Selection Weekend 2013 Update
Eleven potential new members undertook the selection weekend this year. The first step in the ASSAR joining process is to attend the selection weekend. The weekend is a series of tasks, talks and exercises carefully designed to see how people operate in teams, under stress and with current team members. The weekend ends with a large search and rescue exercise where the potential new members work alongside the team to locate and then rescue a missing person.
The committee would like to thank those that committed time and effort by attending the weekend. The team is built on a succession of new people developing through the team and their effort is appreciated. If the attendees are successful they will need to attend 6 months of training before becoming an ‘aspirant’ and allowed on certain call-outs. It may be another year before they are granted full team member status.
The next selection weekend will be in 2014.
Potential new members during an exercise with ASSAR as part of the selection weekend 2013
Posted on 05 / 03 / 2013
Selection Weekend 2013
We have one selection weekend per year if you’d like to try and join the team. This year it’s being held on 2nd – 3rd March near Bristol. The weekend includes talks, practical sessions, a night navigation course and a search & rescue exercise.
Details have been sent out to nearly 30 individuals but it’s not too late to receive details. We’re not looking for any specific skills but are expecting you to be comfortable for prolonged periods outdoors, reasonably fit as most call-outs last over 2 hours, are calm and able to fit in with a close knit team. 
If you would like to receive details please email communication@assar.org.uk
Posted on 23 / 01 / 2013
ASSAR help injured cyclist in Cheddar Gorge
After training at Cheddar Gorge on Sunday 20th January a team member came across a crashed cyclist at the Horseshoe Bend, Pinnacle Bay area. A team vehicle was used to warn and fend off other drivers, a passing family in a car volunteered to inform other team members at the bottom of the gorge. The injured cyclist was protected from the road and cold air using the standard kit contained in the vehicle while an ambulance was called. The casualty had a painful lower limb injury. A solo ambulance responder arrived and could provide pain relief while waiting for the ambulance crew to arrive and transport him to hospital.
All A&SSARs vehicles contain a wide variety of medical kit to help us respond whenever the need arrives.
Posted on 22 / 01 / 2013
Prepared for the cold thanks to Guy Salmon Land Rover
Guy Salmon Land Rover, in Bristol, have very kindly donated the team thermal mugs and ice scrapers, just in time for the
predicted cold snap later this month. The mugs and scrapers have been distributed to all of the team’s vehicles.
Many mountain rescue teams have a base that they operate from. Due to the size and nature of the area covered we have adopted a mobile approach with vehicles based in strategic locations. The vehicles are crucial to the successful deployment of the team and also widely used as support to the police and ambulance services during bad weather.
Our thanks to Guy Salmon Land Rover for this kind gesture.
Posted on 07 / 01 / 2013
Update: Operation Coventina Coverage Continues
The successful Community Resilience flooding exercise in Congresbury, North Somerset, last year continues to get great press
coverage. North Somerset Life, the local authority publication for the area contains a comprehensive write-up from the council and communities point of view. The article mentions our role with a half page picture of one team at the community centre.
The exercise, known as Operation Coventina, is discussed in more detail below.
Posted on 07 / 01 / 2013