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Hi everyone,
The Marine Mammal Medic Course is run by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, BDMLR, a charity dedicated to the welfare of marine mammals around the UK. They have teams of trained medics on standby to respond to any marine disaster or marine mammal stranding. This was the team who came to the rescue of the Thames Whale in January 2006. They need more medics in Devon to join their rescue teams to continue this vital first response.
On Saturday 2nd of June the BDMLR will be running a marine mammal medic course in Torbay for anyone interested in becoming a medic. The course consists of lectures during the morning on marine mammal biology, physiology, first aid and rescue techniques for seals and cetaceans (whales and dolphins). In the afternoon a practical session is held at the waters edges learning how to handle and lift a stranded seal pup. You have the chance to try out your skills on a life sized model of a seal. You will then be taught handling lifting and first aid techniques on a life size model of a common dolphin. Finally you will learn how to refloat a two tonne life size model of a Pilot Whale. At the end of the course a de-briefing is held and you will be awarded your medic ID card and badge. The BDMLR will keep you on record and if their is a live stranding you may be called to assist as a medic.
As a medic myself I can highly recommend this course which is both interesting and enjoyable. For full details on this course see http://www.bdmlr.org.uk/pages/main.html
If you are already a marine mammal medic post up on this thread and let me know what you thought of the course.
Good luck
Rose
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