MOUNTAIN Annual Report 2019

Saving Lives in the Mountains 24 / 7 / 365 mountainrescue.ie

3 Kerry MRT SARDA (Ireland) Galway MRT Mayo MRT Sligo/Leitrim MRT Donegal MRT propagate information onmountain rescue andsafety and liaiseongeneral matters with government, to members onmountain rescue andsafety, to represent Rescue Ireland (M.R.I.)torepresent the views of its Collectively theseteams come together as Mountain medical care. escort themtosafety or deliver themto more definitive search, locate andrescue and thoseseekingassistance This anemergency taskingleadsto response which will and theP.S.N.I. inNorthern Ireland. tasked teamsand by policethe force, A.G.S. Irelandwithin These volunteers are organised into mountain rescue M.R.I. consists of thefollowing teams: mountainous environs ontheislandof Ireland berespondedwill Any individualor group requiring theuplandand assistance in to by volunteers embeddedinthelocalcommunity. mountainrescue.ie responding to thoseinneed. commitment and work of theteams dedicated to This report reflects backon2019andpresents the rescuemountainworldwide. the advancement of bestpractice in rescue organisations dedicated to the international body for mountain Commission of Alpine Rescue (I.C.A.R.) M.R.I. isamember of theInternational wider appreciation of theneed for mountain safety. and take suchactionasmay benecessary to promote a Dublin/Wicklow MRT South Eastern MRA Glen of Imaal MRT North West MRT Mourne MRT M.R.I. Chairman’s Report

2019 has seen a continuation of the demand on the volunteer mountain rescue teams throughout the island of Ireland. There continues to be a significant commitment of operational hours with a large increase in the number of completed.

This is a major demand on the dedication and Mountain Rescue Ireland has again engaged with our commitment of the volunteers to ensure persons in neighbours in Scottish Mountain Rescue and Mountain distress in remote and mountainous environments and I Rescue England and Wales. We are represented am incredibly grateful for this. internationally at the International Commission for Alpine Rescue congress in Zakopane, Poland. Our relationship This year also saw the introduction of the National Search with the statutory services in the and Rescue Plan (NSP). The NSP replaces the previous and is vital to deliver mountain rescue National SAR Plan and following the devastatingly and search dog services across the Island. My thanks to tragic fatalities at Blackrock and Kilkee. Mountain An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Rescue Ireland is entirely committed to the successful Ireland, National Service, Northern Ireland implementation of the NSP throughout its operations. Ambulance Service, Irish Coast Guard and Her Majesty’s 4 Mountain Rescue Ireland has represented the mountain Coast Guard. rescue teams both during the consultation phase and is attending the newly formed SAR Consultative Committee A number of projects are ongoing, including the SARCALL and the Health and Safety Forum. and Peer Review projects. These will ensure that the provision of mountain rescue service is the best it can

Annual Report 2019 Additional regulation from the Charities Regulator and be. Mountain Rescue Ireland is incredibly grateful the the evolving Charities Governance Code places additional huge number of donations received from members of requirements upon Mountain Rescue Ireland and its the public. This support is absolutely vital to ensure the individual member teams. Mountain Rescue Ireland is ongoing continuation of mountain rescue in Ireland. actively engaged in these compliances and provides support to its member teams. Mountain Rescue Ireland and its member teams are absolutely passionate and are dependent upon the The 2018 – 2021 Strategic Plan has made an incredibly selfless commitment shown by the volunteers and their beneficial impact upon member teams. The provision friends and families. On behalf of the Board I wish to of insurance has again been secured despite immense extend my personal thanks to these incredible volunteers. uncertainty from Brexit and a turbulent insurance market. I have been overwhelmed by the professionalism I have Mountain Rescue Ireland are incredibly grateful to the seen during my first year as Chairperson of Mountain Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for funding Rescue Ireland. the training and development, along with an annual grant for member teams, with a doubling to over a quarter of a million Euros. We wish to publicly thank the Minister, Jonathan Shields Mr Shane Ross TD, and his Department for this support, [email protected] without which would likely remove mountain rescue services in Ireland.

mountainrescue.ie 5 Management Office of Assistant Commissioner, Roads Policingand Major Event Maria Cox wish you every success in2020. and search dog teams for their continued assistance and commitment and natural amenities. I would like to thankMRIandtheir associatedmountain incidents canbedealt with andthe wider community canfully enjoy our Rescue Dog Teams that provide their services ona24hr basissothat such Fortunately inIreland we have Mountain Rescue Teams andSearch and weather conditions they canquickly become very and life serious threatening. When such incidentsare combined terrainwith difficult andchanging minor emergencies will inevitably occur. hill walking, rock and climbing,mountaineering andmountainbiking,injuries to those that enjoy experiencing thegreat outdoors. In suchas activities supported by their families, provide askilled,professional response capacity of Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI). Volunteers from our communities, It isfitting that we recognise theactivitiesandcommitmentof themembers Superintendent. John Clyde 2020. assistance andcommitment throughout 2019and bestforwish themallthe associatedthank theteams to MRIandthoseinSARDA for their continued Search &Rescue team andMRIintheupcoming year. Finally I would like to I lookforward to seeingcloser working relationships between PSNI the provide new challenges to both statutory and voluntary partners. more extreme weather events that are becoming more common continue to mountains, theever increasing of numbers as missingpersons, well asthe Whilst theteamsfocus isprimarily ontheoutdoor activitiesenjoyed inour any time of theday or night. rely ontheexpertise of the teams to attend and resolve theseincidents at circumstances canchange inamoment. It isreassuring know to that we can outdoor activities go withoutincident; there isalways thechance that fatalities inthe Mournes highlight that whilstthe vast majority of standard of assistance to thePSNIandcommunity asa whole. The tragic Throughout 2019theteamshave continued to provide aprofessional services running. provided by their families andthose who work behindthescenes to keep the Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI)asa whole, not forgetting thesupport our localcommunity who volunteer with themountain rescue and teams I wish onbehalf of thePSNItorecognise thecommitment of in those Síochána An Garda Northern Ireland Police Service of mountainrescue.ie

www.mountaineering.ie [email protected] Training Officer Jane Carney likelihood of needingto be rescued. this personal responsibility, we reduce the have funinthemountains. By takingon and thuskeep ourselves safer whilst we to help manage, minimiseor avoid hazards areto make inaposition better decisions increase our enjoyment of theactivity and preparing andeducating ourselves, we risk inallthings we choosetodo.By must make ourselves aware of theinherent To become responsible participants, we this essential service. that allparticipants donating in them join to Mountaineering Ireland would like to ask to fundraise for provision of thisservice. continue to volunteer more of their time effectiveness increases, but Teammembers and theintroduction of location aps, team benefit from improved technical equipment conditions and at night time. As teams outs, which are typically inthe worst of efficiently and safely asateamduringcall rescue practice, to operateto enable them members engage inskillstraining and Alongside attending rescues, team extreme weather events. incidents,to inaddition responding to participant numbers andassociated have beenextended to assisttheincreasing for therescue teams, where their services of adventure. 2019hasbeenabusy year encounter difficultiespursuit whilstinthe service to many, includingthose who to provide anessential yet voluntary The Mountain Rescue Teams continue wild areas. associated with journeying into remote and the inherent risksandresponsibilities with nature, are well evidenced, as are challenge andinteraction & connection & wellbeing, through physical &mental mountains. The benefits to our health behaviour andsafe practice inthe respect are key aspectsof responsible training, self-reliance andenvironmental is thecore ethos of mountaineers. Skills responsibility of beinginthemountains Enjoying theadventure, thrilland Ireland’s Perspective Mountaineering MRI Thankyou Annual Report 2019 Report Annual Strategic Plan 2018-2021

MRI developed its 3 year strategic plan during 2018 and declared the priority was to deliver to mountain rescue teams the means required for them to continue their mountain rescue mission of saving lives 24/7/365 in upland and mountainous regions, and to protect and support its members and their teams and volunteers as they save lives in mountainous areas.

M.R.I. will seek to secure funding towards the delivery throughout 2019 and your support will be required in of this strategic plan. M.R.I. will monitor the delivery of 2020. However, none of this would be possible without this plan at Board and Committee meetings and present the volunteers who dedicate themselves to be on call progress to the membership annually at general meetings. 24/7/365, along with their families and employers who form the foundation upon which this rescue service is MRI Stakeholders have been critical in allowing MRI built on. volunteers to deliver services

To deliver on this, M.R.I. has identified the following strategic goals: 1. Insurance coverage to protect the team operations 2. Capital funding for teams to develop or maintain rescue bases 3. Capital funding for to replace team emergency response vehicles when needed 4. Current funding to maintain and replace rescue equipment

5. Current funding for training to maintain the mountain rescue skillset 6

• Training and equipment costs continue to be Annual Report 2019 a challenge especially in a context of increased Training rescue activity. MRI is engaged currently with the DTTAS in relation to a review of the grant support systems. Search & Emergency response vehicles Rescue equipment • , critical to reaching casualties, can now be funded through grants sourced through the CLAR scheme operated by Emergency the DRCD. response vehicles • Rescue bases are a need for all mountain rescue teams and MRI is assisting teams with sourcing the required support. Rescue Base • Insurance is foundational support for all volunteers and MRI would like to acknowledge Insurance the support of Minister Ring and the DRCD.

To deliver on this strategic plan MRI will seek to ensure that all mountain rescue teams are housed in appropriate bases. MRI will work with teams, local authorities, agencies and State funders to deliver on this strategic need.

mountainrescue.ie MRI Company Limited by Guarantee (C.L.G.)

From a humble beginning in 1965, with 6 attendants at the first Irish Mountain Rescue Association meeting in Bryansford Co Down, we have sought to facilitate interaction development, and representation collectively. This effort grew in the subsequent years to the current stage of development where every mountainous location on the island of Ireland has a mountain rescue team ready to volunteer 24/7/365 to any request for emergency assistance.

As the organisation developed and times changed it became appropriate to change the organisational character and incorporate as a charity company limited by guarantee (C.L.G.) in order to give certainty to both internal and external stakeholders in M.R.I. This process was completed during 2018 and recognition is deserved for the legal firm Dechert L.L.P. and The Wheel for supporting us on this journey.

MRI Board of Directors MRI Board of Directors External: Jane Carney External Internal Internal Internal External Internal: Ray Bradfield, Secretary Mountaineering Company Chair of Treasurer Charity Internal: Jonathan Shields Chair Community Secretary the Board Sector Internal: Jerome Hopkins, Treasurer

External: Niall Greene Annual Report 2019 MRI Executive Committee MRI Executive Committee Elected Officers Secretary - Ray Bradfield

Secretary Chair Treasurer Chair - Jonathan Shields 7 Treasurer - Jerome Hopkins Public Relations Medical Statistics Peer Review Public Relations - Ruth Cunniffe Medical - Paul Butcher Project Officers Statistics - Lorcan O’Neill Aeronautical Tetra SARCALL Peer Review - Alan Carr Aeronautical - Diarmaid Scully Tetra - Kenny Roberts Executive Committee Members SARCALL - Donal McNamara Representatives from each of the member mountain rescue teams

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MRI now serves the community through the following MRI has adapted the governance standards for a Type company objects: C organisation under the Governance Code and is • to benefit the community by assessing and keeping recognised by them as such. As we go forward MRI will under review the need for, and the requirements of, demonstrate compliance with charity best practice by mountain rescue services in Ireland; incorporating best practice in at the design stage. • to encourage and assist in the formation, training, and development of mountain rescue teams; MRI enters 2020 with the former association dissolved • to represent and liaise with community and state the new formation dedicated to serving the mountain services with regard to the achievement of its rescue volunteers throughout the island. We would objectives; like to thank Niall Greene and Jane Carney who have • to propagate information on mountain rescue and volunteered to serve on the board as external directors. safety and take such action as is necessary to promote a wider appreciation of the need for mountain safety;

mountainrescue.ie Lorcan O’Neill [email protected] 2019 STATISTICS REPORT

Irish mountain rescue teams dealt with 330 incidents in 2019. That’s a decrease of 10% on 2018. However, if we ignore the callouts caused by The Beast from The East in 2018 there’s been a 10% increase each year for the last 2 years.

The random nature and timing of call outs is evident in Technology is also important for mountain rescue – low- the rare happening this year that two teams reported no tech and high-tech. On a callout recently that involved incidents in their areas in the last quarter of the year. It a long stretcher carry (1.5 hours) I noticed how easy would be nice to think that it’s an indication of efforts (relatively!) it was compared to a few years ago. The big by the outdoor community to put safety higher on their difference was the use of a newer type of stretcher. It has list of priorities, or improved technology in the form of a large wheel with a wide tyre and adjustable handles that mapping apps or longer battery life of mobile phones. protrude at each end with comfortable grips.

It was commented by one of the teams that more groups It was a long carry in the dark over very rough terrain – are seen with guides now so it’s possible that’s the often boggy, with those big tufts that make life difficult reason. It’s just for one quarter though so it can’t be taken unless you’re on stilts, and a river crossing at the end. as a trend just yet and it could just be the bad weather. It involved lots of humping the wheel over those tufts, but the wide wheel and end handles made the task a lot Technology is certainly a valuable tool for the outdoor easier than before. community, but I’m reminded of a study presented by a Swedish mountain rescue team at the ICAR (International The trend of short callouts is continuing, helped by hi- Commission for Alpine Rescue) gathering in Killarney a tech, especially smartphone locating apps like Sarloc. few years ago where they looked at the use of airbags in This is changing the dynamic of mountain rescue teams,

snow avalanche safety. Airbags can inflate if someone is especially ones that cover large areas. If team members 8 caught in an avalanche and can save lives. must travel long distances, then the callout is often stood down before they reach the rendezvous point. However, the number of avalanche related injuries and fatalities has not decreased significantly with their usage - This year I asked teams if they noticed any trends in because when people have an airbag, they are more likely their areas. The answers varied from “nothing of note”

Annual Report 2019 to take bigger risks because they think they are less likely to “more tourists and adventure races” to “more serious to be injured or killed. Likewise, we have not noticed injuries”. With the promotion of Ireland as a clean green any decrease in the number of callouts as technology tourist destination an increase in foreign tourists could improves and gives people more confidence in their be expected, especially given the promotion of the Wild mountain activities. Atlantic Way. We started recording the number of foreign tourists this year so if there is a trend there, we should be able to see it in future.

Activities of Casualties 2019 Nature of Injuries 2019

106 300 255 120

250 100

200 80

16 150 60

100 40 23 22 44 11 255 7 50 10 5 1 8 20

0 0

Head Hiking Biking Flying Other Spinal Other Climbing Running Medical Lower Body Upper Body Despondent

mountainrescue.ie Annual Report 2019 24 / 7 / 365 / PSNI GARDA Mountain rescue teams are only only are teams rescue Mountain Saving Lives Saving in the Mountains Callout SMS Callout Offi cer Callout Offi 81 volunteers who dedicate to being on to who dedicate volunteers call 24/7/365 to assistcall 24/7/365 in need those to NIGHT TIME NIGHT possible due to the commitment of the of the commitment possible due to

TEAM MEMBER 999 MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN RESCUE BASE HELP!

HOURS PERSON PERSON TOTAL 14,444

mountainrescue.ie OTHER* 21 44 SERIOUS INJURIES INCIDENTS INCIDENTS 2019 ANNUAL STATISTICS ANNUAL 2019 www.mountainrescue.ie/donate 10412 Number: (Revenue) 20026370. CHY Number: Charity Registered donate today TASKINGS 61

HELICOPTER 330 *Mountain rescue teams are tasked to a variety of incidents arising from their wilderness & mountainous capabiliti es. capabiliti wilderness & mountainous their arising from incidents of variety a to tasked are teams rescue *Mountain MINOR 55 INJURIES FOREIGN TOURISTS 144

38 MISSING SEARCHES 115

DAY TIME DAY 249

LOST MOBILE BASE

21 76 TOTAL NO. TOTAL FATALITIES CISM - Critical Incident Stress Management

In February 2020, 21 representatives from mountain rescue Ireland headed off to Carlow to complete a 5-day CISM course. Teams represented on the course were from Dublin/ Wicklow, Glen of Imaal, SARDA, SEMRA, Mayo, North West and Galway.

The course was conducted in Carlow IT under the The term, critical incident stress was developed in the instructions of Sharon Gallagher and Ollie Barbour. For all mid 1970’s to describe an expected and typical response 21 participants we were now students of Carlow IT and of normal, psychologically healthy people after an discussion quickly came on the first morning to student exposure to a critical incident. CISM is a comprehensive, discounts and where we could go out. While being back integrated, systematic and multi-component of crisis in college was a new experience for most of us, we intervention techniques. There is no single intervention managed to settle into student life pretty quickly, lots of used as a stand-alone technique. This course gave coffee breaks! We were quickly brought back to reality participants the most common tools to us in a CISM when a 3000-word assignment was put on the agenda. program and offered practical experience with group The course was divided over 2 sessions, 2 days one week exercises to practice them. and 3 the following week. As with the nature of any Mountain rescue team, at The course content was delivered through typical times the teams must deal with critical incidents and teaching methods of lectures, in-class discussions, case having completed this course it allows the CISM trained 10 studies and group exercises. The course aims to provide personnel to assist members of the team in a peer to peer participants with an awareness of the impact of critical fashion as required. incident stress. Annual Report 2019

mountainrescue.ie 11 Mountains in the Saving Lives interested parties recognise their place inthemountain rescue mission. all stakeholders: localcouncils, government departments andagencies, andother regardlessof thecasualtya being visitor to or aresident ofIt theisland. is thatvital The casualty requiring assistance isdependant onallthese levels for support, following: in theprovision ofthe mountain rescueteam be supportedby the casualty they must volunteer toassistthe For themountain rescue to at themission many levels. environment requires commitment in anuplandor mountainous neededthatis saving alife Facing into 2020,recognition 24 /7365 mountainrescue.ie Stakeholders inthemountain rescue mission the volunteer,and vehicles equipment A Rescue baseto store &support www.mountainrescue.ie Rescue equipment response vehicles

Emergency

Search & Training Annual Report 2019 Report Annual North West Mountain Team Chair: Graeme Stanbridge Team Leader: Keith Thompson Rescue Team Website: www.nwmrt.org

28 CALLOUTS

In 2019 the team was called out on 28 occasions, a other voluntary and professional teams so the casualty reduction of 46% from the previous year. This was mainly experiences a seamless rescue. The latter part of the due to milder winter conditions and less support to the reporting year saw much time spent planning a five-year Ambulance Service to transport patients and medical strategy to acquire better assets and improve standards. staff. For the third year in a row at least 50% of incidents Paul Kellagher has been leading this project and work have been in County Antrim and this reflects the size of continues with the aim of launching the strategy at our population in the area that includes much of Belfast. AGM in April 2020. 12 One of our most notable call outs was in May when 19 Fundraising has yet again intensified in preparation for members responded to a mountain biker in Ballypatrick the five-year strategy. The Broughshane 5K & 10K run Forest, who had sustained a leg injury. Contact was in August remains our largest annual fundraiser and we made with the casualty by phone who described their leg replicated the event at Colebrooke Estate attracting as ‘twisted around the wrong way’ before they passed over 140 runners for the inaugural event. Our thanks to out. The casualty sent photos of their injury and the Viscount Brookeborough who gave us free range of the

Annual Report 2019 incident was escalated with the Helicopter Emergency estate and encouraged us to develop additional and more Medical Service being tasked. On arrival the paramedics challenging events in 2020. had already prepared the casualty for evacuation and between the team and Coastguard a rig was set to lower Our largest purchases were new first aid bags with the stretcher on a slippery slope before carrying the contents, and a drone. The drone will greatly aid large casualty to an awaiting ambulance. scale searches by locating casualties more quickly and assist reducing risks to members when tasked to search In our extended charitable purpose of educating the cliff faces and steep ground. public on hazards in mountains and offer practical advice to reduce risks, we conducted twenty-two events 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the North West for community groups. Most notable was the annual Mountain Rescue Team and we hope to mark the event Santa visit to the South West Acute Hospital where we with notable legacies that will assist in sustaining the always receive a great welcome from the children. At team into the future. the opening of the new Scout Hut at Claddagh Glen we took an opportunity to rope in the visiting Prince Edward to help with our rigging activities which he found interesting.

The number of members reduced in the reporting year and recruitment will require investment soon to ensure we can maintain our readiness and capability over an operational area of over twelve thousand square kilometres. New members have demonstrated great commitment, and several have taken up committee positions as fundraising and communications officers.

Investment in training continues and there is a concerted effort to broaden our skills to dovetail with mountainrescue.ie 13 43 CALLOUTS during 2019towards realising that goal. Landhasnow Co. Down and very significant progress hasbeenmade the development of anew rescue baseinNewcastle A core objective for the team in recent years hasbeen service, Dublin Wicklow MRT andthePSNISAR team. An Garda Siochana, localhealthtrusts,theNIHEMS services Coastguard, includingPSNI,NIAS,UKand Irish This involved collaborative working with a variety of other patients in remote locations in extreme weather. providing assistance to healthservice staff to access Searches for thosemissing or lostalsofeatured, asdid which unfortunately included3fatalities. were predominately medicalincidents andtrauma injuries The range of dealt incidents andinjuriestheteam with course of the year. also occupied agreat dealof volunteer timeduringthe Ongoing development, training andfundraising activities with 43response calls,amounting to 1829manhours. The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team hadabusy 2019 Website: Andrew McKee, Martin McMullan Team Coordinators: Team Chair: www.mournemrt.org Dave Goddard Neville Watson, Ian McCracken, mountainrescue.ie Mourne area andbeyond. community who live, work andtake their leisure inthe and theteamlookforward to continuing to serve the challenges provides confidence andencouragement the solidperformance of theteam those inmeeting for theMourne Mountain Rescue Team. Reflecting on All inall,2019 was both challengingandrewarding progress to fullteam member status. number of trainee completed members assessment to refreshed WEMSI Physician andEMT qualifications. A completed Casualty Care Examinations, and key members In additionto regular team training, teammembers ever, beenacentral feature of theteam’s activities. Sustaining and buildingcapacity through training has,as development will beakey focus for MMRT in2020. see construction in2020. Fundraising tounderpinthis await fullplanningapproval for theproject andhopeto in relation to procurement and construction. The team Lidl supermarket group, andagreements are inplace been acquired andplansdrawn, with helpfrom the RescueTeam Mountain

Mourne Annual Report 2019 Report Annual Dublin & Wicklow Team Chair: Edmund Fagan Team Leader: Mark Flynn Mountain Rescue Website: www.dwmrt.ie

101 CALLOUTS

The Dublin and Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team support we receive from friends, family, clubs, individuals, (DWMRT) consists of 54 rescue team members as well as businesses, community funds, state agencies and associate and honorary members. In 2019 an additional 7 participants and volunteers at our fundraising events, probationary recruits continued their training programme. the team would not be able to provide the service we do 2019 was another busy year for callouts. The more provide. notable callouts were characterised as mid-week, overnight operations and/or involving substantial search DWMRT were chosen as one of two Intel Ireland

management. signature charities for 2019. Employee fundraising and 14 Intel matching funds resulted in a donation of €36,000 We are constantly upskilling and developing our to the team. This substantial donation will be a huge help capabilities. Our training programme this year included in our developing a rescue base. We would like to thank sessions in the Scottish Highlands, on Mweelrea in Mayo Intel Ireland, their employees and Catherine Hallahan, and in the Cooley Mountains in Louth. 13 team members without whom this fantastic partnership would not have qualified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) during been possible. Annual Report 2019 2019 after completing a training programme under the auspices of The Order of Malta. The standard of medical DWMRT has three main fundraising events of our own care the team, a PHECC licenced Clinical Practice which are all hill based and provide significant training Guideline provider, will be able to provide will be greatly opportunities. The Art O’Neill Challenge is a long distance enhanced by the addition of 13 EMT level practitioners. ultra-marathon or trek in January. In March we host Walk We are also building our search dog capability with the the Line in the Dublin Mountains. Then in November we addition of a qualified dog and handler this year and we host Run the Line, an accessible hill-running event which have a number of candidates in training. is sells out every year. We would love to meet you at one of these events in 2020, as we move closer to building a We would like to express our gratitude for all of the permanent rescue base! support our team received during 2019. Without the

mountainrescue.ie 15 96 CALLOUTS

Laragh to markits10 year anniversary. was another success, thistimerunfrom our basein Our major fundraising event - The Moonlight Challenge, most of our calloutsin2019. of HRHthePrince of Wales to , thehometo The Team represented Mountain Rescue during the visit Rescue team in Tržič while we were there. the opportunity to train with alocalSlovenian Mountain of Slovenia where snow was guaranteed. We alsotook The team undertook winter training inthe Julian thanks mainly to theuseof SARLOC. has alsobeenanotable increase inthe speedof callouts the usuallower leginjuries. As with recent years there shouts, suchasprolonged searches, technical rescues and included asignificantnumber of themore challenging year initshistory with 96callouts. These calloutshave The Glen Team equalled2019 asitssecondbusiest

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a n r n L R g n rea E a hÉi S CUE Website: Team Leader: Team Chair: www.wmr.ie Brendan Beirne Christiaan Clotworthy mountainrescue.ie their kindnessandsupportthroughout the year. Mountain Rescue andemergency services personnel for We would like to say aparticular thankstothefamilies of the public. voluntary services with whom we cooperate inserving Ambulance Service with alonglistof other statutory and Garda Siochana, Coast Guard, Defence Forces, National Sister team-Dublin Wicklow, our colleagues inMRI, An Mountain Rescue Team would like to thankthoseinour The committee andmembers of Glen of Imaal Red Cross Chris England. accelerated training programme by our Training officer members in2019 who were immediately putthrough an The team welcomed anew intake of 8probationary Glen of Imaal Mountain

Rescue Annual Report 2019 Report Annual South Eastern Mountain Rescue Team Chair: Michael Power Team Leader: Liam McCabe Association Website: www.semra.ie

35 CALLOUTS

Remembrance Managing a search is a difficult task, managing a search South Eastern Mountain Rescue is a team of 53 people and setting search areas to best suit the various agencies (36 men and 17 women). Recruitment normally happens skills is even more difficult. It is well worth attending the every two years, the last recruitment started in 2017 and emergency services open days, the other agencies you in the summer of 2018, 10 new members were added to meet with may very well be joining you on the next big the team. search. 16 One significant change to the team numbers came about Training in November 2019. Jimmy Barry retired from SEMRA Training classes included for example: after more than 20 years service. Jimmy is well known • re-certifying all members under PHECC in Mountain Rescue circles all over Ireland for his story • search management skills in the Blackstairs telling, his love of the outdoors, his skill with a camera • training with R117 and his ability to rescue people before they knew they • heights training

Annual Report 2019 needed it. While we are extremely sad to see him leave • Winter training in Poland with TORP Mountain Rescue SEMRA, he certainly hasn’t left the people or the Galtees. Team Call Outs Grants During 2019, SEMRA attended various Emergency SEMRA undertook 2 major projects in 2019 that required Services Open Days. These are a great opportunity grant funding. The first project undertaken was to for the public to meet us and see what we do but they extend our base building. The SEMRA base is basically are also invaluable in allowing us to meet with other a vehicle and equipment store which is ideal for that emergency service providers and agencies. purpose. However, proper office/classroom space and On Friday 19th April, just a week after attending the first proper kitchen & bathroom facilities are badly needed. Emergency Services open day for 2019, SEMRA were Thankfully our application for Leader funding was tasked to search for an elderly woman with dementia who approved and works to extend the base got underway had gone missing while on retreat at Glenstall Abbey. in Autumn 2019 and should be completed in the Q1 of 2020. It will be really good to have a proper space for The search began late on Friday night and carried on future training and meetings without having to move all into the next day when she was found alive and none the vehicles out of the way first and wear all our hill gear the worse for her adventure. SEMRA co-ordinated the inside for warmth! search and was joined the Coast Guard, SARDA, Nenagh Ormond Search, Irish Search Dogs, Limerick Land Search, The second project undertaken was to replace “Victor” Civil Defence, An Garda Siochana and the Irish Red Cross- our mobile base vehicle. Our CLAR funding application East Limerick. Each agency brings its own expertise was approved thanks to a lot of hard work by sub- and specialist equipment, for example the Coast Guard committee of team members. A custom fitted vehicle with ATV was made use of to quickly search forest tracks. the specifications designed by SEMRA members has been ordered and should be delivered in early 2020.

mountainrescue.ie 17 30 CALLOUTS other Mountain Rescue teams. Guard, CivilDefence, National Ambulance Service and other agencies suchas An Garda Síochána, Irish Coast 2019. Many of thesesearches were conducted alongside qualified dog teams responded to over 30calloutsin from Ireland, theUK,Norway andmainlandEurope. Our Europe and will bringtogether trailing dog handlers in 2020. This conference will bethefirst of itskindin international SAR trailing dog conference in Waterford The proceeds of theDFrun hostan will beused to chose SARDA asoneof their charity partners. This year, theDara Fitzpatrick Memorial Run (DFrun) Ireland to itsnetwork of eleven sister teams intheUK. NSARDA, theumbrella group which connects SARDA programme isbeingdeveloped with thesupportof the the specificscent of themissing person. The trailing dogs work on alongleadandare trained to follow just a scentto themissingperson. articlebelonging These search dogs. Trailing dogs are ‘scent-specific’ andneed In 2019,SARDA launchedaprogramme to train trailing 2020. on our calloutlistafter our next assessments in January We expect to have anadditionaltwo to three dog teams (also amember of GMRT) andSyd from the2019cohort. mountain rescue search dog teams including Jarlath Folan quickly andeffectively. Wecurrently have four qualified works offto search leadandcanbeused large areas very rescue search dog’ standard. This typeof air-scenting dog Traditionally, allour dogs have beengraded to ‘mountain and urbanareas, waterways andseashore. in Ireland andare effective inmountains, woodlands,rural tasked to search for injured or anywhere missingpersons dog teams, which consist of thehandler andtheir dog, are training anddeployment of search andrescue dogs. Our is anational voluntary SAR organization specialisedinthe The Search andRescue Dog Association (SARDA Ireland) Website: Team Leader: Team Chair: www.sardaireland.com Helen Mhic Chonmara Gerry Tobin mountainrescue.ie [email protected] for more information. or trailing dog with SARDA, pleasecontact assistant- members. To findoutmore abouttraining anair scenting look aheadto2020 with agrowing team of committed We thankallthose SARDAwho assisted in2019and we teams) andto assist with fundraising. ‘dogsbodies’ (those who hideonthehillsfor our dog Ireland. Many new peoplehave started to volunteer as interest from thepublictobecome involved with SARDA We are happy to note that there hasbeenincreased Dublin, Wicklow, Clare andLimerick. locations around the country including Cork, Waterford, part inarange of opendays at garda stations inmany rescue operations. Further, SARDA volunteers took joint event where SEMRA alsogave atalk onmountain trainees at the Garda College in Templemore. This was a nature andapplication of SARDA dogs to over 200 Last May SARDA were delighted to give atalkonthe Community Development for their support with this. Our sincere theDepartment thanksto of Rural and much-needed 4x4 vehicle (Ford Ranger) for theteam. essential equipment. We were able to purchase a to mountain rescue teams to procure vehicles or other In 2019theCLÁRprogramme provided targeted funding Rescue Dog

Association

Search and Annual Report 2019 Report Annual Galway Mountain Team Chair: Dermot Hughes Team Leader: Rory Sherlock Rescue Team Website: www.gmrt.ie

21 CALLOUTS

Galway Mountain Rescue Team provides rescue services highlighted a need for water awareness preparation and in remote and inaccessible areas of counties Galway and equipment. Galway MRT adopted SARCALL this year also Clare. With a core strength of around 30-35 operational and has successfully used it on callouts and training. members, the team is currently recruiting new Aspirant Members to begin training in January 2020. 6 Aspirant Training Members have recently been upgraded to Full Member This has been a busy year for Galway MRT in terms of after successful completion of the team training training. In addition to inter-agency training with SARDA, programme. the Irish Coast Guard, the Irish Defence Forces and other 18 agencies, the team has taken part in MRI organised Galway MRT are proud to announce that the first annual training such as the rigging course in October. “Howl at the Moon” fundraiser event, held in Galway Wind Farm with the support of SSE and Coillte was a External training undertaken by team members has great success. been varied including: Severe Weather Off-Road Driving

Annual Report 2019 Training; First Aid training; and the Field Search Skills Callouts Course run by the Centre for Search Research. Galway MRT had a total of 21 callouts in 2019 – the highest number on record, with callouts every month Grants – CLAR except for August and December. This has included 3 Galway MRT have used grants awarded this year to callouts to the Burren, Co. Clare – a rarity in previous fund equipment and training. In particular, HSE Lottery years, on top of the usual callouts to popular Connemara Funding has been used to help support first aid upskilling tourist attractions such as , and by funding EFR training for 8 members. Other grant the . funding has allowed the team to purchase medical equipment, PPE and communications equipment to Galway MRT have been happy to work very closely with ensure that members have the tools they need to carry Mayo MRT on a number of callouts this year, further out their role. strengthening our close working relationship. Of note, a challenging callout near Maumtrasna in September has

mountainrescue.ie 19 48 CALLOUTS with a view to beoperationally available sixmonths later. successful applicants in joiningtheteam January 2020, 2019, theteam begananew recruitment campaign with members andonereserve team member. In November Currently the Team iscomprised of 26active team Corporate Governance Handbook andDirectors Manual. MMRT CLG. The largest body of work included writing a work onthepartof our committee members to move to (CLG). This involved ahuge amount of administrative Mountain Rescue Team Company Limited by Guarantee and saw the Team transfer from an Association to Mayo 2019 was ahistoric year for Mayo Mountain Rescue Team An Garda Síochána, Order of Malta andother MRI Gardaand assistingalongside Cósta na hÉireann and Notably 2019hasseenanincrease inour team working these calloutsinsuchashort period of time. number of timesduetothe exhaustive nature of some of and Galway Mountain Rescue teams to go onstandby a assistance of our neighbouringcolleagues inSligo Leitrim evacuations from . The team required the number of callouts which involved difficultstretcher weekend saw the theteam pushedtothelimitsdue it consisted of minor injurieshowever either sideof the increased this year. Reek Sunday while it was abusy day, The number of calloutsaround theReek Weekend searches.missing person conditions along withassisting An Garda Síochánain variety of reasons, maperrors andchanging weather the mountains inthe winter, butnow itincludesa wide have beenfor walkers who have beenlate down off searches for traditionally missingpersons, our searches increase inpopularity of theoutdoors. This hasincluded ranging of calloutsinterms thelocations in Mayo duethe of thispilgrimage walk, theteamhasseenmore wide- our calloutsare to Croagh Patrick duetothepopularity Mayo MRT hadanother busy year in2019, while many of Callouts Website: Team Leader: Team Chair: www.mayomrt.com Colm Byrne Robert Hunt mountainrescue.ie deceased personandallthoseinvolved. their supportonthat day inrecovering thebody of the local coastguard unitsfrom Westport for andCleggan in suchcircumstances. The team would like to thankthe privileged to do,to bringaloved their onehometo family most difficulttaskingbutone team whichthe feels reminder of thefragility of life. For theteam, itisthe of aperson from Mweelrea inSeptember which was a On apoignant note, theteam were tasked to arecovery between two spate rivers. rescue of agroup of walkers who hadbecome stuckfast Galway andtheMayo teams combined to carry outa ground. In additionduringacalloutinthe Maumtrasna’s together inadifficultstretcher evacuation fromthesteep mountain which involved everyone onscene working life threatening conditionsonthe injuriesindifficult ground onSlievemore on Achill. The casualty sustained such incident where aperson slippedandfell off steep team. The team the assisted Achill Coastguard inone teams. This was highlighted intwo major calloutsfor our CLÁR grant. team isreviewing proposals for equipment for next years upgrades to our HQ buildingin Westport. Currently the Equipment to fullteam search members, equipment and grant which went towards providing Personal Protective Mayo MRT received €16,000this year from theCLÁR Grants – CLAR course. search management courses andtheDoolin rigging MRT HQ, aparty leader course, search skillstraining, external courses includedaPPEcourse heldin Mayo remainder of theteam duetocomplete itin2020.Other members have now completed EFRtraining with the moving toward PHECC registration. Almost allour team completed in2019. This year saw theteam as whole There were 24evening andfour fullday training events Training RescueTeam Mountain

Mayo Mayo Annual Report 2019 Report Annual Sligo Leitrim Mountain Team Chair: Christopher Taylor Team Leader: Iain Mounsey Rescue Team Website: www.sligoleitrimmrt.ie

13 CALLOUTS

Incidents followed soon after by the announcement of funding During 2019 SLMRT conducted 6 Searches, 6 Rescues under the CLAR scheme from the Department of Culture, and 1 recovery with 495 person hours given. Heritage & Gaeltacht, this gave us funding of €42500 to These were a mix of operating with other agencies replace our aging command and control vehicle. including other MRTs Garda, Irish Coastguard, RNLI, HSE and Fire Services. To this the team had to provide and additional 15% from our own funds. We would like to thank the efforts Training of the Mountain Rescue Ireland and the Department of 20 Training this year comprised of 52 sessions covering the Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht as this has made a vast following: improvement to the teams’ resources in being able to • REC 3 provide a professional service to the local community. • REC 4 • Night Navigation The now infamous annual Ben Bulben Night Walk • PPE Inspection Course continued our fundraising efforts with around 200 Annual Report 2019 • Joint exercise with RNLI supporters enjoyed the guided hike to the top Ben before • Joint Exercises with neighbouring teams finally hitting the streets of Sligo for our annual street • Communications collection. • Medical Refreshers • Rigging Course Doolin Members • Party Leader Course Currently we have 22 active members with 4 probationers approaching assessment. Events The team also committed to 10 different events as part of Over the course of 2019 team members gave up over our fundraising strategy and public relations. 2700hrs of their time to commit to incidents training and Our fundraising covered a pub quiz, our annual street fundraising. collection and the centrepiece the Ben Bulben Night walk with continues to be a popular event. Vehicles SLMRT has 2 Vehicles in use, a 2008 Ford Transit Van Other assistance has been given to local events based (soon to be replaced in 2020), a 2015 VW Rockton 4x4 upon the numbers of people involved and the terrain covered, these include the Warriors Run, Ultra, Team Base St Patricks day parades in Sligo and Leitrim, a number of The team is currently housed within an area vacated education days with various schools, scout groups, local by the Sligo County Council. This has provided us with community groups as well as the national exercise of a secure facility in which to keep all the vehicles and Croagh Patrick. equipment and also space to conduct training. We are very grateful for the assistance provided by Sligo County Fundraising Council. During the year the team conducted 4 major fundraising events beginning with the Pub Quiz to which we thank the Thomas Connolly’s, Sligo for hosting us. This was then

mountainrescue.ie 21 17 CALLOUTS funding the team funding theteam were granted €8800from thesports Council. Having not beensuccessful obtaining theClar also submittedandapplication toClar and tothe Sports Donegal Town in June andinBuncrana in August. DMRT year was nodifferent. DMRT heldabucket collection in large amount of theteam’s timeisspent fundraising this to thecounty to enjoy offer. allithasto Asalways, a people who live inDonegal butalsotourists who came Dmrt not assisted had17callouts,andtheteam just (phecc) CFR. and oneat EMT Level. All team are members trained in two are trained to Emergency First Responder Level Currently 17responders are trained to REC 3first aid, 10 trainees who are training hard to become responders. DMRT have currently 20responders andcurrently have Range andalltheupland andremote areas inbetween. Bluestack Mountain Range, theDerryveagh Mountain stunning clifts of Slieve League, whilealsotakinginthe from thenortherntip of Ireland Malin Head to the environment of Donegal. Geographically DMRT covers an emergency response for theremote andupland DMRT (Donegal Mountain Rescue Team) provides Website: Team Leader: Team Chair: www.facebook.com/DonegalMRT Kevin Maguire Garret Wilson mountainrescue.ie these. Local Government representatives to secure both of support neededfrom localCounty Councillors andour also fundingand we hopethat this year we will get the Dmrt baseand theteamhasnopermanent isthefact As we lookinto the year aheadthebigissuestill for working with theteam. assessors Gerry and Christie Mick Grant for attending and every two year andtheteam would like to thankthetwo review allMRteamsgo through apeer review process On the28thof September DMRT when through peer March. Ireland AGM which was heldonthe30thand31stof as this year theteam hostedtheannualMountain Rescue DMRT also welcomed theteamsfrom allover the country and mountain skills. callouts arope riggingcourse andsearch management sessions throughout the year which alsoincludedmock and other vital equipment. DMRT held34training council,from team the this weretoable updatestretchers RescueTeam Mountain

Donegal Annual Report 2019 Report Annual SMALL CHANGE BIG DIFFERENCE

Mountain rescue teams are only possible due to the commitment of the volunteers who dedicate to being on call 24/7/365 to assist those in need.

These volunteers achieve this with minimal state support, and assume the costs of their own time and effort. We are required to reach out to the public to ask for support for the work that we do.

Please visit our website and give what you can. donate today www.mountainrescue.ie/donate

Alternatively you can make an online transfer via the details below

AIB Bank, Killorglin, Co Kerry BIC: AIBKIE2D IBAN: 43AIBK963634012108043

Companies Registration Office: 613336. CLG No. 613336. Charities Regulator No.: 20202673

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