BDMLR Marine Mammal Medics course - 2 Jun 12

Nothing to do with snorkelling this post, but as I originally purchased my drysuit to do this course I thought I'd do a post on how the course went.

There were 9 of us one the course and Alistair Jack the BDMLR Director & Scottish National Organiser was our instructor. The morning session was held in the OIC Marine Services building next to Scapa Beach.

The morning session was split into two covering cetaceans first and then Seals. During the cetacean section we covered: Species most likely to be encountered, cetacean anatomy, adapatations of cetaceans to the marine environment, threats to cetaceans, management of stranded cetaceans (initial response, how to assess the situation, cetacean first aid, equipment needed, moving a stranded cetacean, refloating techniques and mass strandings) and vetinary involvement.

The seal section covered similar topics and finally there was a general section on health and safety relating to the medics themselves.

After lunch it was down to the beach for the practical session. The first task was to get all the kit down onto the beach and get the model seal, dolphin and Pilot Whale inflated.

Inflating the Pilot Whale

Rule No 1 of cetacean rescue 'Don't name the casualty', so here's Willy waiting to be saved!!

To rescue the whale we used a floating pontoon system. The team had several goes at this each time learning a bit from the previous attempt.

Once the whale had been refloated it was time to move onto the dolphin.This time we used a tarpaulin to get the casualty back into the water.

Part of the team refloating the dolphin.

Unfortunately, the last casualty was suffering from severe malnutrition and had to be removed from the sea.

This dolphin didn't survive

 Finally we all had a go at rescuing a seal stranded on the beach.

Penny demonstrating how to approach a seal with a towel

Anne demonstrating how to get a seal into a rescue bag

We all came away at the end of the course with our heads full of information and feeling confident about taking part in a rescue, although maybe slightly less when it comes to a seal given the number of times the instructor said 'you would have just be bitten' as we tried to assess the seal and get it into the rescue bag.

Now the hard work begins as we have to read through the medic's manual and keep on with the training. Although we are all looking forward to taking part in a rescue we hope that our new found skills won't be needed.

If we are required then hopefully our new group will be able to provide a quick response giving the casualty the best possible chance of surviving.

And if there is a mass stranding over in Caithness we could well be called upon to go over and assist.

A big thanks to Alistair for coming over and making the day very interesting.

If you find a live stranded cetacean or seal you should call the BDMLR Emergency Hotline on 01825 765546 and provide as much information about the stranded animal as you can. Such as what you have found, where you have found it (map grid reference would be handy, or Lat/Long if you have a satnav with you), when you found it, any obvious signs of injury and details of access to the casualty.