Crosshaven Coast Guard welcomed colleagues from Rescue 115 to the Showgrounds in Curraheen yesterday as part of a familiarisation day with the HSE Ireland Emergency Management Team South (Cork & Kerry).

The event brought together various agencies that form part of the Emergency Management Framework, including the Irish Coast Guard, Cork City Fire Brigade, Cork County Fire Service, Kerry Fire and Rescue Service, An Garda Síochána, Civil Defence, Order of Malta, and the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland).

A major emergency is defined as any event which, usually with little or no warning, causes or threatens death or injury, serious disruption of essential services, or damage to property, the environment or infrastructure beyond the normal capabilities of the HSE and other emergency services. Such events require the activation of specific additional procedures and mobilisation of additional resources to ensure an effective, coordinated response.

Examples of significant major emergencies in Ireland include the Air India crash in 1985, the Stardust fire in 1981, severe weather events such as the widespread flooding and sub-zero temperatures in winter 2009/10, and the Influenza Pandemic in 2009.

Major Emergency Plans are required to provide for an effective and coordinated response to such incidents. The development of these plans, their associated procedures, and the coordination of response to major emergencies are collectively known as Emergency Management.

The HSE activates its major emergency plans approximately ten times in an average year. The HSE National Emergency Management function works at national and regional levels with all HSE Services and on an inter-agency basis to ensure appropriate emergency plans are developed, updated and tested as required.