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You're in luck...http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk/I'm only about 1/2 a mile from Berkshire and 3 miles from Hampshire, so I'm tempted to ask to join them!
I have heard of these response groups but I fail to understand what good they could do :-.I used to be in the emergency services and I still don't know what good they could do or what aid they could give 8-[Please enlighten me!
is there one in devon area
Mostly we exist to provide logistical support - for example, delivering trailerloads of bottled water for the Red Cross during last year's flooding. Groups have been involved in transporting other volunteer search and rescue bods such as the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, along with the obvious ones such as getting health visitors et al through their rounds when heavy snow or flooding defeats their usual vehicles. We are still working on acceptance by user bodies, many of which are wary of a new volunteer group. The message is getting through however as those that have worked with us are invariably satisfied with the results. If you look on the News section of the National forum you can see what sort of things we get called for.Powys 4x4 Response raised £1000 for the Welsh Air Ambulance during June/July this year. I think that's something worth celebrating!
Quote from: Silvery Thing on September 02, 2008, 16:13:22I have heard of these response groups but I fail to understand what good they could do :-.I used to be in the emergency services and I still don't know what good they could do or what aid they could give 8-[Please enlighten me!When I was working in Norfolk, the local 4x4 response team were very useful when it came to helping with area searches for missing people and were highly thought of by the local Constabulary search co-ordinators.There is no doubt in my mind that such organisations are a bonus to the Emergency Services, but it is getting the hierarchy of said organisations to actually see and understand what they are capable of.
I thought about looking to see if there was one in Hampshire, but it would be a bit like a Norfolk Mountain Rescue Team. A good idea, but not exactly practical.
I've sent off my application form to Hampshire & Berkshire, as I'm right on the border of both.Obviously I'm not going to try this out, but I believe that *technically* I have the right to use a flashing blue light on my Disco, as it has occasionally been used as an ambulance (albeit not in this country, yet). :) I read somewhere (probably on these forums) that this means it qualifies. However I've no real desire to be pulled over by the police every 3 minutes so I'm not going to test it out. Would be fun on the motorways though!
If it is still in use as an Ambulance then yes It can have a Blue light fitted. However If it is not been used as an ambulance then the fact it used to be one doesn't count for diddly squat. You can't use a blue light on any vehicle unless it is been used as an emergency vehicle. Old US Police cars and ex fire engines/ambulances etc have to have all blue lights removed from the vehicles whilst on a public highway.
Quote from: redhand on September 07, 2008, 10:53:20If it is still in use as an Ambulance then yes It can have a Blue light fitted. However If it is not been used as an ambulance then the fact it used to be one doesn't count for diddly squat. You can't use a blue light on any vehicle unless it is been used as an emergency vehicle. Old US Police cars and ex fire engines/ambulances etc have to have all blue lights removed from the vehicles whilst on a public highway.It is used as an ambulance from time to time, in the sense that it's used to transfer injured people to hospital in an emergency, in unpredictable circumstances (well, that's what happened the last 2 times anyway). The Norwegians were happy for me to dump it in the ambulance bay... but then they park their "ambulance" on the helipad so I wasn't exactly in the way!
