evacuation Plan for a Government

Of ice and this was carried out for the Of ice of the Prime Minister. On the request of the Government

the same exercise will be carried out in other ministries buildings and sites. This is an important

exercise which should be encouraged in all public buildings through the country

My appeal and chores of our members last year addressed to the authorities that our country needs a

Regional Emergency Centre in Gozo was inally heard. ERRC has been offered a central and strategic

site in Xewkija with the help of the Hon Minister for Gozo, the Hon Anton Refalo in cooperation with

the Minister of National Security, the Hon Dr Manuel Mallia. One can see the site being organised to

host ERRC’s Headquarters and all the facilities, equipment and vehicles necessary to properly

function as an organisation in emergency response and recue.

Finally, I would like to thank all the Governing board, volunteers, cadets and members of the ERRC

for their trust, constant and consistent support to me as your Honourary President, to ERRC, to our

country and all in dire need in emergency and/or rescue situations. Merry Christmas and prosperous

2014 to all!


Cycle around Sicily

Colin King was a Fireman with the London Fire

Brigade for over 30 years and since moving to Gozo 2

years ago has become a volunteer Ambulance Driver

for the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps of

Gozo.

He cycled around the 85 Fire Stations of Sicily

commencing on Tuesday, the 3rd of September. It took

almost 4 weeks to complete and all donations went to

the ERRC in Gozo. Sponsorship came from Gozo, Malta

and overseas. Special thanks go to his wife Janet, for

her dedication and support to make this event a

success.

EXPO

The ERRC took an active part in the Europe of Citizen fair organized by MEUSAC last month . Other

events attended to were the volunteer fair organized by GUG in gozo and the EUPA project

exhibition organized at St Georges square in Valetta


ERRC new premises

Currently two Emergency Response

and Rescue Corps volunteers has

embarked in setting up its operational

quarters an premises.

With special thanks to the ministry for

Gozo a piece of land has been located

for this purpose. The work started late

October A team of voluinteer are

working round the clock to have the

site running by end of January next

year.

Besides space for the various rescue

vehicles, the premises will contain

several units such as: sleeping quarters,

administration block, living area,

kitchen, cadet room, 2 lecture rooms

and several store rooms.


On the Guard

The Water Rescue Unit of the Emergency Response & Rescue Corps is responsible for managing all

the guarded beaches in Gozo and Comino, namely the Blue Flag beach Ramla, Marsalforn and Blue

Lagoon in Comino. These three are amongst the most visited beaches every summer by both Maltese

and tourists alike. This high concentration of people near the sea gives rise to a logical increase in

First Aid and Beach safety needs in those areas. Our highly trained lifeguards take care of all health

related issues and go even beyond to ensure a sterling service at the beaches where they operate.

Ramla Bay is safeguarded by means of two towers maned by three lifeguards.


Marsalforn has been a recent addition to our

beached and is managed by means of a

strategically placed tower and Lifesaver II

which one of our Rescue boats. If any

accidents happen in the nearby areas

Lifesaver II is deployed to rush on scene and

assist. Finally Blue Lagoon which sees a

huge concentration of tourists, going well

into the thousands daily, packed on a small

beach, is managed by three lifeguards and a

Rescue Boat captain who drives our Hydro

ambulance called Lifesaver I.

These three posts deal with hundreds of

cases every season, ranging from simple

Jelly ish stings or super icial cuts to life

threatening heart attacks and spinal

injuries.

Our lifeguards never stop training all year

round. Training includes theory sessions to

keep medical knowledge high, a lot of

physical sessions and practical skills

practicing

Certificate presentation ceremony

Friday 8th November, the Emergency

Response and Rescue Corps held a Certi i-

cate Presentation Ceremony at the Ministry

for Gozo. Certi icates of various competenc-

es, including First Aid, Lifeguarding,

Emergency Medical Technician and

International Instructor quali ication, were

presented to the sixty volunteers who

attended for the event.

The ceremony started with an opening

speech by Dr Raymond Xerri, Hon

President of the Emergency Response and

Rescue Corps, who outlined the

achievements of the ERRC for the last year.

Later Mr Grezju Mercieca, Chief of Staff at

the Ministry for Gozo, distributed the

certi icates to the volunteers present.


Caught Red handed

Hmmm… I take them…

they will be useful in

the coming months …

Mario Saliba

If I had another pair of

hands… I would have

been able to carry even

more stuff…. Mark

Portelli

Codice 3


Between the 27th and 29th of September 2013 a

group of eight Emergency Response & Rescue

Corps volunteers went to Legnano, Milan for an

International Rescue Training Camp of civil

protection exercises called Codice 3. Having

already participated back in 2011, this was the

2nd time that E.R.R.C. volunteers had participated

in this training camp and were welcomed warmly

by all participants. Amongst those present, there

were French representatives, Polish volunteers, a

large number of Italian ambulance organisations

such as Croce Bianca and Croce Verde and also the

Protezione Civile (CPD) and Interarma who were

conducting the simulations.

Our volunteers participated in numerous large

scale simulations which required extensive

teamwork amongst all the different specialized

rescuers. These included Search and Rescue from a

large forest ire, extrication of casualties from a

collapsing building using rope access equipment,

large scale line searches in ields for missing

persons and rescuing of people from a lake.

Living in a tent together, as a group for three

days was an adventurous experience especially

for the young ones. It enhanced teamwork and

made the experience that much more

memorable. A lot of new friends were made and

old friendships were reinforced. A special thanks

goes all Codice 3 organisers, especially to

Marco Tandi whom with great hospitality

welcomed our volunteers.


A successful season

The lifeguarding service in the beaches entrusted to the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps

stopped at the end of September. The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps did lifeguarding

service at Blue Lagoon in Comino and Ramla Bay and Marsalforn Bay in Gozo.

During the past season lifeguards had a total of 706 interventions. These ranged from simple jelly ish

stings and minor injuries to other major injuries such as head injuries, spinal injuries and cardiac

problems. Lifeguards also intervened to assist tired swimmers or search for missing persons. (See

attached graph)

The lifeguarding service at the Blue Lagoon in Comino is possible due to inancial support from the

Malta Tourist Authority. The lifeguarding service in Ramla Bay and Marsalforn Bay in Gozo were

possible due to inancial support from Gaia Foundation and the Ministry for Gozo respectively.

Support is also being provided by the Mgarr Marina, Transport Malta, Armed Forces of Malta, Police

and the Civil Protection Department.


Annual blood Drive

Monday 23rd September, on Independence Day, the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps in

collaboration with the Malta Blood Transfusion Services, Gozo General Hospital Blood Donation

Department and the Arkadia Shopping Complex have organized the Blood Drive at the Arkadia

Shopping Complex in Victoria. It was held between 8.30am and 1pm and attracted 39 blood donors,

most of which were irst time donors. This event is organized on an annual basis to increase the

awareness of blood donation and at the same time attract more individuals to become blood donors.

The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps would like to thank the Malta Blood Transfusion

Services, the Gozo General Hosptial Blood Donation Department and the Arkadia Shopping Complex

to make this Blood Drive possible.

Donating blood means saving lives. In fact, when donating blood once, you can be saving up to three

persons. As always, the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps urge the general public to be

generous and start donating blood. Blood donors are heroes too.

If you are seventeen years of age and older you can start donating blood.

newsnew volume 2 issue 3 online

Documents

president page

sicily page

santa page

guard page

expo page

errc newsletter volume

new premises page

successful season page