While the public often sees dramatic footage of rescue boats powering through rough seas, the real story behind every mission by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is far quieter and far more calculated than it appears. Behind the spray, speed and urgency lies a disciplined system of judgement, risk assessment and restraint, guided by a principle central to every rescue: risk versus reward. Charl Maritz, NSRI Head of Operations, says this calm, methodical approach is what keeps volunteers and those they rescue alive.
“First and foremost, look after yourself because without you, you can’t look after the rest of your crew. Then look after your crew, then your equipment. Then, tend to the casualty situation,” he said.
To outsiders, the hierarchy may seem surprising, even counterintuitive. But Maritz says it allows crews to make the right decisions in the worst conditions, rolling seas, failing light, unstable vessels or casualties drifting kilometres offshore. “It’s incredibly important that our crew understand they have to look after themselves to carry out the rescue,” he said.
Read Full Article on The Witness
[paywall]
“And avoid becoming a second casualty because of an action that shouldn’t have been taken.” For Training Officer Dean Wegerle, this decision-making ability is forged long before volunteers face their first real emergency. NSRI training prioritises practical, skills-based drills designed to help crews instinctively know what they can and cannot do under pressure. “It’s more drill training and skill-based training where we teach our crews to be safe, primarily, so when it does come to a situation, they know what they can or can’t do,” Wegerle said. While the public often views NSRI volunteers as heroes who “risk their lives”, Wegerle stresses that the organisation never expects, or allows, reckless sacrifice.
[/paywall]
