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The Hellenic Rescue Team of Attica is a non-governmental search and rescue organization. Its members have been volunteering since 1978, and in 1999 it began running as a formal organization. It is registered at The Civil Protection Authorities Ministry of Internal Affairs, and is in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Y.D.A.S.) as well as the European Union (ECHO - European Commission Humanitarian aid Office). It is also a member of the INSARAG/UN. As a group of professional and amateur rescuers, we do our best to combine the spirit of volunteering with our scientific and technological skills.
HRT of Attika has following divisions:
- Major Disasters: HRT has at its disposal a technologically equipped team that is, at all times, ready to react within two hours of an incident. HRT is ready to intervene in any part of Greece in the case of earthquakes, floods and other, both natural and man-made, disasters.
- Mountain Rescue: This division is the most established and has the most experience. It has participated in over one hundred search and rescue missions and has all the proper equipment and training to intervene in mountain-related accidents, including air crashes.
- Water Search and Rescue: Consists of members who are experienced scuba divers, speed-craft controllers, sailors, and bay-watchers, and a support crew that participates in search and rescue (SAR) at sea, rivers, and lakes. They are in constant cooperation with the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Hellenic Air Force.
- Search Dogs: Faithful helpers in our efforts are our four-legged colleagues, who with the care and training provided by our dog handlers, contribute greatly in SAR operations, particularly in earthquake cases.
- First Aid: Professionals in the health field support the rescue departments of HRT providing first aid during our missions. In addition, they train new HRT members in First Aid.
- Humanitarian Missions: HRT's department that collects, transports, and distributes humanitarian aid to populations suffering from disasters and abnormal crises. In addition HRT, in cooperation with the Greek Government as well as the European Union (ECHO*), is in charge of the management of aid programs in third-world countries.
- Training: HRT organizes special schools and seminars by professional trainers, in Hellas and abroad, in order to provide its members with all the technical knowledge needed.
- Communications: the members of this divsion implement the technological developments in the training and operations, so the team can benefit the most recent equipment and technology in the operations.
HRT participates at the organisation of diverse competitions and events. Its members contribute at the safety of the event, in preventing accidents but also in the case of emergency to rescue.
After a special training for this event, HRT volunteers will be on the rescue boats during all races of the IFDS disabled sailing 2009 world championship .
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