SART Instructor course in Italy.
 |
| Malta Red Cross SART instructors together with two Italian SMTS operators. |
The main aim for our visit to the Italian Red Cross, was to extend our knowledge of rope rescue and take advanced training courses provided by the SMTS (Soccorso con Mezzi e Technice Speciali) or in English Special Rescue Unit of the Italian Red Cross. This project was financed by an European union program - Life long learning program Leonardo mobility. The aim of the project was to see the integration of pre hospital emergency medical care within specialized rescue units. The program focused on medical stabilization of patients in different inaccessible terrains, besides their final. Rescue. This goes hand in hand with the current EU trends in paramedic care. Four Malta Red Cross s Gozo Branch SART instructors attended for this exchange.
Our instructor was Luca Millani together with his associate Gianni Pontiggia. The first day of the course consisted of the basic theory, which is essential for this course due to the safety aspect of rope rescue. This lesson consisted of the knowledge of various knots, the equipment and the standard procedures of anchoring the ropes. [used in Italy]
On the second day, we visited the base of the Milan SMTS. This base was donated by the Aeronatica Militare to the Italian Red Cross, which in the past served as a airplane depot. Simply saying, this base was huge. The programme for that day consisted of training in confined spaces – tunnels, wells. This is a special type of rescue due to the hostility that this particular environment offers. The Italian Red Cross has constructed some tunnels in this base to simulate this particular environment for the training of their volunteers. First, we were introduced to the equipment that we were going to use during the training. It was amazing for us to see that out instructor told us that our branch has some equipment that they do not have, and are desperately trying to purchase. Eventually, we moved to the training ground where the training was supposed to happen. A briefing was done to give us information about what was going to happen. The simulation consisted of an evacuation of a person from the tunnels. During the course of that day, another simulation was done, this time we did an aerial runway with a rescue stretcher. This special type of rescue is essential if one needs to evacuate a person or persons who has mobility problems, from for example a multi-storey building.
The palestra di roccia was the venue for the training for the next two days. This outdoor training site was in the area known as Cernobio, overlooking Lago di Como. Needless to say that this location had breathtaking views, a haven surrounded by mountains. During these two days, we had the opportunity to practice some rappelling techniques, such as ascending (climbing up a rope) and change of ropes while suspended. We used different types of abseiling equipment that they had. We also had the opportunity to do via ferrata. The next day, our Italian counterparts prepared a search and rescue simulation. We had to find and extract a ‘casualty’ from a very rough terrain, using the techniques that we have learnt during out stay.
On the last day of our training, this time we visit the Milan Fire Fighting Department. The reason for our visit was that the this department had a unit specialising in rope rescue, together with other types of special rescue. The plan for the day was to simulate a rescue using a device known as tripod. With the help of this device and two winches we simulated a rescue from a 15m deep well, which the department used for the storage of water. When the simulation was complete and the fire fighters gave us feedback about our methods, they gave us a tour of the building – mostly showing us the vast equipment that they have.
Needless to say that our formation in this type of rescue does not stop with our training in Italy – it continues with training at regular intervals here in Gozo. Training in Gozo is essential since it is important for us to acclimatise with the particular environment that we have in our island. The SART unit of the Malta Red Cross Gozo Branch will perform a simulation of a vertical heights rescue at City Gate Valletta for the BOV Streets Alive, on the 23rd August at 7pm.
Back to News | View Photos
Back to top
Back to News
