RAF work with local emergency services to practise medical evacuation

Friday 30 August 2024

Royal Air Force pilots worked with local emergency services on Thursday evening to run through an emergency medical evacuation using a Chinook helicopter, which landed on Port Soif carpark.

The training exercise was organised by Guernsey's Emergency Planning team, who work closely with the island's military liaison officers.

The British Army, RAF and Royal Navy all have a responsibility to help provide resilience in the case of an emergency in the UK, and that responsibility extends to Guernsey. As part of this, the RAF would be able to assist with flying a casualty or medical emergency to the UK if the primary medivac arrangements - using a flight to Southampton or the Coast Guard - fell through.

As the RAF were flying to the Channel Islands as part of regular training, it was arranged that a run through of a medivac would be held, involving Paramedics from St John Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey, the Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service, police and Guernsey Civil Protection.

The Chinook landed at Port Soif at approximately 18:45, before loading a practise casualty.

The exercise was held successfully, and was a useful training opportunity for everyone involved.

Derek Howlett, Assistant Emergency Planning Officer, said:

"An essential part of Emergency Planning is ensuring our emergency services in Guernsey are prepared for a whole range of eventualities. We are fortunate to have a good relationship with our military liaison officers, and when we heard the RAF would be flying a Chinook to the Bailiwick, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to practise the backup plan for a medivac from Guernsey. Guernsey Civil Protection volunteers and police officers formed a perimeter around the area, while Fire Crews and Paramedics helped unload a stretcher from an ambulance, and then load it on to the helicopter. The whole exercise went very smoothly, and, on a personal note, was very interesting to hold. I believe a number of members of the public also got to enjoy the spectacle."