Wednesday, 25 November 2009

S is for...


Search and Rescue

In May I had to drive a special group of people: plane spotters, but that day it wasn't the planes but the other flyers: helicopters that were the main attraction. Plane spotters from all over the country had come to see, photograph and enjoy the Search and Rescue helicopters from several European countries. Since they all had huge lenses and state of the art cameras, I thought they wouldn't mind me taking a few photos as well.

The Search and Rescue helicopters in the Netherlands celebrated their 50th anniversary and had invited several other teams to come and do an obstacle course. There was quite a strong wind, but most of the teams didn't have any problems to get through the course. I now know that if I ever get lost at sea and need to be rescued by a helicopter, the teams on board are more likely than not able to get me off my little pink dinghy and airlift me to safety! The chances of me actually getting on a little pink dinghy and being way out at sea are of course pretty slim, but you have to be prepared...

For more S words from around the world, please check out ABC Wednesday and join in the fun!

21 comments:

  1. Interesting post for the S day, Mara! How fortunate we are to have people so well trained throughout the world!

    Enjoy the rest of your week!

    Sylvia

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  2. Great posting for S and Safety.

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  3. Great photo. Let's hope that none of us never need a search and rescue! But I am so happy they are available.

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  4. and they are indeed needed.
    Lovely post.

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  5. Those helcopters are doing a great job. We have had a trauma helicopter in our street to pick up an injured man. Great post, Mara! Thanks for your" Sinterklaas bezoek"!

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  6. They make me slow down when I see them and I am skiing ...

    Great take on the theme!!

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  7. An important thing in life that we just don't think enough about. Thanks for your post....we need remeinding about how lucky we are to have people like this to help us through life.

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  8. Thankful for those that risk their lives to save others. Great original post for the letter S.

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  9. Search and Rescue do such a fantastic job and it's fascinating to watch them 'on 'exercise'. How great to see teams from different countries too.

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  10. GLAD TO KNOW THEY WOULD SAVE MY MARA BECAUSE I WOULD MISS YOU IF THEY COULDNT, HEE HEE
    IM GLAD YOU WONT PUT YOURSELF IN THE POSTION TO HAVE TO BE RESCUED BY THEM
    MY HUSBAND JUST RESIGNED FROM SEARCH AND RESCUE WHERE WE LIVE AND HAS MANY INTERESTING STORIES I HAVE JOURALED FOR OUR KIDS TO READ SOMEDAY

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  11. Very interesting! Safety, search and rescue is a good thing!

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  12. Wow great photo. Were you up high to capture it side on like this

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  13. They produce some great feats of rescue and flying in some terrible weather conditions. They do both sea and mountain rescues here so guess I am covered on land and sea.

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  14. Great for S day! We have search and rescue people here kept very busy with people getting lost in the mountains or getting out of their depth (sotospeak) in the ocean. What would we do with Search and Rescue people? Thx for dropping by with your comment. :D

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  15. I'm completely impressed by the abilities of search and rescue helicopter pilots and the whole team of people involved, inluding the ground crew. It's such a fine-tuned team effort!

    Great picture, too!

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  16. I've always associated choppers w MASH (the movie & TV series) and, unfortunately, Catch-22 9the book & esp the movie).

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  17. Thank goodness for Search and Rescue helicopters. The pink dinghy idea is a cute fantasy.

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  18. My son was trained in Search and Rescue unit, during his National Service ( 2 years compulsory service with the government for male citizen). Tough training! but now he's desk- bound, doing logistic.

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  19. Is it the pink or the dinghy that bothers you most?

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  20. What great info on a very necessary service. thanks for sharing.

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  21. That is a magnificent beast! I'm so thankful to the people willing to maneuver them and help people!

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!