![\"CD7\"](\"http:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/CD7-570x427.jpg\")
By Breda Graham<\/h2>\nBy Breda Graham<\/h2>\nIt has become an everyday normality in Ireland to hear about a missing person, with the reports of missing people rising by 3,766 from 2003 to 2013.<\/p>\n
It is normal to scroll down the newsfeed of social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter and see posts about an ongoing search for a missing person or to turn on the radio or television only to hear the latest update on the news bulletin about an abduction or kidnapping.<\/p>\n
What some people don\u2019t know is what is actually involved from the moment that person is reported missing to the moment they are found.\u00a0 This time period is known as a search operation and is run by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and many Search and Rescue organisations across the country.<\/p>\n
One of the largest Search and Rescue Units in Ireland is the Civil Defence with 4,500 volunteer members who are trained in Casualty First Aid, Search and Rescue, Auxiliary Fire Service, Radiation Monitoring and Radio Communications.<\/p>\n
The Civil Defence is a voluntary Search and Rescue organisation that assists local communities and acts as a second line of support for the front line Principle Response Agencies such as An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, the Nas, the Fire Service and the Irish Coast Guard. \u00a0The organisation is the primary statutory organisation volunteer base of the State.<\/p>\n
In the event of a search for a missing person, the Civil Defence are directly contacted by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and deploy their search and rescue teams who are equipped to coordinate a search operation.\u00a0 Civil Defence are briefed by Garda and a profile of the missing person is built, made up of events leading up their disappearance and vital information, such as medical history. This profile is extremely important to the search operation.<\/p>\n
![\"CD5\"](\"http:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/CD5-570x427.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Civil Defence Search Managers are first to be briefed by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.\u00a0 The Search Managers are responsible for coordinating the search and deploying their search teams accordingly.\u00a0 Tipperary Civil Defence Search Manager, PJ Graham, said \u201cIt is important for us to be called in early in the search and to obtain the correct information in relation to the missing person to allow the most appropriate search techniques to be deployed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Radio communications are set up so that all team members searching in the field can contact the control centre ,who works directly with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, to make quick efficient decisions should the need to do so arise during a search.<\/p>\n
Tipperary Civil Defence Communications Instructor, Bryan Ely, said, \u201cAll radio traffic is monitored by trained radio operators on our own network as well as coordinating with the Principle Response Agencies.\u00a0 The job is very rewarding but can be difficult coordinating all assets involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking on how Civil Defence are equipped for searches, Principal of the Civil Defence College, R\u00f3is\u00edn McGuire, said \u201cThe Personal protective Equipment (PPE) issued to Civil Defence volunteers in order to carry out their tasks in all environmental conditions is of a very high standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring a search Civil Defence volunteers can provide detailed maps of the area concerned, this allows sectors to be identified and searched.\u00a0 Civil Defence has an independent radio communications system in place, this also includes GPS and TETRA, which allows search managers to identify exact locations of responders during a search and make direct contact with the Garda\u00ed or other PRA\u2019s as required. In addition, the Civil Defence has search dogs and UAV\u2019s available as additional complimentary resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brendan Qualter, Civil Defence officer of Galway Civil Defence, said, \u201cLarge crowds are always difficult to manage.\u00a0 Some feel that they are being left out.\u00a0 It is important to keep those large groups in the loop of what is going on.\u201d \u00a0Speaking on the management of other search groups, he said, \u201cThe key with other groups is that the search management must be firm.\u00a0 In a lot of cases they would be deemed as ordinary members of the public.\u00a0 Groups arriving at searches should produce documented proof as to what training they have and are insured to work within the scope of training.\u201d<\/p>\n
R\u00f3is\u00edn McGuire believes that there is an excellent working relationship between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the Civil Defence. \u00a0\u201cThis is replicated with\u00a0local Garda\u00ed and Civil Defence Officers and volunteers, particularly when both organisations have trained together or been involved in a missing persons search. \u00a0Every time we train or work together the relationships are getting stronger and both organisations are building on these relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first National Search Exercise involving The Civil Defence and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na took place in December 2013.\u00a0 This search operation that consisted of Senior Garda Management and Garda Instructors of the Garda College and Search Managers, Team Leaders and Search Team Members of Civil Defence was an opportunity for all involved to see how well An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na resources and Civil Defence resources can be used to the best of their advantage during search operations.\u00a0 The day was a success with all missing persons being found.<\/p>\n
During an address, The Minister of State at Department of Defence, Paul Kehoe, said he was delighted to see the working relationship between An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and Civil defence and praised both organisations for their vision in planning such an exercise.<\/p>\n
Training days such as this are carried out by varied Search and Rescue organisations throughout Ireland and are vital to the preparation for a real call out.\u00a0 They also are put in place to test each person\u2019s skills and abilities.<\/p>\n
Civil Defence is an \u201cinvaluable resource\u201d to both the front line emergency services and to members of the public when it comes to missing persons search operations, according to R\u00f3is\u00edn McGuire.<\/p>\n
Statistics from the Garda Missing Persons Bureau show that the number of reported missing persons has risen from 3,987 to 7,753 from 2003 to 2013.\u00a0 These statistics also show that the number of outstanding missing persons has dropped from 52 to 15 over those same ten years.<\/p>\n
These figures depict that the number of missing persons in Ireland is rising but they also illustrate that more of these missing persons are being found with a drop of 37 outstanding missing persons from 2003 to 2013.\u00a0 It is evident that Ireland\u2019s Search and Rescue organisations are vital in a country where this issue of missing persons is increasing.<\/p>\n
The work that these organisations do and the dedication that their members invest in to these search operations can mean returning a missing person home to their family and continuing to lower the rate of outstanding missing persons.<\/p>\n
![\"CD4\"](\"http:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/CD4-570x427.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n