Emergency Services

Kilchoan's emergency services include Fire & Rescue, HM Coastguard and District Nurses, all based in Kilchoan, Northern Constabulary and the Scottish Ambulance Service, based in Strontian, and the Doctors in Acharacle. Co-operation between these services has reached a very high level, supported by a number of joint initiatives and exercises. These have included a table-top disaster management exercise led by the police, a serious road crash exercise led by the Fire Brigade, and visits by the RNLI's Tobermory lifeboat and the Stornoway-based Coastguard helicopter organised by the Coastguard.

The photo above shows the teams during this summer's joint exercise with Tobermory Lifeboat. The UK lifeboat service is not run by the Coastguard but by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, a charity which largely employs volunteers to man its boats. The lifeboat can be called out by a member of the public by dialling 999 and asking for 'Coastguard'.

While the British are justifiably proud of their lifeboat charity - as can be seen by the millions of pounds which are collected to support it every year - people living in coastal areas like West Ardnamurchan have a particular affection for the work of the service since they frequently see it in action.

Ardnamurchan is served by two lifeboats, one stationed in Mallaig, which we see most often operating along the north coast, and the Tobermory boat shown in this picture. Both stations are equipped with modern, self-righting Severn class boats. Link to Tobermory RNLI station here.

Many thanks to Tom Jackson at West Scotland Marine, link here, for the photo. WSM offers a wide range of Boat Charter and other services to both locals and visitors.

JH