Carlow Emergency Training Exercise

lucylu

http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/tabId/369/itemId/13945/Sport/SportsBlog.aspx

Town on red alert for emergency training exercise


Last Updated Mar 2012
By: Mairead Wilmot
MAJOR accident is being planning for Carlow town.

Director of services Dan McInerney informed members of Carlow Town Council last week that the local authority would be leading a full-scale emergency exercise on the evening of Thursday 29 March.

“It’s the most ambitious regional exercise we have ever held,” admitted Mr McInerney. “This will test us.”

The scale of the incident, which is being held to train emergency services staff, is expected to be vast. Dr Cullen Road will be closed to traffic between 6.30pm and 2am on the day, but local access will be allowed. A coastguard helicopter will also be involved in the exercise, which is due to be based around a massive rail accident.

Mr McInerney told councillors that Iarnród Éireann has come on board for the training exercise, which will involve all aspects of the emergency services. Exact details of the proposed accident are currently in the planning stages but are likely to be kept secret so that staff can react appropriately.

Along with staff reacting on the spot, councillors and the media will also be involved, as part of the exercise involves giving a fullbriefing to keep members of the public informed.

The incident will involve gardaí, the fire brigade, ambulance crews, the coastguard and council employees, who will be involved in responding to the crisis situation.

Mr McInerney told members the exercise is “a learning opportunity for everyone involved – we want to enhance the co-operation between all of the divisions involved in responding to major emergencies”. He added that it was also about “reinvigorating” people’s knowledge of their roles in emergencies.

While commending the exercise as “admirable”, cllr Anne Ahern enquired if there was a fear it could turn into a “spectator sport”. Mr McInerney said there was a small concern but pointed out that, as with all emergencies, members of the public would be kept away from the actual incident.

Ken.

Wonder if theirs any jobs going for extra's?. I'd look good playing a corpse:D.

foggy_lad

Are they importing extra emergency services into the town for this or just using the allocated resources? most evenings there are only 4-6 Gardai in Carlow and only one ambulance available with a second only available if called in an extreme emergency, There are thankfully a lot more fire-brigade members whether full time or part time. Using the coastguard seems a bit odd but maybe the helicopter will be used as an air ambulance?

If they are considering simulating a train crash in carlow they should look at the Buttevent and cherryville crashes and take their response times from there, having all services ready to respond will give false timings as it can take hours to get an ambulance from Kilkenny or Waterford especially if the rostered ambulance is already engaged.

lucylu

It is not just Carlow Services, the surrounding counties in the Leinster region and the Coastguard too. It will take place at the old disused Erin Foods Factory /Minch Nortons grounds.

tommycahir

lucylu wrote: »

It is not just Carlow Services, the surrounding counties in the Leinster region and the Coastguard too. It will take place at the old disused Erin Foods Factory /Minch Nortons grounds.

That would explain the major cleanup operation that is ongoing there at the moment!

bogof

tommycahir wrote: »

lucylu wrote: »

It is not just Carlow Services, the surrounding counties in the Leinster region and the Coastguard too. It will take place at the old disused Erin Foods Factory /Minch Nortons grounds.

That would explain the major cleanup operation that is ongoing there at the moment!

There is a high risk of a train derailling at 15 mph as it passes the Cannery. Hold it in Milford or Magney for a bit of realism.
Should be good crack anyway.

Nothingbetter2d

ken wrote: »

Wonder if theirs any jobs going for extra's?. I'd look good playing a corpse:D.

jnr civil defence and order of malta members usually do the victims roles for free.

Nothingbetter2d

bogof wrote: »

There is a high risk of a train derailling at 15 mph as it passes the Cannery. Hold it in Milford or Magney for a bit of realism.
Should be good crack anyway.

given how crappy most of irish rail's tracks are it could happen anywhere

Nothingbetter2d

foggy_lad wrote: »

Are they importing extra emergency services into the town for this or just using the allocated resources? most evenings there are only 4-6 Gardai in Carlow and only one ambulance available with a second only available if called in an extreme emergency, There are thankfully a lot more fire-brigade members whether full time or part time. Using the coastguard seems a bit odd but maybe the helicopter will be used as an air ambulance?

If they are considering simulating a train crash in carlow they should look at the Buttevent and cherryville crashes and take their response times from there, having all services ready to respond will give false timings as it can take hours to get an ambulance from Kilkenny or Waterford especially if the rostered ambulance is already engaged.

carlow ambulances are based in st dympna's they dont come from kilkenny to collect you. they only take you to kilkenny/waterford.

Owryan

is it free to go watch? have 3 kids to entertain lol

foggy_lad

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

carlow ambulances are based in st dympna's they dont come from kilkenny to collect you. they only take you to kilkenny/waterford.

but there is only one available outside of office hours and if a second is required in Carlow it is dispatched from Kilkenny rather than pay a crew from Carlow the call out rates.

Mr E

They should turn it into a train crash near the graveyard, and a chemical spill leading to a zombie outbreak. My grandparents would make great zombies.

wheres me jumpa

Mr E wrote: »

They should turn it into a train crash near the graveyard, and a chemical spill leading to a zombie outbreak. My grandparents would make great zombies.

Sounds like an episode of Emmerdale!

lucylu

Drove past the Cannery Road last night at about 8pm, I expected to be diverted but I wasn't. It appeared to be 3 burnt out buses on their sides close to the railway track. A crowd of on lookers gathered ontop of the railway bridge.

The Braun Carpark was full with engines, ambulances etc also. maybe at that stage it didn't kick off.