Woodentop
Well-Known Member
There is bit of kerfuffle about Coastguards and some confusion. Perhaps I can clarify.
There are two "flavours" of Coastguard.
Type 1 are full time Civil Servants. They sit in the 18 Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) around the UK (and NI) and work the radios to give you all the services you demand and coordinate Search and Rescue (SAR) in the UK area.(They are also chuntering about being paid not much - generally speaking, you need to be receiving a full pension from your previous employer to be able to afford to work as a Coastguard.)
Type 2 are the volunteers. They are the ones you meet on the beach. Like RNLI boat crew they have run from their well paid jobs when the pager goes off to work for peanuts saving lives for a few hours. They are now called CRO's (Coastguard Rescue Officers) ; they used to be Coastguard Auxiliaries.
Type 1 are full time, desk bound, SAR coordinators. You never meet them unless you go into an MRCC but you talk to them on the radio and telephone.
Type 2 are the real heroes. They are school masters, estate agents, plumbers, plasterers, farmers, medics, harbour masters, accountants, telephone engineers, electricians, etc, who run when the pager bleeps and leave their well paid jobs to become Coastguards when called.
These Type 2 people bring to any incident the skills they have in real life. They use their own judgment and common sense. They understand safety but are are intelligent enough to not be constrained by "Elven Safety and the safety of all Elves, Dwarves and Trolls". They are very keen on saving lives and are prepared to take considered personal risks to save lives.
Because of changes in law, mainly EU instigated but some from Westminster, their exact status is open to argument and the MCA is terrified of the consequences (and liabilities) of them being injured while live saving.
However, from a practical point of view, should you ever be stuck on a cliff, after falling down or after a Para-Gliding accident or a climbing problem - put your trust in them.
There are two "flavours" of Coastguard.
Type 1 are full time Civil Servants. They sit in the 18 Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) around the UK (and NI) and work the radios to give you all the services you demand and coordinate Search and Rescue (SAR) in the UK area.(They are also chuntering about being paid not much - generally speaking, you need to be receiving a full pension from your previous employer to be able to afford to work as a Coastguard.)
Type 2 are the volunteers. They are the ones you meet on the beach. Like RNLI boat crew they have run from their well paid jobs when the pager goes off to work for peanuts saving lives for a few hours. They are now called CRO's (Coastguard Rescue Officers) ; they used to be Coastguard Auxiliaries.
Type 1 are full time, desk bound, SAR coordinators. You never meet them unless you go into an MRCC but you talk to them on the radio and telephone.
Type 2 are the real heroes. They are school masters, estate agents, plumbers, plasterers, farmers, medics, harbour masters, accountants, telephone engineers, electricians, etc, who run when the pager bleeps and leave their well paid jobs to become Coastguards when called.
These Type 2 people bring to any incident the skills they have in real life. They use their own judgment and common sense. They understand safety but are are intelligent enough to not be constrained by "Elven Safety and the safety of all Elves, Dwarves and Trolls". They are very keen on saving lives and are prepared to take considered personal risks to save lives.
Because of changes in law, mainly EU instigated but some from Westminster, their exact status is open to argument and the MCA is terrified of the consequences (and liabilities) of them being injured while live saving.
However, from a practical point of view, should you ever be stuck on a cliff, after falling down or after a Para-Gliding accident or a climbing problem - put your trust in them.
