Search and Rescue

Blizzard Survival products are now being deployed across a number of search and rescue services throughout the UK and other parts of the world. From RAF mountain rescue teams to other specialist units called upon to attend earthquake stricken areas Blizzard products are acknowledged for their ease of storage, transport and delivery, and effectiveness in the treatment & prevention of hypothermia while evacuating casualties.

Search and Rescue Flies Lighter With Blizzard

All Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter flights in the UK, Cyprus and the Falklands have replaced conventional sleeping bags with Blizzard Survival Bags to save weight and space – and provide better casualty care.

Aircraft previously carried two A Packs, each of which included four sleeping bags and weighed around 70lbs, with a volume of 100 litres each. These have been replaced by four Blizzard Survival Bags, which weigh a total of around 2 kgs (4.5lbs) with a packed size of around 4 litres. Squadron Leader Sam McDonagh of the UK SAR standards and evaluations team said: “The 132lb saving in weight and bulk has significantly increased the capability of each aircraft to carry more fuel and equipment.

Better By Design
“Blizzard Survival Bags are a big improvement on previous kit in terms of thermal/weather performance, ease of deployment and portability. Winchmen can carry them easily when they go into casualty situations - and if they both get stranded, the winchman
and casualty can fit in one bag.”

Deployment
The bags are being deployed by around 30 aircraft, including six RAF UK flights, two Navy flights, four Coastguard aircraft, plus flights based in Cyprus and the Falklands. RAF SAR teams alone were called out 2600 times last year, saving hundreds of lives.

All Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter flights in the UK, Cyprus and the Falklands have replaced conventional sleeping bags with Blizzard Survival Bags to save weight and space – and provide better casualty care.

RAF Mountain Rescue’s New CASWRAP System

The RAF Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) has developed a new system to treat and prevent hypothermia while evacuating casualties. Called CASWRAP, it is now being used by all personnel in the UK. Instead of stripping wet clothes from casualties, teams are now trained to wrap them immediately in a Blizzard Survival Bag or Blanket.

More Insulation
They cover this with a conventional sleeping bag for more insulation, then add a second Blizzard Survival Bag or Blanket as an outer layer. When a conventional bag is added as an intermediate layer, even casualties who are soaked warm up rapidly and are fully protected from wind and rain.