Royal Navy Search and Rescue
Based at Prestwick airport, HMS Gannet
SAR (Search and Rescue) flight covers one of the largest areas
within the UK. Its patch stretches from Ben Nevis in the
north, south to the Isle of Man and the Lake District, east to
Edinburgh and the Borders, west to Northern Ireland and out to 200
miles west of Ireland over the north Atlantic. This equates to
approximately 81,000 square miles.
HMS Gannet SAR in the snow © Royal
Navy.
The helicopter can expect to be called to a variety of tasks at
any time of the day or night, 365 days a year, in all weathers and
conditions. It can be called out for military SAR, air, sea
and mountain rescue through to major accident response. The crews
operate with the rest of the emergency services on a regular basis,
whether Lifeboat exercises with the RNLI and Coastguard or exchange
of personnel with the Ambulance service.
Casualty treatment
HMS Gannet SAR during a rescue © Royal Navy
Each member of the back seat crew is trained in immediate
emergency care, with the aircrew normally receiving advanced
training in this area. This enables medical care to be given at the
scene and during transport to the medical facility. The crew are
able to administer drugs, use heart-start machines, resuscitate in
most conditions, administer fluids through a drip and treat
hypothermia, burns, fractures and head injuries. Find out more
about the
SAR's heroic activities at HMS Gannet here.
Please note all
information is correct at the time of publishing. Flights and
timings are subject to change, prevailing weather conditions and
operational requirements.