ERT SAR (Emergency Response Team) is a domestic UK and International RESILIENCE, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & DISASTER MANAGEMENT Search and Rescue Organization. It is also an NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL UMBRELLA Membership Body.

ERT TEAM TRAINING IN CANADA

This trip to Canada was set up and coordinated with the emergency services in Canada and the Advanced Rescue Techniques school of Canada in Toronto.

With the kindness and generosity of the Canadian Emergency Services and Canadian people, highlights of this trip included trips to:

·   The Peel Regional Police – Marine Unit,

·   The Peel Regional Police – Use of Force Unit 

·   The Toronto Police Service – Command and Public safety Unit,

·   The Niagara Parks Police – HART Team (High Angle River Team),

·   The Toronto EMS Ambulance Service – Special Operations Section,

·   The Mississauga Fire Service – Training Bureau, Tech Rescue Section & 3 Fire Stations.

·   The Milton Fire Department – Rattlesnake Point

TEAM NOW PASSED NFPA TRAINER QUALIFICATIONS

·   Qualification as an NFPA – High Angle Tech. Rope Rescue – Technician & Instructor*

·   Qualification as an NFPA – Swift water & Flood Rescue – Technician & Instructor *

·   Qualification as a Swiftwater Rescue Boat Operator *

For more information and names, see below:

View from the Helicopter - taken before the abseil.

















The Members who went were:

  • Gary Foo
  • Mervyn Redfearn
  • Andy Ford
  • Will Selley
  • Michael Eddie
  • Anna Todd

Many people ask how we managed to do this and we could not have done so without the support of the wonderfully supportive and hospitable Canadian people! This trip was months in the planning and organising.  SAR Chief  Gary Foo and SAR Commander Virginia Foo are former armed Police Officers and served in Ontario Canada. 

They organised a trip from ERT Search & Rescue to Canada – to meet with and train with friends and old work colleagues.  The team met with and trained with friends and contacts from Police, Fire, Ambulance and Rescue Instructors in Canada.  The Niagara Parks Police specialist rescue unit head – Officer John Gayder, arranged for a unique tour of this natural wonder. 

Our special thanks to:

  • PEEL REGIONAL POLICE
  • Chief of Police, William Metcalf and senior officers

  • TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
  • Chief of Police, William Blair and senior officers

  • TORONTO EMS / PARAMEDICS
  • Special Operations Head, Peter Robotolo, Toronto EMS and officers

  • MISSISSAUGA FIRE DEPT.
  • Fire Chief and training officers

  • MILTON FIRE DEPARTMENT - Operational Officers, 
  • Rattlesnake Point

  • ADVANCED RESCUE TECHNIQUES SCHOOL OF CANADA
  • Paul Sevcik, Advanced Rescue Techniques School of Canada
  •  and Rescue Instructors Firefighter 'Mac' and EMS Paramedic Paul.

  • NIAGARA PARKS POLICE
  • Chief of Police Niagara Parks Police and HART (High Angle River Team) head Officer John Gayder and Randolph Chamberlain (Firefighter)
  • NIAGARA HELICOPTER TOURS & RESCUE SERVICE

[ ...more to follow... ]