Where: Al-Marsa Club & Kaust South beach
Description
This course will consist of an introductory lecture followed by a training session. The lecture will be given by one of the course directors and a short video will be shown of the work of British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR). Three subject areas will be presented by the course directors: 1) Marine mammal biology 2) Physiology, first aid and rescue techniques for cetaceans 3) Physiology, first aid and rescue techniques for seals and Health & Safety for all rescue/training work. The practical session will be split into manageable groups. These sessions will be held at the water’s edge and split into three modules: Seal Rescue: Delegates are taught how to handle and lift an injured or stranded seal. Delegates will have the chance to try out their newly learned skills on a life-size model of a seal. Dolphin Rescue: Delegates are taught handling, lifting and first aid techniques using a life-size water filled model of a Common Dolphin Whale Rescue: Delegates refloat a two-ton life-size model of a Pilot Whale. The model is filled with water and is very life like. A final de-briefing will be held at the end once all practical sessions are completed and certificates, medic ID cards and badges are handed out to delegates. All delegates will receive: (to be confirmed by BDMLR) • A Marine Mammal Handbook • 1-year BDMLR membership and photo ID card • A Marine Mammal Medic woven badge and car stickers • A certificate to show the attendee has completed the course. Transportation has been arranged: At 08:30: bus pick up from Bldg 18 to Al-Marsa Club Attendees have lunch at Al-Marsa Club At 13:30: bus pick up from Al-Marsa Club to KAUST south beach
Adrian Hawthorne
Adrian Hawthorne – Area Coordinator As far back as I can remember I've always loved the sea, and the life in it. In 1996 I was heavily involved in the clean up after the "sea empress" oil disaster, I remember watching BDMLR there and being amazed at their tireless efforts. A couple of years later at a dive show I saw BDMLR, signed up to do the marine mammal medic course and have been a member ever since. I'm now the co-ordinator for Hampshire in the south of England where I've been involved in a number of rescues, along with organising courses and fundraising.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)
BDMLR is a charitable organisation dedicated to the rescue and well being of all marine animals in distress around the UK. It is a network of trained and professional Marine Mammal Medics (MMMs) who respond to call-outs from the general public, HM Coastguard, Police and RSPCA and is the primary marine animal rescue organisation in the UK. Every year, BDMLR trains over 400 volunteer Marine Mammal Medics and has 20 whale rescue pontoons located at strategic points throughout the UK, waiting to help stranded whales and dolphins. Primarily the training is aimed at enlarging the core base of medics in the UK but BDMLR trains volunteer medics worldwide. In 2010 they ran the first marine mammal medic training course in the UAE. Recently BDMLR moved from being a purely rescue organisation and opened a badly needed specialist seal hospital in the remote Scottish highlands. MMMs come from all walks of life and include: teachers, plumbers, executives, managers, retail staff, secretaries, builders, photographers, veterinary surgeons etc. All that is needed is a positive attitude, don't mind being wet and cold (this mostly applies if you are on a rescue in the UK), and are able-bodied. The rest is taught on the Marine Mammal Medic Course. Footage:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA_uwuYl2VU&NR=1. BDMLR try to save the ‘Thames Whale’ in January 2006 – a Northern Bottlenose Whale who stranded in the River Thames. This event was captured on newsreels all over the world and brought the work of BDMLR to the forefront of public knowledge. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8631661.stm (How to rescue a stranded whale) Would you know what to do if you found a whale stranded on a beach? To find out how it's done Nick Higham (BBC News), and volunteers including a chef, a plumber, a man who runs boat trips and a woman who works in IT, encountered a two-ton inflatable whale for a training course on a Kent beach. Talking Nick through the process were the charity's chief executive, Mark Stephens, and vet Iain Cope. “Full Circle” seal rescue videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJGiBPG8q1A is a video showing a rescue in May 2010. Seal rescue has remained a major component of the work of the charity, with BDMLR medics routinely rescuing seals in all seasons. Over the years, many hundreds of seals have been helped, the charity working closely with specialist rehabilitation facilities to ensure their long-term care and eventual return to the wild. In 2004, with the aid of a grant from IFAW, BDMLR set up its own small seal rehabilitation unit near John O'Groats in the far north of Scotland, backed up with a quad bike to rescue seals from remote beaches.
Gavin Parsons
Gavin Parsons – Director and Trustee Gavin joined British Divers Marine Life Rescue when it was still a dedicated group of divers helping seals in the North Sea on the east coast of the UK. He played a key role of seal catcher during a devastating outbreak of seal distemper in the early 1990s and has since been involved in many rescues including whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds. Gavin was made the Area Coordinator for London and after 6 years was asked to become a Director and a Trustee.
Julia Cable
Julia Cable – British Divers Marine Life Rescue Administrator Julia trained as a volunteer Marine Mammal Medic for BDMLR in 1994 and joined the staff at head office in 2009. During office hours Julia takes the greater majority of calls regarding rescues and coordinates the charity’s response via our 2,700 volunteers, liaising with other organisations and veterinary consultants to ensure a speedy and effective response. Outside office hours, coordinators answer take emergency calls, but Julia is always on hand for advice and assistance. Julia is also responsible for our database, course organisation and bookings, merchandise sales and the general running of a very busy office.
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