NORTH Wales mountain rescue experts are off to Croatia to teach life-saving skills to local search teams. Instructors will show their Balkan counterparts how to hunt for missing climbers and even find murder victims, using search dogs and helicopters. Three North Wales-bred rescue dogs are already in Croatia. In spring, the teams will fly to North Wales to continue their training, which includes emergency first aid. Two instructors from Penmaenmawr-based Global Rescue Services will help the Croatian, Bosnian and Slovenian teams, aided by two Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue instructors. Global's members David Jones and Gavin Roberts will be joined by Ogwen experts Alistair Read and Ron Williams on the trip next Thursday. Using interpreters, Mr Jones, 54, of Penmaenmawr, who is also an Ogwen team member, will highlight how search dogs can help rescuers. The exercises on the agenda will include burying meat and challenging handlers and their dogs to try to find it. He will also check on the progress of three dogs provided by Global Rescue Services, which are already there. They are collies Meg and Manston, and a spaniel called Diana. The RAF sponsors Manston and Diana while Meg is sponsored by a sheepdog magazine. Mr Read, 43, of Tal-y-Bont said: "We are both looking forward to it. The main aim is to talk about search and rescue training." He will teach the Balkan teams how to put broken limbs in splints and treat hypothermia. Mr Read, a defence industry consultant who used to be a Royal Navy flight deck officer, will also teach the volunteers how to work with rescue helicopters. An Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team leader, he added: "Safety is a huge aspect. These aircraft are dangerous on a good day. "When it's dark or the weather is bad, they are even more so. "We are trying to minimise the risks so they are aware of the hazards of approaching the helicopter. "If you are working underneath a hovering aircraft in snow, the rotor blades can cause 100mph winds and make an instant blizzard. You lose your perception of what's around you. "You get the same effect on a hot day with dust." | 
