Night Rescues

WIRES have a dedicated team in the rescue office working 365 days a year from 8am until 6pm in addition to an after-hours line for emergencies. As a result, calls for assistance can occur at any time, not just during the day therefore volunteers may be asked to attend rescues at night. It is important to be mindful of the variety of different risks/hazards involved with night rescues and to ensure you have the correct PPE and rescue equipment and perform your risk assessment in advance, if you accept these rescues. 

• Be aware of the change in conditions e.g. reduced vision means you will need to ensure you bring a torch to the rescue and be more aware of trip hazards or objects that may cause harm.
• Be mindful that if attending road rescues, vision for drivers on the road will be reduced therefore you will need to ensure you wear a hi-vis vest in order to be seen and conduct the rescue in a manner where you ensure your safety is not compromised. Eliminating any risks is essential in these rescue situations. 
• If attending rescues in a non-public area e.g. private residences, be mindful of your own personal safety. If possible, ask someone to come with you even if they are not a WIRES volunteer, to just be on site while you conduct the rescue.

If you are attending a night rescue, it is a good idea to let someone know where you are going, where you are dropping the animal off to, and when you should expect to arrive back home.

If you experience a situation in which you feel unsafe, report it to the Rescue Office immediately.

Your safety is paramount, if you are feeling unsafe or unsure about a situation, it is entirely your right to abort the rescue.