July 2003 Issue 6

T HE O F F I C I A L NE W S L E TT ER O F T HE M O U NT AI N R ES C UE C O U NC I L O F EN G L A ND & W A L E S ISSUE 6 Valuable occasion J U L Y or easy day out for 2 0 0 3 the lads? NEWS FROM THE MRC Developments & discussions Mountain rescue can only function with the commitment of many people from MRC, May 2003 – some in the van, others out of sight – with a range of skills and different ideas. Indeed, a key strength of our organisation is the mix of members from wide ly NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS differing backgrounds and experience. Nevertheless, team leaders occupy a very teamʼs competence, Mark Hodgson (Keswick) VIEW FROM THE TOP special place in the scale of things. They represent considered the responsibilities of a team leader and TABLE the sharp end of the service, in many ways responsible Julian Carradice (Wasdale) provided a very personal Tony Jones on the progress for moulding, not only the way rescues run, but also account of the difficulties facing a team leader. of UK SAR the public perception of mountain rescue. They There have been vigorous debates on the election have passed the most stringent form of peer review and tenure of office of team leaders and useful HISTORY OF MOUNTAIN by experienced colleagues only to be rewarded by discussion of what a team should not do. RESCUE IN SCOTLAND being given responsibility for all the activities of a This is but a snapshot of the varied items Bob Sharp & Alfie Ingram team of opinionated, and occasionally anarchistic, covered. Whatever the subject matter, there has individuals. always been good informed opinion present to steer MOUNTAINS FOR They are expected to be ever available not discussions in a positive way. ACTIVE DIABETICS only to carry the incidents but also to tell the world An easy day out? No. I think this has been Nikki Wallis reports on about them. The quotes and misquotes that the one of our better and profitable moves. But if you MAD 2003, Plas y Brenin press have obtained from team leaders over the know differently, please speak up. years would fill a bedside book. It would be good to draw in the teams who MOUNTAIN RESCUE Considering this vast array of operational have not yet appeared and topics for future meetings COMMUNICATIONS Past, present & future experience it is perhaps surprising that we did not are always welcome. by Dave Gough see the opportunities afforded by bringing this The date is fixed on the first Saturday in group together at a much earlier stage. December. This year, however, the venue will WILD MEDICINE There have now been four annual Team change as the PG Centre in Preston is to close. We Vaughan Mason, Leaders meetings, attended on average by leaders are looking at alternatives and if you have one Dublin & Wicklow MRT (or deputies) from 75% of teams in England and please do not keep it secret. Wales. The content of the meetings has been wide David Allan MRC Chairman NATIONAL ranging and has been characterised by three FUNDRAISING things. Firstly, the quality of the presentations. Duke of York opens DEVELOPMENTS These have been made from a background of great Penny Brockman, Central operational experience and thus have been well Buxton base Beacons MRT informed and relevant. Secondly, the ensuing discussions have been lively and full of pertinence POACHER TURNED and good ideas. Thirdly, there has been an almost GAMEKEEPER universal acknowledgement that useful things have One sunny day on Crib been taken away from the meetings. It has, in Goch... particular, been refreshing to hear larger busy teams applaud ideas from smaller teams. It would be impossible to list all the topics and contributors in this space but a flavour is worth inclusion. Each meeting has listened to presentations simply describing the way a team functions and Derby, Oldham, Rossendale & Pendle and Teesdale & Weardale are some of the interesting contributions made. John Hulse (Ogwen) Full story on page 9 addressed the difficult question of assessing a M R C N E W S . K E E P I N G Y O U I N F O R M E D . P R O M O T I N G M O U N T A I N R E S C U E ...A WORD 2000. Since then, the MRC has been active in many aspects of the work of the UK SAR Operators Group MRC WIESL CSO UM E E T O FROM THE and its specialist Working Groups. NEWS I S S U E 6 The intangible results are difficult to list but the tangible results are that the MRC and its Regions TOP TABLE... are now written into the Framework Document, first VAC MATS ON releases under load if more but he is still keen days have become a SIX STREAM FOR TEAMS required. to get more information fixed calender event and PLEASE NOTE published in 2002, and that 5 channels (10 frequencies) For a number of years – quite a number of in the International Maritime band are allocated for ʻWhether you have a flowing. If you want to a valuable opportunity for THE FIXED The Mark 2 vac mat is in NEXT ISSUE years – there have been discussions on raising the the use of Land SAR. It is hoped that these will be travelling system or a join the group, please team members across DATES IN THE the final stages of its Issue 7 will be January 2004. profile of mountain rescue within the wider community. released for use before the end of 2003. lower from the top, you send him your details – the country to exchange MRC You can send articles, news items, production run and More recently, suggestions have been made that the The Annual Incident report has been tabled photographs, anecdotes, letters... need a safety back up. [email protected] views and learn. Next CALENDER ʻBrandʼ could be very marketable – an important factor each year. Indeed, the work of Ged Feeney has should be coming out to complaints even... hard copy or disc (in The question I would ask – and start contributing. yearʼs day will return to MRC MEETINGS teams over the summer Microsoft Word/Quark XPress format for with regard to national fundraising. contributed to a number of areas, specifically, the is this – have you tested cas care and medical copy and JPEGS/Photoshop EPS or Another aspect, somewhat less public but Report of the Helicopter Coverage Working Group. months. Any team PLAS Y BRENIN 3RD SATURDAY IN that back up with a two matters. TIFF for scans, please) to the Editor just as important, is the recognition of land search As other work progresses, so further requests are wanting more than the EQUIPMENT DAY MAY & NOVEMBER Judy Whiteside or three person load by and rescue by central government. Mountain rescue made to Ged for incident data. Work has started on one which the MRC are MAY 18 INSURANCE TEAM LEADERS 8 Bridgefoot Close, Boothstown, failing the lower ropes? If MEETING Worsley, Manchester M28 1UG is but part, a vital part, of land SAR. In 1989, the MRC the development of compatibility of incident data providing, please contact you havenʼt, then itʼs time The day was well via telephone/fax on 0161 702 6080 was asked to comment on the Home Office publication basis between the MRC, MRC of S, ALSAR and other Roger Daines on Dave Little provides a 1ST SATURDAY IN or via email to Dealing with Disaster . There was little recognition of data sets. you did, so you know it attended with 64 team brief update until the DECEMBER [email protected] [email protected] the voluntary bodies involved in land SAR. A number One area of concern that has yet to be works, rather than simply members representing Insurance Cover Update TEAM DOCTORS I look forward to hearing from you... or 01666 502731. of revisions were undertaken. In 1995, the MRC resolved is the proper co-operation with the assuming it does.ʼ 25 teams including four & Review document is MEETING submitted a paper to central government on the Ambulance Services and the use of Air Ambulances Every care will be taken of materials 540 BELAYS from Dublin & Wicklow released in a few weeks 2ND FRIDAY IN recognition of land SAR. A significant step forward in remote and difficult terrain. NEW CAS BAG sent for publication however these are MRT – good to see them time. Public Liability – OCTOBER submitted at the senderʼs risk. was the publication of the Report of the Search & The international representation of the MRC 540 belays are now out The new bag has now there. The format was the new cover Rescue Review Group (Feb 1996) with two important is another important aspect of raising its profile. For in service with fifteen EDITOR travelled the regions for a different this year – six documents have been recommendations:– some years, the MRC has been a member of the teams. But, says MRC Judy Whiteside year. The various small varied speakers gave issued to your regional Rossendale & Pendle MRT a) An SAR helicopter should be able in still International Commission for Alpine Rescue (IKAR) Equipment Officer, Mike a system in place air to reach any inland part of the UK within 2 hours and participated in the various Sub commissions. In final suggestions will now plenty of food for Finance Sub Committee WEB SITE • TECHIE STUFF Margeson, there are still whereby cover is still of call out by day or by night.

Load more