Media Advisory/Search and Rescue Exercise: Lac St Louis

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 19, 2011) - The Canadian Coast Guard wishes to inform the public that a large-scale search and rescue exercise will take place on Lac St. Louis, on the evening of August 23, 2011.

Search and rescue workers from a number of organizations, including Sûreté du Québec, the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Urgence Santé's ambulance service and the fire departments of various municipalities, will participate in an exercise to strengthen their rescue and cooperation abilities through an understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities.

This initiative is the result of the work of employees from the Canadian Coast Guard's Inshore Rescue Boat Service. In 2010, this search and rescue service took part in over 500 missions and provided more than 1,000 people with assistance, helping to save lives. Its stations will be open until September 5 on bodies of water in Valleyfield, Oka, Beaconsfield, Longueuil, Sorel and Trois Rivières.

Members of the media are invited to attend the departure of the search and rescue exercise at 8 p.m. at the Lachine Canal, and the return of victims from the simulation at around 11 p.m.

Remember that any marine emergency can be reported to the Canadian Coast Guard's Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by calling 1-800-463-4393 or 418-648-3599, or by contacting a Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre on VHF radio (channel 16), or dialing *16 on a cell phone.

For more information on the Canadian Coast Guard's Inshore Rescue Boat Service, visit: http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/eng/CCG/SAR_Irb_Background.

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