Equipment boost for Search and Rescue
SLANEY Search and Rescue is now among the top three equipped organisations of its type in the country.
The organisation has been presented with stateof-the-art specialist equipment that will enable its members to carry out searches completely independently and according to one member who spoke to this newspaper search times will be reduced by weeks.
Through this year’s Strictly Come Dancing initiative €23,035 was raised for the organisation and the people behind that fundraiser presented the rescue crew with €1,114.
However, they used the rest of the money to purchase two naval grade laptops, a boat, and a hi-tech side-scanner which will enable the organisation to search the river Slaney in an in-depth way.
Alan O’Brien, who is one of the organisation’s divers, was one of those behind the Strictly Come
Dancing fundraiser.
He told this newspaper that the new equipment will mean the local crew can work completely independently when carrying out its operations.
‘The scanner is one of only six in the country and is a very serious piece of kit,’ he said.
Slaney Search & Rescue is now one of only three organisations of its kind in the country to possess such a scanner.
The other three scanners are operated by the Navy and the Gardai.
A new generator was also presented to the organisation along with other specialist equipment that can be used while operating on the water to locate targets.
A kitted out van was also presented to the rescue crew and it be used as the Central Communications Unit during operations.
‘This equipment will completely change the scope of the organisation,’ said Mr O’Brien, who also expressed thanks to everyone who supported the fundraising drive.