Disaster Arborist Team

[atree]

funny i had the same idea after seeing a few storms go through the south pacific as I'm based in New Zealand..

[jonmackeen]

Just an update form the DART International UK team. We will be at the SALTEX show and the APF show, pop in and find out more or if you are interested in helping out in any way come and have a chat.

[Mike Hill]

So whats going on with this?

 

I saw on facebook some guys standing in a field seemingly captivated by some bald bloke in tight trousers explaining various high street quality camping items.

 

All very interesting stuff.Was their an Airsoft "Battle" as part of the selection?

[jonmackeen]

An update from DART International UK.

 

It's been a busy summer since we formally launched DART International UK as a registered charity at the Arb Show back in June. The first of several show appearances, with trustees and supporters crisscrossing the country to attend the APF, Emergency Services show and SALTEX, meeting potential sponsors, talking to arborists and raising awareness of what we're trying to achieve. The response from the Arb world and industry has been overwhelming. As word gets around, more deployment volunteers are coming forward, together with equipment donations, advice and generous offers of support from some of the biggest names in the business, including Glendale, Lifesaver, Buxtons, Lyon, Stein and Makita.

 

Our first batch of response team volunteers completed Safety & Security training in July. Whether it's intentional violence towards aid workers in Syria or health risks surrounding the Ebola crisis in West Africa, the hazards of aid work have been headline news recently. DART International doesn't operate in conflict zones, but working in post disaster environments will always carry a degree of risk associated to civil unrest and criminality. Fortunately, many of those dangers are avoidable or, at the very least, can be significantly reduced through safety and security training and operational security management.

Safeguarding our response team volunteers is a fundamental concern of the charity and with that in mind, 16 responders from all over the UK completed their mandatory pre-deployment Safety and Security training back in July. The course included travel safety, security management, personal security issues, helicopter handling drills, advanced first aid and much more. Just as importantly, it gave the volunteers an opportunity to work together as a team, exchange ideas and get to know the people they'll be working with in the future. Our next S&S course is likely to be a winter training event early in 2015 and we very much hope some of our trained responders will return to help us run the course and broaden their own experience.

 

If your interest in becoming a response team volunteer please go to the website DART International UK and download and volunteer aplication form and email it back to the email address on the site and we'll be in touch in due course.

 

We have the people. We have the equipment. All we need now is some money!

Have you got a killer fundraising idea? How about getting together with your mates to have some fun and raise a bit of cash on behalf of DART. We're now set up for on line donations through Paypal giving and you can even raise money while buying and selling on Ebay. Check out the details on our website and Facebook page. It really couldn't be simpler; so what are you waiting for?

 

Thanks

Jon Mackeen

Vice Chairman

DART International UK

[Able Fella]

I'm interested, pm with details, thanks.

[ewt]

Im interested, please get in touch with details. many thanks

[simmo09]

Hi

This team sounds great and from my experience is something that is definitely required in some format.

I have a fair bit of experience in deploying to disaster zones as I am part of the Fire Service United Kindom Search and Rescue Team (UKISAR), International Search & Rescue Service

We are funded by the UK governments Department for International Development (DfID) and are classed as a heavy rescue team rescuing trapped casualties after earthquakes etc, New Zealand and Japan being the last full deployments.

It could be worth looking in to our setups ( logistics, medical support etc), as we have developed over many years and have learnt from our experiences in disaster zones. What I will say is that when it comes to deploying then politics plays a heavy part in whether you will actually be allowed into the affected country. We have a nightmare and are usually requested through the government.

Would also be worth looking into linking in with International Rescue Corps or RAPID UK who are voluntary organisations who also have deployment experience. They may also put you right on the pitfalls of being a charitable organisation trying to get in to an affected country. More often than not the United Nations are coordinating all the humanitarian response teams so a good knowledge of the UN and UNDAC will also be very beneficial.

As for medical support what we find is that primary care issues ( illnesses such as Diaorreah and vomiting) cause more problems to our team than injuries. Remember you are going to a country which probably is over stretched and would not be able to cope with the extra burden of caring for aid teams as well. We take our own medics and Doctors to deal with our own problems. A robust insurance and repatriation plan is also required for deploying members. You will also need all sorts of vaccinations which are to be kept up to date for your own welfare too.

There is a lot that goes into getting a team ready to deploy. You already seem to have the foundations of something good and I hope it all works out.

 

Good luck

 

Simmo

[jonmackeen]

Firstly thank you to Simmo for the advice it is all very important stuff and we have taken it all into account. We have very experienced guys on board that are medics as well as safety and security experts. All of the guys who will deploy initially have up to date immunisations.

We have also linked up with SARAID who are also very experienced in the search and rescue sector.

To the guys intersted in joining the team please go to our website and download a volunteer form, fill it out and send back using the email address on the website. DART International UK

 

Thanks

Jon Mackeen

Vice Chairman

DART International UK

[jonmackeen]

Thanks to Mark and Ian of Makita UK who came down yesterday and delivered the chain saws they have donated to DART. Our deployment teams are kitted out with Makita UK chainsaws, Samurai pruning saws from Buxtons Limited, Petzl harnesses and safety helmets from Lyon Work And Rescue and thanks to Glendale UK for their continued support. We have other kit sponsors in the pipeline which we'll announce shortly.

We now have the kit and the volunteers, we just need money now so that we can be truly ready to deploy. Please donate to DART via the PayPal button on our home page DART International UK any donations no matter how small would be greatly appreciated.

[Taffelliott]

Application completed and on its way to you via the internet fairy.