TSUNAMI, WHO CARES?

[Guest]

To any body reading this, ukfssart, fire-fighters man on the street or 'management'

We are not chomping at the bit to get out there.
We are not ambulance chasers or thrill seekers. We don't care about politics, diplomatic relations or scoring points.
We have the skills to make a difference,  search and rescue, medical, we can set aid camps up, sort out water purification we have boat handlers and swift water rescue technicians. Logistics and more, much much more.

We have two qualified paramedics in our team and 6 of us have recently completed the Medicine In Remote Area Course at ex-med (fantastic do it if you can). Christ, there is enough medical knowledge in my team alone to set up a field hospital.  Vital skills that have been specifically requested by desperate, desperate governments.

And I know because I have been lucky enough to work with most of them that all the other teams are as highly qualified and as professional as my own and I 'WAS' proud to be a part of the UKFSSART organisation.

I start my first day back  tomorrow and will have to defend UKFSSART from the watchroom politicians and comedians-not an easy task when we have been kept in the dark and have no answers for ourselves let alone the workplace jury-I AM ASHAMED.............

We could have made a difference albeit only as much as a couple of dozen human beings can. But we could have made a difference, perhaps I will get a chance to hand tents and hotcans out.

I will close now, go back to the TV and try not to shed tears in front of my wife watching the reruns of fathers carrying the bodies of their children.

See you on the 'apron'?
Otto, S. Wales.

[AnthonyB]

Perhaps it's because of the specific nature of this incident that there is no rush for SAR.

The general consensus appears to be that anyone who did not survive the first day & was missing (as oppose to trapped on roofs, cut off etc) is dead & as such SAR & entrapment specialists are not required.

Also it's not just people they need, they seem to be asking mainly for -
helicopters, drinking water, blankets, tents, medical supplies, infectional control equipment like gloves, masks, tyvek overalls, etc.

The battle to save lives now is a fight against disease, not a seatch of wreckage.

Send kit, supplies and money!

[otto]

No not 9 days after the event! To late now..................

 They have been finding survivors all over the place don't kid yourself there was no-one to rescue. We've all watched the news. All sorts of scenarios.

We are doing a car wash on station saturday, perhaps that'll buy'em a couple of blankets.
 john

[Guest]

Holidaymakers are collecting corpses and running makeshift mortuaries whilst search and rescue professionals are washing cars and shaking buckets in supermarkets.
There's obviously a ''NEW DIMENSION'' to international search and rescue  :cry:

[Guest]

With reference to the above I write to provide you with the latest update from DFID.
 
As you can imagine I have been in touch with DFID since approximately 06.55hrs on Boxing Day. As the tragic event unfolded I have offered the whole range of expertise from your teams. I even offered personnel to go and work in the DFID office.
 
The whole scale of the event has been virtually impossible to comprehend and has touched us all. In our usual response we have all been keen to assist in anyway that we can.
 
Andy Dermott and Keith Hampton did deploy but this was at the request of the Thai Military and was organised and paid for by Pedigree. They are now both back safe and well. I have attached a copy of Andy's report and from it you will see that there is and was very little requirement for USAR.
 
The latest discussion I have had with DFID this morning had revealed that the Military is now either already in or very shortly will be in all regions. DFID's view at this time is that there will be no deployment of any of our teams  for any purpose.
 
I know this will be disappointing for you all but is a fact.
 
There is a meeting at No 10 today, 04/01/05, and we will see if there is anything that comes from this.
 
 
Keith Ring Assistant Inspector of Fire Services

[Guest]

Kieth,
I think a lot of lessons have been learnt from this disaster, but.... What a time to learn the old fire brigade lesson on makeups.. YOU CAN ALWAYS TURN PUMPS BACK. UKFSSART should have been sent within 24hrs (i don't think i am the only holder of this view) we could have been held at one location & as information was received deployed as necessary, or, sent home once it was realised the situation did not require our services. All this would have cost would have been the flights. Simple in my view. Instead we now have an embarrassed government and an even more embarrased bunch of dedicated professionals. Kieth, I am not blaming you personally, as I know of the tireless work you have done recently, but the powers that be must hear our voice and appreciate that they may have to take a slight loss (financially) occasionally to ensure we are there when we are needed promptly.

Rant over.

Respect to Kieth & Andy. (perhaps we need to speak to pedigree chum rather than DFID???) :rolleyes: