The commander of the Port Authority of Messina – Captain of Vascello Luciano Marcello Marcello Pischedda and the president of the Italian Red Cross Antonio Chimicata have signed a protocol of understanding that reports, at the local level, the contents of the national agreement stipulated in 2021 between the general command of the body of the ports of Porto and the National Association of the Italian Red Cross.
In addition to renewing and updating collaboration in the various areas of the respective institute activities, the protocol places the accent on the need to promote and develop moments of training between the technical staff of the Coast Guard and the Red Cross, with the aim of implementing the level of ability and operational readiness in dangerous situations at sea, defining the principles of participation of the voluntary staff of the operating component.
The Red Cross with its own OPSA (multipurpose life -saving operators in water) and health can participate in SAR (research and rescue operation at sea) and Medevac (evacuation and medical transport operation) conducted by the Coast Guard.
In particular, the staff of the Red Cross will be able to embark on the aeronavals of the Coast Guard to encourage the first aid intervention in the sea in order to provide assistance capable of assisting/stabilizing wounded, traumatized and/or sick in general from the place of the accident up to the place where they can be entrusted to the Healthcare Personnel.