Many whales die prematurely from human causes and rescue can be some compensation. By rescue is meant the return of whales to the sea at a place and in a manner that maximises their chances of resuming normal activities. If there is any doubt whatsoever that the situation can be properly handled with resources immediately at hand the ICS should be invoked. Extensive use is made of the Wildcare program for recruiting and managing volunteers.
Leadership is provided by example.
Thus, the ICS will facilitate rescue by safely distributing registered, trained, briefed, equipped and identifiable Wildcare volunteers to specialist rescuers for supervision at the whales. Clear training and briefing also allows the response to offer some counselling and updating for volunteers. Whale strandings can be stressful for people too. In following contact sequences you may find that many of people may have found out about the stranding early on, but this can not be assumed and the contact list must be followed. If messages are left on answering machines, efforts to contact must continue until people who can represent those positions are spoken to.