“Essential and expensive” kit donated to Air Search crew

Sunday 10 October 2021

The Lions Club has provided all the crew of Channel Islands Air Search with new immersion suits, replacing “essential” kit that was now over 20 years old.

The Lions Clubs of Guernsey and Jersey have a long association with the Channel Islands charity, which was in need of the new suits, which can help crew members to survive in colder sea conditions for longer.

Lions Group Chair Paul Allaway said that, having been contacted for support, funds were raised across both islands to provide the new suits.

The Lions Club of Guernsey has also provided the crew with three new noise cancelling headsets, which Mr Allaway says “will make the time spent in the air more comfortable.”

Pictured: The Air Search team provides 24/7 emergency response and relies on donations.

John Fitzgerald, Search Crew Manager for Air Search, said the efficacy of the crew’s immersion suits makes a significant difference to rescue teams. 

“The crews wear immersion suits when the sea temperature is below 16C, which is for much of the year, so they are an essential but costly piece of kit.

“Survival in the water in winter is just 30 minutes but with an immersion suit, around eight hours. We remain grateful to the Lions Club in both Guernsey and Jersey for their continued support over the last 40+ years CIAS has been in operation.”

Pictured top: Rob Holder from the Lions Club; CIAS Search Crew Manager John Fitzgerald; Paul Allaway from Lions Club; CIAS Search Director Gareth Le Page; Dave Marquand from Lions Club; CIAS Observer Mark Seabrook and Tony Corbin from the Lions Club.