During May 1, 2, and 3, Lanzarote hosted the I Cynological Conference of Rescue Lanzarote, a specialized training course promoted by EMERLAN, which once again positions itself as a pioneering entity in a discipline as complex and necessary as the search and rescue of people using canine units.
These sessions brought together different units from the Canary Islands and the Peninsula, with the objective of improving the operational preparation of handler-dog teams, exchanging knowledge, unifying procedures, and reinforcing coordination between emergency teams.
Institutional opening and first exercises
The opening day, held on May 1st, began with the official presentation of the event. Subsequently, the teams moved to the Argana Alta landfill, in Arrecife, where different exercises were carried out in scenarios of collapsed structures and debris areas.
During these works, collapse scenarios with role-players were devised, who acted as fictitious victims, allowing the teams to work on locating people in complex and highly operationally difficult environments.
Health training and exercise with the GES helicopter
On May 2, the sessions continued with a workshop on control of hemorrhages and wounds in people, taught by Miguel Robaina, an emergency nurse and professor at the University School of Nursing of Lanzarote.
Next, the participants moved to the Teguise Agri-industrial Complex, where a joint exercise with the rescue helicopter of the GES, MI-21, was carried out.
During this activity, the safety protocols around the aircraft were explained and boarding and disembarking maneuvers were practiced with rotors stopped and, subsequently, with rotors running.
In addition, the EMERLAN Canine Unit carried out a helicopter-assisted descent and ascent exercise for handler and dog, a highly specialized maneuver that allows teams to be prepared for interventions in areas of difficult access.
Work with drones and closing of the days
On May 3, the teams continued developing work in collapsed structures and debris scenarios.
In this last day, the EMERLAN Drone Unit also participated, carrying out several flights to distract the dogs and showing the handlers how to coordinate a joint search between canine units and unmanned aircraft.
Around 1:30 PM, the I Cynological Rescue Days Lanzarote concluded with an operational debriefing, in which the exercises carried out were analyzed, conclusions were shared, errors were corrected, and ideas for improvement were contributed for future editions.
From EMERLAN it is highlighted that these types of meetings are fundamental, not only for the technical work developed, but also for the opportunity to exchange knowledge, protocols, and experiences between canine rescue units.
Participation of specialized units
Units with dogs trained in different specialties participated in these sessions, mainly in the search and rescue of live people in collapsed structures and in the detection of human remains, with a notable representation from the Canary Islands and Madrid.
EMERLAN especially thanks the participation of GPS Canarias – Gran Canaria, UCR La Laguna – Tenerife, UCR El Hierro, CEMILCANDEF – Madrid and Helicopter of the GES MI.21
Likewise, they extend their gratitude to CICAR, to the Arrecife City Council, to its Civil Protection and to councilman Kevin Cortés, as well as to the Teguise City Council and to its councilman Ginés González, for their collaboration in making this first edition possible.
They also especially thank the presence and work of the veterinarian Natalia, who was attentive to the condition of the dogs during the development of the events. Finally, EMERLAN congratulates all the colleagues of the Canine Unit for the enormous work done
