Civil Defence question

Delancey

When I was in Civil Defence it was divided up into certain specialised services - Rescue , Welfare , Casualty , Monitoring ( fallout ), and Fire ( forgive me if I have omitted any ).
Is the above still the case or have the 'demarcation ' lines been blurred now ? Are members required to have a knowledge of all the above ?

I guess the monitoring service died with the end of the Cold War ?

shinikins

http://www.civildefence.ie/cdweb.nsf/documents/AEEB06284977F81C80256E8A003C631F

They seem to still have the different sections. The website is fairly poor though, no recent news or detail on current happenings. I'm not sure the funding is there anymore, I know budgets were extremely tight about 10 yrs ago, i doubt if much has changed. Sad really, as there was a huge social aspect to it, many long friendships formed in Civil Defense!

Delancey

It always seemed to be poorly funded - it seemed everything was a ' cast off ' from another service. That said , it was very enjoyable and a lot more than frienships were formed...;)

shinikins

My parents actually met through CD, and myself and my brother spent much of our childhood tagging along to training sessions and helping out(or getting in the way-depends on what way you look at it ) Always remember the huge vats of tea and the apple pie and lumpy custard that was provided after!
There used to be very well organised recruitment drives, and far more interaction with the general public-demonstrations and volunteer work regarded as just as important as the actual training.

5500

It's still the same name with the different services ie rescue, afs, cas, wardens ect. The recruitment seems to have changed within the past year and is involving forms of fitness tests at the minute.

When I did the induction myself everyone wanted to join the afs, and after the first training session a good few left!

47

eireal wrote: »

It's still the same name with the different services ie rescue, afs, cas, wardens ect. The recruitment seems to have changed within the past year and is involving forms of fitness tests at the minute.

When I did the induction myself everyone wanted to join the afs, and after the first training session a good few left!

Sorry to get a bit off topic. I`m looking at joining the afs myself and am fairly fit I heard about people joining the afs then not going back what is a typical training evening? Cheers 47

Delancey

eireal wrote: »

When I did the induction myself everyone wanted to join the afs, and after the first training session a good few left!

I recall a lot of guys ( and later gals ) joining the AFS as it was perceived as a good move for those seeking to join the regular Fire Service - many were regrettably dissappointed.
Interested to see the Warden service has survived , I would have thought that had gone by the wayside.

5500

47 wrote: »

Sorry to get a bit off topic. I`m looking at joining the afs myself and am fairly fit I heard about people joining the afs then not going back what is a typical training evening? Cheers 47

We normally did a couple of scenario's on a night, rolling hoses, ladder work and the odd bit of first aid. I classed myself as resonably fit too but it's a different kind of fitness, its hard to explain untill you actually train.

One thing I dont like about CD is not being able to attend 2 different units ie afs and cas. I couldn't attend my afs training night due to work and but had finished my emt training and wanted to keep active in the service. In order to do this I had to transfare from afs to cas (which was a big rigmarole) but If I want to go back to afs I've to go through it all again.

I understand it might be abit awkward if both groups need you for a duty at the same time but it'd be nice to have some leighway

47

cheers for clearing that up eireal

civdef

Note some of the above relates to Dublin units only. In most other counties all members train in two or more services.

civildefence

47 wrote: »

Sorry to get a bit off topic. I`m looking at joining the afs myself and am fairly fit I heard about people joining the afs then not going back what is a typical training evening? Cheers 47

You don't have to be super-fit but a reasonable level of fitness will see you through training. It can be very tough on the warm evenings in full gear though. I'm 2 years in the AFS and still attending regularly. You may find it difficult as a recruit in the beginning as there is a lot of constant movement, heavy lifting, ladder climbing, hose rolling etc. but it gets easier with time and gives you an incentive to keep fit. AFS is a good way to experience what life may be like in a full time brigade, but don't expect to use it as as gateway as that doesn't happen. All the best.

Back on topic, current CD services are Fire, Rescue, Water Rescue, Casualty, Wardens (Radiation) and Welfare Service.

Actual Paramedic

How often is the AFS used for events or occasions?

civildefence

Actual Paramedic wrote: »

How often is the AFS used for events or occasions?

I can only speak for Dublin AFS but our units rotate on fire cover for all Sporting Fingal home matches. We were at the Bray air show last week assisting Wicklow AFS. We cover the Phoenix Park motor races every year and we are now doing fire marshalling in the Aviva Stadium. AFS Paras and EMTs also provide medical cover, secondary to the casualty service, where a 4x4 ambulance is required.

Delancey

Water Rescue Service ? Thats a new one to me - certainly didn't exist in my time , when did that come about ? Coastal or inland mainly ?

civildefence

delancey42 wrote: »

Water Rescue Service ? Thats a new one to me - certainly didn't exist in my time , when did that come about ? Coastal or inland mainly ?

Its relatively new, mainly manned by AFS members. Based in Dun Laoghaire and Portmarnock. All inshore and rivers. RiBs and Inflatables.

Fuinseog

delancey42 wrote: »

When I was in Civil Defence it was divided up into certain specialised services - Rescue , Welfare , Casualty , Monitoring ( fallout ), and Fire ( forgive me if I have omitted any ).
Is the above still the case or have the 'demarcation ' lines been blurred now ? Are members required to have a knowledge of all the above ?

I guess the monitoring service died with the end of the Cold War ?

all save Monitoring and Warden service still exist. units tend to specialise ie AFS or Rescue. some will also have a boat unit.

every unit is slightly different with their good and bad points, some well funded, others less so. depends on how much they have to do.

Fuinseog

delancey42 wrote: »

It always seemed to be poorly funded - it seemed everything was a ' cast off ' from another service. That said , it was very enjoyable and a lot more than frienships were formed...;)

this is not necessarily the case anymore. it has come on a lot in the last seven years. moving out of dublin to Roscrea was a good idea.

Fuinseog

eireal wrote: »

It's still the same name with the different services ie rescue, afs, cas, wardens ect. The recruitment seems to have changed within the past year and is involving forms of fitness tests at the minute.

When I did the induction myself everyone wanted to join the afs, and after the first training session a good few left!

fitness tests? thats news to me, but it depends on where you are.

Fuinseog

delancey42 wrote: »

I recall a lot of guys ( and later gals ) joining the AFS as it was perceived as a good move for those seeking to join the regular Fire Service - many were regrettably dissappointed.
Interested to see the Warden service has survived , I would have thought that had gone by the wayside.

nobody under 60 is in the warden service. AFS is usually considered a good move for joining the Fire Service but there are very few jobs going.

civdef

Fuinseog, a lot of what you've posted is Dublin specific, and would not necessarily the case in other counties.

Fuinseog

civdef wrote: »

Fuinseog, a lot of what you've posted is Dublin specific, and would not necessarily the case in other counties.

true, I was in Dublin, but also other counties.

This is a cut'n'paste of my posting in another forum, but I hope it answers your question.

For those who don't know, Dublin divides itself differently to the rest of the CD counties. Dublin has four locational divisions, and within each division a further one is made of Service units. They each have a casualty service unit, a rescue service unit, boat unit, kayak, & Auxiliary fire. Welfare & Wardens are centralised. If you're in a service, you train exclusively in the topics of that service. You don't train much, if at all, in any of the other "service" subjects. Therefore most rescue haven't seen the back of an ambulance, casualty haven't been on a search pattern, and so on. There's no prospect of that changing in the near future, but some inroads to inter-service operability are being made (the open to all Urban Search & Rescue programme, for example).

Now, down the country, in most if not all other counties, the manpower isn't there to divide people up so finely. The only real division is Auxilary Fire Service, who work to themselves. Down the country the emphasis is on First Aid & Rescue, which everyone does, with the other divisions filled on a more ad-hoc basis where the division is based purely on who's trained to standard.

Mr. Bean.

Deleted User wrote: »

Quote:

Now, down the country, in most if not all other counties, the manpower isn't there to divide people up so finely. The only real division is Auxilary Fire Service, who work to themselves. Down the country the emphasis is on First Aid & Rescue, which everyone does, with the other divisions filled on a more ad-hoc basis where the division is based purely on who's trained to standard.

SeaSlacker has definitely hit the nail on the head there. Other counties used to be run like Dublin but not anymore due to falling numbers.

civdef

Even the AFS thing isn't true in many counties, where AFS is an integral part of multi-skill training.

I'd also say that not being "run like Dublin" is not down to falling numbers, but rather the realisation that training people in one service only is not a good plan.

blackprince

hi declancey42.

iam a memeber of afs (auxiliary fire service), the services are still in use but most civil defence stations only have a few of the services,as in our cork station we have afs, rescue, welfare, casualty, no warden service. mabey in a diffrent station i say. And now theres a thing called multiskills were when u sign up for cd u will get trained up in a little of everything for about 20weeks, this covers all the above but very basic, teambuilding and bls card (basic life soport). we have a bike unit also, pushbikes for events and that, water unit, run by rescue, and courses which u can sigh up for all units.

hope this helps

Godofhellfire

I think that the AFS has blurred a little as they they do a lot of casualty stuff as well. I'm in the AFS and an EMT and we do casualty at events as well as fire cover. The only thing ever get called out for really is floods or things like that.
I know a few guys who are in the boat units and in the AFS so don't feel you can only do one. In fact I think the boat unit are crying out for people. I'd love to do but don't don't have a car so getting out there would be a pain every week!
I would talk to the higher ups first, more then likely they will try their best to help you.

Mr. Bean.

civdef wrote: »

Even the AFS thing isn't true in many counties, where AFS is an integral part of multi-skill training.

I'd also say that not being "run like Dublin" is not down to falling numbers, but rather the realisation that training people in one service only is not a good plan.

I can see where your coming from, but certainly in my county, (Louth), numbers have fallen dramatically in the last few years... Also, as a further impediment for potential recruits, I'm aware of a recent age limit brought in that restricts entry for over 18's only, but that's another story.

halpers

What are the rank structures in the civil defence?? In particular the A.F.S??

Sierra Oscar

halpers wrote: »

What are the rank structures in the civil defence?? In particular the A.F.S??

You can see the rank structure here.

ooh ya

Hi all,

Have a question, where is the afs going?
i am a member and so far the station where we train we are not wanted or it feels like it. Will we get to play a role in a fire or floods ?

Thanks

Fuinseog

ooh ya wrote: »

Hi all,

Have a question, where is the afs going?
i am a member and so far the station where we train we are not wanted or it feels like it. Will we get to play a role in a fire or floods ?

Thanks

AFS is there for floods, not fires. Some AFS people take it too seriously and think they are real firemen which irritates retained and professional firemen.

AFS is there to support the fire service not take its work away. Thats why I would say enjoy what you do, take it seriously, but do not consider yourself a real fireman.

I have encountered AFS units hat were very professional and others who just wanted to drive around with the sirens wailing.