Training at a remote rescue station
Cape Rowan in Scotland is among the country's most active stations. However, according to Coastwatch (the Maritime Safety and Rescue Agency), this (1) ________ base is ideal for (2) ________ a winter rescue at sea. Six trainees were therefore housed beside the harbour in a small stone station for a carefully planned exercise, the (3) ________ of which was to (4) ________ information on how lengthy winter shifts could psychologically affect rescuers. The six trainees cut themselves off from the mainland in order to undertake duties involving the demands of work at sea. Their task was to see how night shifts and limited sleep often affect social (5) ________ of future rescuers' lives. Conditions at sea are tough, so the trainees had to cope without many familiar daily (6) ________, like warm rooms and reliable internet. They only left the station once a week to (7) ________ safety inspections in the coastal waters, wearing gear similar to that being designed for lifeboat crews. The training findings are expected to have considerable (8) ________ on Coastwatch decisions when putting together teams for future rescues at sea.