Welcome to the website of Trossachs Search and Rescue

TSART works in partnership with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service providing 24/7 Urban SAR dog cover for the 2.3 million people of Strathclyde.

 

We also provide 24/7 USAR Dog cover for Central Scotland Fire & Rescue Service.

 

The team also provides an experienced, highly trained and equipped search and rescue team that has, for example, worked at the Stockline factory collapse in Glasgow, assisted in the search for a murder victim in Hull and has assisted HM Coastguard in the search for a missing fisherman at Portlethen, Aberdeenshire.

Based at MOD Forthside, Stirling and close to the motorway network we are well placed to immediately respond to incidents across Scotland either by road or by air deployment from the base's helicopter landing site.

We are part of the National Urban Search and Rescue Dog Group (NUSARDG) so the emergency services can be assured that the service provided is of an extremely high standard.

Trossachs Search and Rescue is a recognised Scottish Charity No. SC028266
which
- provides a voluntary search and rescue service for people lost or injured
- provides a rescue service for injured animals
- promotes safety in the outdoors
- provides emergency life support training to groups within the local communities through our TSART Heartstart Scheme.

TSART IS NOT A MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM


Team e-mail : trossachs.sar@btinternet.com
or post an enquiry by highlighting the button to the left marked 'ENQUIRY'.

The Team Chairman is
Stuart Ballantyne, 11 Tryst Park,
The Inches, Larbert, Stirlingshire
FK5 4FN. Tel 07796 240 023


The Secretary is Gordon Gregory,
1 Holmpark, Bishopton PA7 5JQ.
Tel 07833 734 579.


Donations can be sent to the team's Treasurer: Joanne Reid MA LLB,
11 Tryst Park, The Inches, Larbert, Stirlingshire FK5 4FN.

If you have a query re call-outs / events coverage then contact Stuart Ballantyne .

Formed in 1998, our team comprises 30 people (21 men & 9 women) and 5 search dogs.

Our volunteers are drawn from all walks of life - from the Police, Fire and Ambulance services, offshore medic, nurse, military personnel, country park warden, joiners, painter, dog warden, surveyor, teacher, student and commercial pilot -and most of these have former military/ emergency services experience.

We are delighted to be heavily supported by WAGG Foods who supply all the qualified dogs with WAGG Time each month. WAGG also support the personnel by way of providing fleece jackets and polo shirts. (www.waggfoods.co.uk)

We are also supported in different ways - be it the provision of a vehicle, finance or training by two of Scotland's Fire and Rescue Services - Strathclyde & Central Scotland 

 

 

Our skills extend to being able to search in a variety of areas - open countryside, forest, hillsides, riverbanks, hospital grounds, parkland, buildings, disused/ derelict buildings and so on...

In May 2004, 14 members and 4 search dogs responded to Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service's request for assistance at a factory collapse in Maryhill, Glasgow. Personnel and dogs worked on site from 2pm on the first day, till 3pm the next day.

The team also provided personnel and 4 search dogs on three occasions to assist Humberside Police in searches of open countryside and dense woodland for murder victim - Joanne Nelson.

Our rescue skills extend to providing first-aid to both humans and animals and we have been called upon to utilise these valuable skills on numerous occasions. From rescuing a crow trapped in netting high on a building in Falkirk High Street (along with the High Access Rescue Team) to rescuing an 8 yr old boy who had fallen within a 60 feet tower, sustaining head and leg injuries - our medical and rope rescue personnel have provided an excellent service.