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7 W 5 6 A - 8 L 7 E 4 9 S £4.75 WELCOME TO ISSU E 58 Mountain Rescue is the membership magazine for mountain and cave rescue in England and Wales. fir st EDITORIAL Word Judy Whiteside MIKE FRANCE 07836 509 812 [email protected]
Andy Simpson I hope summer has been kind to you and If this works — and there is no reason why it 0161 764 0999 you’ve managed to get some time with your won’t — we should have better [email protected] families. I see from social media that many communication with teams represented at Caroline Davenport teams have been very busy mountain both the operation and chairs group feeding 01270 878 324 [email protected] rescuing over this time. I am asked many into the management team and back. times, ‘so is winter your busy time’ but, with We agreed at the last AGM that the existing mountain.rescue.org.uk mountain biking, rock climbing and all the trustees would continue with the existing other outdoor activities people now undertake charity until the CIO comes into play, but Peter NEXT ISSUE for pleasure it looks like we don’t have any Dymond finishes his term in November and ISSU E 59 quiet times. will be standing down along with Paul Amos. Editorial Copy Deadline: Over the summer I have been working with So, on behalf of all of us, can I thank them for Friday 9 September 201 6 our trustees developing the new job their time and the hard work they put in. It’s fair
Editorial copy must be supplied description for the new external trustees. This to say they haven’t had an easy ride but they as Word document. was sent to you for comment and by the time have helped steer us in the right direction. Images must be supplied as you read this it will have been issued. We are Also standing down at the November high resolution (300 dpi) JPG/EPS/TIFF/PDF. looking for a couple of people with the skills we meeting is Daryl Garfield, our vehicles officer. require. We have also taken on board the If you look at our vehicle standards now, the Advertising artwork must be supplied, ready prepared on comment from the regional chairs group in better uniformity of our vehicles and the better CD or via email as font that someone from that group should be a driving standards, lots of work has been done embedded high resolution PDF/EPS/TIFF (300 dpi). trustee of MREW. This person will be picked by by him and the vehicles team so again many the group to serve a two-year term. With the thanks for the hard work. We did make four exec officers, two external trustees and comment at our last meeting about section 19 someone from the chairs group this will give — that’s two vehicle officers have been and us the odd number and a good sized group of gone and still no section 19, good luck to our seven people to oversee the finance, next officer, let’s see if it comes in under their governance and strategy of the charity. tenure. The new constitution has also been written You will also find the new job description for over the summer, 80% plus of this paper is pre a president and vice president has been Cover written by the Charity Commission, the written and is on the website. We agreed a document is a template where we fill in our nominee should come from a team, ideally stoThre firyst of five joint training bits. By now I hope you’ve had sight of this, but with the backing of a region, and sent to the events with Bristow arranged by remember there is very little we can change. national secretary. For the moment we are LDSAMRA this autumn. The You will see when you read it that the big only looking for one vice president until we weather was great, the crew change for us is how the organisation is run. It understand how this role will work for us. were fantastic and 24 members from Cockermouth and makes it very clear the charity is run by the Peer reviews are going very well and that’s Keswick – and a dog – went trustees — that’s new for us. because you have engaged with it, thank you. through the training, including Myself, Mike, Penny and Dave met as the We have agreed to extend this first roll-out winching © Nick Lumb, Cockermouth MRT. executive to look at our meeting schedules period by an extra year (three years in total) and how they would work. Our views are: before reviewing the whole exercise. If you • The executive officers and trustees should wish to help with the peer reviews, please meet bi-monthly, six meetings a year. contact us. PLEASE NOTE • The exec officers only and specialist Finally, I hope you all know we have now elected officers (management group) meet bi- applied to register our logo as a registered Articles carried in Mountain Rescue do not necessarily monthly, six meetings a year. trademark. We won’t know until Christmas reflect the opinions of Mountain • The new operations group is going to meet because it’s in a consulting period at the Rescue England and Wales. on a Sunday (your request) three times a year, moment but if there are no objections it should We do not accept responsibility and the regional chairs already meet three be registered by then. ✪ for advertising content. times a year on a Saturday.
AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 3 national news in this issue MmR e etin gs EW BUSINESS AND Satu COMMITTEES rday 19 November 20 Lanca 16 shire Police HQ, Hutton PEER REVIEW MEETI W NG here do we go from Sa here? turday 7 January 201 7 Bowland Pe nnine base, Garstang Contact Tim Cain via tim@tim cainleadership.co.uk MREW BUSINESS AND Mountain and Cave Rescue Satu COMMITTEES rday 20 May 201 7 Awareness Day tips Lancashire P olice H Q, Hutton 7 Get prepared for 30 October. To book in to MRE W business meetings, contact: D ave Close secretary@m ountain.rescue.org.uk Or spea k to the relevant office subcomm r for your Command and Control ittee — contact deta available ils for civil emergencies: on the MREW website. 10 John Barry of Berwicks on the need for plans
Classic thong anyone? : New possibilities for 24 corporate wear revealed...
The seven deadly sins of bias in incident management: 28 Lyle Brotherton on his work on Project Melampus
Peer Review: Progress report 41 and a quiz from Tim Cain
The adventure begins: Bob Sharp looks at the 44 social history behind the development of teams
what’s in at a glance A PRINT QUALITY PDF OF THIS NATIONAL: 6-8 INCIDENT STATS: 37 YEAR’S POSTER IS AVAILABLE TEAMS: 10-25 WEATHER: 44-45 FROM EDITOR@ OBITUARY: 18 HISTORY: 44-48 MOUNTAIN.RESCUE.ORG.UK WHO’S WHO: 26-27 CAVE RESCUE: 49
AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 5 m o c s . e m i t s e d m
a national news e r u n D
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J HOW YOU CAN
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e n o i
t HELP RAISE AWARENESS a r g t r s u l l I Mountain and Cave Rescue Awareness Day has moved to a new slot
n on Sunday 30 October and there’s an opportunity here for teams to
r spread the word about voluntary rescue services, using the ‘hook’ of the i clocks going back to GMT for the winter months. Sally Seed explains. o s
f ‘The decision to change from May Bank So, if you’ve nothing planned so far, here remember the darker evenings and plan i Holiday to 30 October was really in response are a few ideas and, in the box to the ahead . You might even offer them one or to the ‘So what?’ question,’ says National right/left, a few suggested safety hints that two of your VARTA goodies to pass on in a Press Officer, Andy Simpson. ‘Plenty of might help on the messaging too. case visitors are unprepared. teams have events and open days on the
r • If part of that box of goodies from VARTA is • Schedule a few posts on your team’s May Bank Holiday already so we wanted to RUN THE LONDON MARATHON FOR MREW sitting at base, take some photos, show Facebook and Twitter feeds for the half term shift the date to something that had a things in use online and think about giving week (24-28 October) and for Awareness As in previous years, MREW is fortunate to have five allocated places for runners in the London Marathon — these come as part significance and might generate a bit more or offering as prizes in and around 30 Day itself about safety on the darker nights. of our participation in the Princes’ Charity Forum and they provide a great opportunity to raise awareness and to raise money. media coverage out of the usual supporter October . Your local newspaper might be A small project team of Sally Barnett, Bill Whitehouse and Sally Seed is already working on promoting these places, looking to areas.’ • Share and connect to MREW and VARTA UK willing to give the team extra coverage and recruit five keen runners (and maybe a reserve), who have strong reasons to run for MREW and are willing to help us in pre-event One of the key factors in planning for 30 social media posts around Awareness Day to use the safety messages if you can offer publicity and activities as well as fundraising at the event. October has also been the sponsorship and spread the word and encourage new followers some prizes to readers too. And don’t MREW is asking for a £ 100 registration fee from each runner (which is something that most charities ask for) and then a connections with VARTA who support teams and likes — @VARTA.ConsumerUK. forget to mention the support from VARTA. commitment to raising a further £2000 each for MREW. In return, MREW is offering online training and injury support via Sharp in kind with batteries and special discounts • Ask your local schools and tourism Fitness (a Peak District team contact), fundraising support on social media, an MREW running vest and a branded T-shirt to wear as well as providing ‘prize packages’ each • Look out for posts relating to cave rescue year to support team fundraising. associations to spread the word on safety at a finish party held in BAFTA’s London HQ. We might even manage flags or other support if, like Nigel last year, you’re prepared too . It can sometimes be a busy time for ‘Those batteries, torches, flashlights and, messages too and to link back to your team to carry some extra weight! them as university clubs and others run their website. It’s an excuse to get in touch, a most recently, recharging power packs novice events and we’re keen to stress that good route to potential supporters (and make great raffle and competition prizes,’ this is Mountain AND Cave Rescue IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN RUNNING, PLEASE CONTACT THE TEAM VIA walkers) and could keep someone safe too. says the acting fundraising officer, Bill Awareness Day. [email protected] FOR AN INITIAL APPLICATION FORM AND FURTHER INFORMATION. AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND LINKS Whitehouse, ‘and we knew from discussions • Feel free to use and adapt the following AND INFORMATION ON THE NEW MREW WEBSITE UNDER GET INVOLVED, FUNDRAISE. with VARTA and their PR agency that they • Get in touch with some of the holiday Top Tips online, in the media and in your were keen to make more of the MREW accommodation in your patch and ask local areas. connections and spread the word too’. them to remind their visitors over half term to
PELI LIGHT THE WAY AHEAD TOP TIPS FOR THE CHANGE OF SEASON Peli torches, renowned for durability and reliability, offer unrivalled performance for search and • Make sure you start your walk early enough in the day and be aware of what time it gets dark and allow for a change in rescue personnel. The latest addition to the the weather too. hands free range, the Peli 2780R • Plan your day and route taking into consideration a reliable mountain weather forecast mwis.org . rechargeable head torch, provides three light levels and four lighting • You’ll need a good torch and spare batteries whatever your plans in case you get delayed. Some people prefer to carry modes. USB charging offers a second lightweight torch so they don’t need to mess about trying to change batteries in the cold or the dark if the head convenient charging at base or on torch packs up. the go. One of the great features of the new • Adequate lighting with the nights drawing in and the clocks changing is critical. Trying to read a map or make your way models in the head torch over rough ground from a little light on a mobile phone is a nightmare you really don’t want to experience – and it’ll use range is a main beam and up what could be vital mobile phone battery life. Modern LED head torches don’t cost a lot, use little battery power and downcast setting to light are much brighter. up not only the way ahead but the path beneath your feet for • If you are really in trouble, your mobile phone could make a significant difference. Ensure your phone is well charged improved safety and vision. A red LED at the rear can be set on constant for the day and that any applications running are not compromising its battery life. It could pay to carry a power bank with or flashing mode to keep your team in sight. The head torch is also you – and they’re getting lighter and easier to use all the time
waterproof to 1m (IPX7), guaranteeing performance in the worst of . T • An important tip is to register your phone with the 999 text service. If it is really windy or wild you often struggle to weather experienced on the hill. For full details on the 2780R visit: R
M hear the 999 operator and what they are saying. And often a spoken message can’t get through when a text will.
peliproducts.co.uk/2780-ledrechargeable-headlite.html. k c i
w • If you can’t get through or have little or no signal, consider your position carefully. It might be that a short distance The 2780R is the latest addition to our range of professional hand held s e
K uphill, contrary to what you might wish, will get a signal. and head torch range which carry our legendary ‘You break it, we replace / e
g • As we move through into early winter, there may be icy conditions and snow on the hills when the valleys are green it’ lifetime guarantee. n a r and frost-free. Ice axe and crampons should always be carried in the mountains in the winter months as an icy patch on a G
b path may necessitate a dangerous detour without the correct equipment. o
OR ADVICE ON OUR TORCH RANGE, R • And, finally, whatever the time of year, it’s worth reminding people to be prepared with sturdy footwear with a good ©
CALL PELI UK ON 01457 869999 e tread and a bag that contains food, drink, waterproofs, extra layers to keep them warm and dry if the worst happens, hat OR GO TO PELIPRODUCTS.CO.UK/ u c s and gloves, map and compass. e r
PRODUCTS/TORCHES.HTML?P=2&TORCH_TYPE=86. t h g i N
PAGE 6 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 7 E MREW PR consultant and media trainer Sally Seed looks at an aspect of
H media coverage from the past few months and suggests things to be
T learnt for future media relations.
N Planning ahead I
Most of the media coverage achieved by what incidents you’ve had around that time m • Talk to your local reporters — radio o
c rescue teams relates to their work — the of year with people being surprised and . reporters don’t usually need pictures (although e call-outs, incidents, rescues and searches unprepared for the shift. Issue a release or m it’s still worth sending in case of online i t s that make demands on members’ time and contact media offering advice about torches, coverage) but they do need voices and they m
a resources and keep teams in the local batteries and even, these days, power pack e also like to plan a few items ahead for r D
media spotlight. And that’s as it should be. rechargers! It could be the ideal opportunity . programmes that thrive on being interactive. r e t With the addition of occasional key to use those Varta support packages of On the Awareness Day story, think about a e
h messages about 24/7/365 availability, the potential prizes to create media interest or letting your local weekend presenter know e
c voluntary nature of the service and the an online Facebook competition. about what you’re planning about ten days a p
S constant need for fundraising and public
before so that they can consider an angle • Consider an local angle — local media © support, that’s what makes most of the and perhaps record something in the week e like a local story so be sure to have your local p
y media coverage. before to broadcast on that Saturday or t
s team’s facts and figures up to date for any But occasionally, it is worth planning ahead w Sunday. And make sure your spokesperson
e media release. If your team members cover
N for an event or a key date or media hook has facts and figures to hand, a lively voice safety for a big local event, get that story out that might enable you to communicate and, ideally, a local accent too. well in advance with examples of how you’ve something about prevention and safety. It’s I hope some of these ideas are useful in helped out in previous years and the benefits certainly been a feature of RNLI coverage planning for Mountain and Cave Rescue of working with local organisations to spread over the summer with plenty of media pieces Awareness Day and for other key dates in the word. about keeping safe on Britain’s beaches, your team’s calendar. Don’t forget to ensure understanding the signals at danger points • Think in pictures — it’s OK getting your that your website is up to date when you’re and avoiding the need to call out a lifeboat. story into the local papers but much better if planning something like this — it’s the first Some of that is just as valid for mountain it’s striking and there’s a strong people place a journalist will look for background to rescue. picture to go with it. In a recent story about a any figures and facts — and if you can get a team receiving a donation towards purchasing past casualty to work with you and reinforce • Identify the hooks and dates — it might be new radios, we did a ‘big cheque’ picture, a the messages, all the better. a team anniversary, a milestone event or a line-up-of-those-involved picture (with team If you have recent experience of this or record number of call-outs, or even the vehicle) and a picture focusing closer in on a something related to share, please get in purchase of a significant piece of new kit. few key people posing with radios to their touch with [email protected] or With a bit of planning, you can create the ears. The cheesy one won out with every via The Editor. Thanks. ✪ story and reinforce your key messages into media choosing the ‘radios to the ear’ the bargain. version because it was a bit different and A national example that could be a good had some humour. opportunity for local teams is the Mountain and Cave Rescue Awareness Day, moved from May Bank Holiday to Sunday 30 October for 2016. The significance of the date is the IT’S OKAY GETTING YOUR STORY INTO THE LOCAL shift to GMT with the clocks going back that PAPERS BUT MUCH BETTER IF IT’S STRIKING AND THERE’S weekend and the Sunday being the first day A STRONG PEOPLE PICTURE TO GO WITH IT. of darker evenings. Check back on your local stats and see
NEW WEBSITE It’s been a while in the making but hopefully it fits the brief, which was to make it LAUNCHED easier for our supporters to support us and donate — and you’d be hard pressed to miss the ‘donate’ button now! It also means that Basecamp is now separate to the JUDY WHITESIDE shop, making it simpler to subscribe. The opening pages tell the story of mountain rescue in pictures rather than words, Early September saw the with easy links to our social media pages and film. More detailed information about ‘soft launch’ of the new the organisation is just a scroll and click away, with more factual stuff being available as downloadable ‘Fact files’. Currently there are six of those — focusing on who we look MREW website, are, our history, how the organisation is structured and the teams work together, how our supporters can crisper, cleaner, more fundraise for us and Gift Aid their efforts and some useful advice about staying safe in the hills. The intention white space, less wordy was to have the information readily to hand, without cluttering up the screen, which also makes the site more on the eye! tablet and mobile phone-friendly. The shop too has changed, now operating through the Shopify platform. For now, the merchandise remains the same but we will be exploring a few new ideas for stock over the coming months. Meanwhile, as eagle- eyed members will doubtless note, the Members area remains the same. The focus at this stage has always been very much public-facing. Doubtless there will be teething problems (hence the soft launch), but we hope these can quickly be ironed out. Once we’re happy any initial glitches have been caught, we’ll be planning a media launch, so watch this space! And, speaking of glitches, by all means let us know if you think something is missing or something has disappeared that you regularly checked — we’ll add it to the list for consideration, although our intention is to keep it fresh and simple, with fewer pages to navigate, so don’t expect to see pages added back too quickly.
PAGE 8 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 T C
I team news R T
S Fach. And that was about it. We had no the notion of a team brief and the concept of to bullet punctuated combat skirmishes as a I number to call back on and this was before ‘Command and Control’ in some dilute form soldier, to shopping trips with the missus
D the days you could trace such a thing. She at the next staff meeting. And when that (well nearly), to a boys' nights out (again alerted the chief instructor. meeting came a week or so later, in bull-by- nearly). As any member of a rescue team will
E It was about 17:30 and all-but dark. Most the-horns mien, I spoke of the rescue. And already know.
K of the instructional staff had just come in from what a revelation! They all said that they Genghis had won his first victory over the hill, mountain, rock-face, river or sea and would have welcomed a brief (whatever that Trots (and his last!) A were mid-cuppa. They were alerted to the might be and why hadn’t I delivered one We later got on to fancy stuff like ‘voice L situation and the fact that a rescue was to be such?): could all see the point of getting to procedure’ and ‘assessments’ and all these mounted. I watched with interest and the right place with one team intact, with the things were accepted — avidly so — as growing alarm. And awaited what I would right kit and pronto. (In a phrase that I was means to swifter, surer and more effective call a ‘briefing’. And waited... pathetically pleased with, I had argued that deployments. They were the easiest of [An aside: At this point the smart thing five minutes squandered might be the converts, my Corbynist colleagues, the most might have been to call out the Ogwen team but either we didn’t think of that or, maybe, it COMMAND AND was felt that since we were already m assembled we’d get going quicker. Wrong! o c . But one lives and, sometimes, learns.] e m i CONTROL FOR ...and waited. But briefing, or any t s
m semblance of the transfer or communication a e
r of information beyond the barest of fact of a D
RESCUES AND , casualty somewhere near the summit of n a t
r Glyder Fach, came there none. And I mean E
n none. I was tempted to intervene — after all a OTHER CIVIL k I’d be carrying the can — but chickened out. a H I worried that if I as much as hinted at ©
n command or suggested control, a Stalin-
o EMERGENCIES i t
a esque fate awaited with a show trial and a r t s
u posting to a Gulag. Or worse. These guys are l l I JOHN BARRY BERWICKS experts, I thought, and I’m a new boy and know nowt. But if ever a situation screamed out for a good old-fashioned briefing, then this was surely it. As any member of a rescue team will already know, those who play the climbing game might be the And so the ‘rescue’ was launched — note most determinedly anarchic folk on earth: iconoclasts to a soul. The players of this game, the the inverted commas. Energy there was to mountaineers, climbers, in whatever form – bouldering, cragging, snow and ice climbing, alpinism, spare. Enthusiasm there was in spades. expeditions, big walls, trad, bolted – and in whatever venue – road-side crags, sea-cliffs, Scottish Intelligence too. In oodles. And determination winterland, north faces, greater ranges, Andes, Alaska, Himalayas and beyond – defy, that is wilfully enough to launch a thousand ships (or resist, any attempt at categorisation. They are immune to convention, antagonistic to rules, free- rescues), urgency enough to win a war. But no brief, no direction, no RVs, grid- spirited to a fault. references, maps; no radios, call-signs, timings, mission, allocation of tasking, The very words ‘command and control’ that I am preaching to the converted. In them? — badges) and saw me, barely out of suggestions on equipment — ice-axes, (C&C) are likely to be seen as an affront to which case read no further, go get a beer — uniform as I was (in fact literally one day out crampons, stretcher, first-aid kit, bivouac the essential spirit of the uncorralled freedom it’ll likely do you more good. For the as yet of uniform), as somewhere well to the right gear... nowt. that inhabits and animates our sport; seen as unconverted, or the sceptical, or the merely of Genghis Khan. And a Philistine to boot. I I followed on with Jonesy, the store-man, inimical to its mores; an oxymoronic curious read on. was alert to, and concerned by, this and as random groups of twos and threes and connection; an unfortunate conjunction; an I left the military in the winter of 1979 (a resolved to adopt a softly softly approach — the odd solo sallied from the Brenin down to anathema. In the English lexicon, the words harsh one in Snowdonia with feet of snow non-military, super-civilised, consultative to Ogwen in a miscellany of transport and ‘command and control’ and ‘mountaineering’ and yards of ice) for the job as director of the point of exhaustion —and whatever else began the trek, admittedly at some pace, Civil contingency ‘learning curve’: Flooding in Carlisle in December 2015 © Karen Phillips-Craig. are seldom — if ever — heard in the same Plas Y Brenin, the National Centre for might win me acceptance. To become, in into Cwm Idwal and up through the Devil’s sentence. Indeed, the preceding sentence Mountain Activities. The place was busting today’s political parlance, a Corbynist. And Kitchen into the clutch of a wild and icy night. difference between casualty and corpse.) enthusiastic of audiences. They knew it may be literally a literary first. with talent: climbers (and boy could they grow my hair long. Ahead and behind and all around bobbed We got to discussing briefings — format, made sense. As you, reader and rescuer, will To be clear, most climbers — and I write as climb!), paddlers (and boy could they On my third day in this new and, for me at the headlamps of all the other would-be sequence, contents, style and so on. And so have figured out years ago. a lifelong (ie. ageing) climber — would see paddle!), philosophers, painters, poets, any rate, demanding job, still groping my rescuers, united only in the hell-bent it was agreed that a briefing could usefully be Looking back, it occurs to me that even the any form of command and any symptom of peaceniks, authors (Jim Perrin for one), way through the amorphous self-inflicted determination to retrieve one of our own. The shaped as a narrative with a beginning, a most anarchic of climbers use — perhaps control as an assault on their liberty and on blokes with degrees in anything from the pillow of my adopted approach, a phone call commitment was total: the shambles also. middle and an end. unwittingly — a form of command and the untrammelled freedom of their chosen renaissance painters, to metaphysical came into reception from one of a winter Somehow — no that’s not fair — by dint of Such as: 1. Where we are. 2. Where we control every time they put foot or hand to game. They would likely be immediately philosophy, to astrophysics — and beyond. If, mountaineering course, who had, with a energy, calories prolifically shed and by the need to go. 3. How we are going to get there rock — and certainly at the end of a pitch. suspicious, instinctively hostile to the very indeed, there is anything at all beyond second, been despatched by the course kilo indiscriminately dispensed, the casualty (and all the add-ons). And 4. Questions. For what are the near-ubiquitous the calls of notion, for as far as climbers are concerned, astrophysics. instructor to tell of a broken leg in the group was found and safely recovered. Back in the Or, for old soldiers: Situation/Task/ ‘Safe!’ or ‘Take in!’ or ‘When you’re ready!’ or the two things are antithetical. That was the good news — the easy bit. and to summon a rescue. The call-taker — bar (the Tyn-Y-Coed boozer had the most Method/Questions (or any variation of those ‘Climbing!’ — (or any preferred variant or Now I am aware that many, maybe most, The harder bit was that most of the Brenin an otherwise supremely competent elastic opening hours in the civilised world. headings) within a — loose — narrative abbreviation thereof) if not a form of possibly all, members of a mountain rescue team were politically somewhere miles left of secretary — but unversed in the essentials of What it didn’t seem to have were any closing format. I have seen that format work in the team will readily accept that some form of Lenin (one was a member of something the information any rescue effort would need hours), morale was (deservedly) high and all widest variety of scenarios imaginable, from PAGE 13 C&C offers useful tools come the call-out, called the Trotskyist Workers Party and — established only that the stricken party was well that had ended well. But I promised a rescue at 8000 meters on Everest to a > come an emergency. It may be, therefore, several sported Ban-the-Bomb — remember were somewhere near the summit of Glyder myself that, risking the Gulag, I’d introduce helicopter cas-evac of an Alpine North face,
PAGE 10 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 11 team news PAGE 11 >
command and control? I have a climbing mate who for a long time refused to indulge in any kind of signal, calls, notifications BERWICKS DELIVER COMMAND AND or even hint, as to where he CONTROL TRAINING TO LDSAMRA was in the two-on-a-rope rock- climbing two-step. Such a litany was for bumblers, muppets or MIKE GULLEN trainspotters, he said. That was until a slip into space It has long been recognised that MREW would benefit from some form of Command and accompanied by ten feet of Control training and the events of Storm Desmond really brought this to the fore. In the latter slack rope —slack because the part of May, LDSAMRA decided to address this training shortfall and invited Berwicks belayer hadn’t realised that my Consultants to deliver a session on Command and Control to the team leaders at the Wasdale mate had started to climb — Team Centre. and a fall of some fifteen feet Berwicks is a leading management consultancy, specialising in crisis and emergency (with the stretch) and a bruise to management; equipping organisations to adapt and thrive in the most complex and high-risk arse and ego persuaded him environments. Command and Control is at the core of their business. that some, albeit begrudgingly The session was well attended, with representation from every LDSAMRA team; all of whom curt, verbal signal that he is arrived with a certain amount of uncertainty, intrigue and scepticism, tempered by the usual headed upward is not enthusiasm and an open mind. necessarily a bad idea after all The morning was spent discussing some command and control fundamentals: i nformation — or an entirely superfluous management, sharing situational awareness, effective communication , decision making and thing. And not just for muppets, joint working. Theory was presented, application brought to life through a wide-range of bumblers etc. examples and then given relevance through comparing team members’ related mountain And here I rest my case. rescue experiences. Climbers use some form of After lunch, the discussions of the morning were put into practice in a tabletop exercise, with command and control most the attendees split into either teams, a Bronze grouping or Silver Command. Spread around times they climb — even if they the various rooms in the centre, communication between groups was solely via radio and are reluctant to admit it. It helps SARCALL. The scenario was based on a World War II display aircraft crashing into a farm in avoid confusion — though the north Pennines, resulting in severe damage to farm buildings and injuries to the crew, farm nothing is guaranteed. It brings workers and animals. The teams were the first at the scene and the situation required them a little clarity, adds to the fun (and the command groups) to coordinate the deployment of multiple responders, including and the chances of getting up emergency services, SAR, neighbouring farmers with agricultural equipment and vets. without too much adventure. Unfortunately, the exercise had to be cut short, due to a call-out on Scafell, but all agreed And doesn’t dim that adventure that the day (and, in particular, the exercise) had brought out some key issues and numerous in the least. That’s for normal lessons had been learned that would assist in future call-outs and operations. The day was a times. great success and our sincere thanks are offered to Phil Scriven from Berwicks, for guiding us When it comes to an through the day. Phil is planning a second session for us in November (which will include a emergency — a rescue, say — session on ‘Leadership in an Emergency’ and a slow-time coached tabletop exercise) and a dose of command and MREW is also in discussion with Berwicks, with the aspiration that in the future this type of control will always help, seldom training will be available to teams in all the regions. detract and make life simpler, clearer and quicker. And it may save lives — both of the rescuers and those to be EMERGENCY RESPONSE rescued. And that can’t that be ACTIVITY CYCLE bad. Disguise it any way you want, call it by any name (and I ACTING admit that the term ‘Command ▲ and Control’ is not the friendliest ▲ of phrases), soften it, adjust to needs, tinker with the template, make it user-friendly, dilute to LEADERS AND GATHERING AND taste, but not beyond some sort (JOINT) TEAMS SHARING of shape, functionality and DECISION MAKING efficacy. and make it digestible COMMUNICATING INFORMATION to mountaineering’s mutinous hordes. Because it works. And they, your team and the victim(s), will thank you for it. ▲ Even the Trots. ✪ SHARING ▲ SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 13 team news
LAKE DISTRICT JOINT HELICOPTER TRAINING FOR LAKES TEAMS IN SEPTEMBER Members of Cockermouth and Keswick teams and a search and rescue dog took part in the first of five joint training events for the Lakes teams in autumn. ‘The weather was great, the crew were fantastic and we got 24 team members and a search dog through the training, including everyone being winched’, said Andrew ‘Macca’ McNeil, Cockermouth team leader. Also a great opportunity for some ‘helicopter porn’! Rescue Helicopter 999 had travelled from Prestwick to Loweswater for the training in September. Seathwaite in the snow © Keswick MRT.
‘Although this phone box may get little day- to-day use in this age of mobile phones,’ ran MID PENNINE the team’s post, ‘it has been, and still is, a real lifeline during emergencies. There is no WEST YORKSHIRE ROUND TABLE phone reception on any network at the head of the valley and so it remains the only public DONATE £2000 TO CALDER TEAM form of communication to the police and The team has received a number of mountain rescue.’ welcome donations from the local At the time of writing this, Keswick’s post community, groups and businesses since had been shared 8682 times and the the beginning of their fiftieth anniversary year. number of objections registered with This £2000 donation came from Round Allerdale was said to have topped 10,000 Table Groups of Hebden Bridge, Halifax and and still rising. The response on Facebook Elland and will be used to purchase five was nothing less than phenomenal, with waterproof radios that will improve many people recounting stories of their own communications during flood rescue experience of needing this telephone. situations. BT’s decision to remove the box was The team’s training officer, Howard Barton prompted by a national review of its said, ‘We are all proud members of the local payphones which found that usage had community, who know far too well the risk of dropped by 90% in the past decade — flooding the region faces, and it is so Opposite page: Cockermouth team thanks to the mobile phone. Maintenance important that we prepare well with the members getting winched. Above: essential skills and correct personal Cockermouth and Keswick team members costs were also, inevitably, cited as a factor. listen intently to the security briefing . Within days, BT had rescinded their protection equipment. This generous Photos © Nick Lumb. decision, having established that ‘the donation is gratefully received. Thank you. removal of the payphone could prevent a call to the emergency services’. SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN SAVES In a statement, it said: ‘Between 1 TELEPHONE LIFELINE September 2015 and 31 August 2016, 378 calls were made from this public telephone, Keswick MRT launched the campaign, via none of which were emergency calls. their Facebook page in early September, ‘However, during our removal process we following news that BT had decided to have established that there is no mobile remove a payphone at Seathwaite which has signal at this location and removal of this served as an emergency lifeline over the payphone could prevent a call to the years for many walkers and climbers in emergency services. Therefore we will not difficulties. A notice posted to the site said be seeking to remove this payphone for the that the phone had enjoyed little use over ‘a foreseeable future.’ significant period of time’ and that members Keswick subsequently thanked everyone Stretcher bearers with their ‘casualty’ of the public had 42 days to register their for ‘their views, comments, shares and most © Templar Photography. objections with Allerdale Borough Council, importantly objections to this application’. PAGE 17 > the local authority planning department.
PAGE 14 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 15 team news
Top : Fun and games with the West Yorkshire Round Table © Templar Photography. Left : Ian Bantham presents a cheque to Clive Green and Dave Astley.
The team has an ongoing flood resilience gratefully received by team members Clive SEARCH DOG BORIS ONE OF FOUR programme to increase their capability by Green and Dave Astley. The team would like training and equipping as many team to thank everyone for their continued support. FINALISTS IN ‘HERO PET’ AWARD members as possible. They currently have German short-haired pointer Boris eight Swiftwater Rescue Technicians, who (pictured left with Steve Nelson), from Bolton, were most recently deployed to assist was one of four animals in the Hero Pet emergency services during the floods in the category of the Charles Holland Awards in Calder Valley, Cumbria and York. August. Boris and owner Steve were, up until On Saturday 30 July, representatives from recently, the only qualified scent-specific the Round Table Groups in Hebden Bridge, trailing dog team in the country. The pair train Halifax and Elland had the opportunity to visit and operate with SARDA Wales. Boris the rescue post, to see some of their existing receives about four calls a month, although water rescue equipment and some got a this can vary and with his skills so rare, he is little more than they bargained for! mainly called out to search for missing The following day, they received a further children and the vulnerable. donation of £ 1500, thanks to the Rotary Club of Todmorden. The cheque was presented PAGE 18 by Ian Bantham, the club’s president and >
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AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 17 team news OBIT KEN BLAKEMAN 1946-2 01 6 Chairman and member of Kinder MRT for over forty years, Ken Blakeman died whilst on a call-out on 2 July. Ken, who was also chairman of the ‘Once he gets the scent, says Steve, ‘he’s PDMRO, collapsed while walking up Mill Hill to assist an injured Duke of off, and he has the stamina and Edinburgh Award candidate. Peter Doyle talks about Ken’s life. determination to go on for miles until he completes his task. Although the outcome Mountain rescue was a very stretcher, being party leader or standing members of why we were there: to help isn’t always positive, he has saved lives or important part of Ken’s life and he with a bucket outside Go Outdoors or people in difficulty on the hills. This put brought closure for the families of the made an enormous contribution to it, Decathlon, he was happy to do it all. many minor squabbles into perspective deceased.’ particularly in the Peak District. As He would often entertain with a good and enabled the team to remain a Global Hearing specialist Amplifon chairman of both the Kinder team and story or a selection of jokes, of which he close knit cohesive unit. launched its search to find ‘The Best Of the region, he was a great ambassador seemed to have an inexhaustible Ken also enjoyed the social aspects British’ in memory of its founder and Second for mountain rescue, perfectly at ease supply. He also enjoyed the PDMRO of mountain rescue, be it providing World War hero Charles Holland who was with people from all walks of life, be it a annual foundation course, often as a instrumental support at the team’s honoured for his bravery by Britain and member of the public asking about the guest speaker. He loved to see how the annual Christmas carol singing America. The Charles Holland Awards for work of MR, the Chief Constable of delegates, from teams across the Peak expedition around the pubs of Hayfield, Brave Britons celebrate truly remarkable Derbyshire Constabulary or the Earl of District, could be moulded into a the annual team dinner or, most people who are an example to the nation. Wessex. confident operational unit over the recently, the team hog roast. He would Falklands veteran Simon Weston, who led duration of this intense weekend. always join members in the bar of the the judging panel, said he was honoured to Ken was a good person to have in a George after team meetings for a quick be one of the judges because all the finalists Woodhead MRT take to the water © Mark Crawshaw. hill party, particularly as party leader. drink before heading off to the Great had truly remarkable stories. He had a very calm, measured Moor Con Club for a few more beers. approach and took the welfare of his Ken laid great importance on team ‘It was a very tough decision’ he said. this kit will provide a safer, faster evacuation party members seriously. On members’ wives, husbands and ‘When I read Boris’s story it was truly PEAK DISTRICT and search platform in both urban and rural completion of a search area he would partners being made welcome at team touching. He has shown a great deal of environments. The equipment purchased make sure his party took time to have events and ensured they got courage and selflessness. It’s wonderful to WATES GIVING DONATES £5,000 includes a sled which can also be deployed a cup of tea and bite to eat before recognition for the support they gave. see the unsung heroes in our midst — the for use in swamp and snow environments. radioing in for a new assignment. Equally, he was keen that the team’s truly remarkable people who are an TO WOODHEAD TEAM The team has been involved with an Often this resulted in the party being supporters group was given recognition inspiration to us all — finally given the The family-owned Wates construction increasing number of high profile water told to take a break before a new task for their work in fundraising and publicity. recognition they deserve. services company has donated £5,000 to incidents over the last year, including the would be assigned! His calm manner Ken was a real gentleman. He was Sadly, Boris didn’t win the ‘golden bone’ Woodhead MRT, cash which will help secure Ken with HRH Prince Edward © Kinder MRT. played an important part in him being a very generous and always had a kind which went to ‘assistance dog’ Mabel, from much needed extra equipment and successful team chairman and helped word and sound advice when needed. Banbury. But well done Boris (and Steve) for specialist water rescue PPE. Procurement of PAGE 20 Ken was always ready to play any him steer the team through some Our thoughts are with his wife, Sandra, getting to the final. > role within the team, whether it was difficult times. He was very even and family at this difficult time. He will trudging up Sandy Heys with a Bell handed and would remind team be sorely missed. ✪
FORM MEETS FUNCTION Hosted by the Acting Deputy Chief Constable of North T This season we’re introducing the new GORE-TEX® Yorkshire Police, Paul Kennedy, the event was attended by HM range from Montane. Durable, breathable, and crafted with Lord’s Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Barry Dodd CBE, S
Montane’s unbelievable attention to detail, this kit is mountaineer Alan Hinkes OBE and Steve Waddington of York A some of the best. An extremely versatile lightweight City Council. After an excellent dinner, presentations of mountain shell, the new Alpine Pro Jacket is constructed E certificates and cheques for £3000 were made to each team from highly durable 40 Denier GORE-TEX® Pro for from North Yorkshire Police, followed by further awards of
tough waterproof breathability. Articulated elbows and certificates of thanks from York City Council to mark the H
shoulders help prevent lift when you’re reaching high, contribution to flood rescue and recovery after the storms in were ironing out some issues.’ Paul Kennedy presented Jon T with two harness friendly pockets and a helmet December 2015. with the Chief Constable’s Commendation in recognition of ‘his R compatible hood, the Alpine Pro is perfect for vertical As a break in the awards and presentations, Neil and Becky unstinting service’. environments. Montane have blended a mastery of form Robinson, guests of Scarborough and Ryedale MRT were On behalf of the teams, Ian Hugill from Scarborough and with the peerless performance of GORE-TEX®. O introduced and Neil said a few words about his own rescue Ryedale MRT said: ‘Jon has been a keen advocate of the teams Whether you need a featherweight trial running shell or after a serious incident during a family bike ride in Dalby Forest. and the support we provide to the police and other statutory N a rugged alpine fortress, you’ll find the perfect blend of ‘You always wonder if you might one day need the rescue emergency services. He has consistently worked to build and form and function in the new range from Montane. Get foster relationships and improve joint working practices, a task hands on it in store with 20% discount* for mountain services’, he said, ‘and, with two broken arms and unconscious which, at times, must have felt like herding cats. Jon has a rescue members, or explore all the latest Montane kit on the ground, I certainly needed their help. Thank you to unique approach to tact and diplomacy, be that in ‘advising’ online at cotswoldoutdoor.com/montane . AWARDS NIGHT CELEBRATES CONTRIBUTION everyone who was involved on that day.’ Jon Rushton of North Yorkshire Police, who has been the senior officers or providing ‘guidance’ to the teams. He’ll be OF SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS Single Point of Contact (SPOC) between the police and teams in missed and a hard act to follow — we wish him and his family a long and happy retirement and every success in whatever the The luxurious Versailles Room at Tennants Auction Centre in Leyburn recent years, is due to retire from his post in October. He has *Full T&Cs apply. Offer expires been made an honorary NESRA member as a mark of his future brings.’ 31.12.16. was the venue for a night of celebrations and thank yous in July as Finally, Alan Hinkes, himself originally from Northallerton in the North Yorkshire Police and York City Council made presentations to work. Jon thanked everyone for their work — ‘dedicated, keen, professional — and always there’ — and presented each team heart of North Yorkshire, concluded the evening with his own the five search and rescue teams of North Yorkshire: Cave Rescue with a case of wine as a mark of his own thanks and appreciation of the work of mountain and cave rescue, thanking Organisation, Cleveland, Scarborough and Ryedale, Swaledale and appreciation. ‘I’ve loved every minutes of working with you all,’ them for their work on behalf of the whole mountaineering Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association. he said, ‘except possibly those first few meetings when we community. ✪
PAGE 18 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 19 team news
flooding in the Lake District, Manchester and York. Simon Rippon, director and trustee of the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Trust said the donation will enable the team to deploy .
T a further four team members to future local, R
M regional and national ‘flood emergencies’ s n and would also ‘extend the general team o c
a search capability to safely deploy to find e B
l missing persons or drowning victims around a r t the many water margins in our search n e areas’. The team would like to thank the C
©
Wates Group for this ‘fantastic donation’. s o t o h P PENMACRA CENTRAL BEACONS TEAM TEA, CAKE AND SCONES AND SUN WELCOMES HRH THE PRINCE OF Dartmoor Ashburton’s ‘dart2ZERO’ WALES TO THEIR BASE Supporters Club held its annual ‘Supporters Cream Tea’ in September, to thank the The team was honoured when the Prince’s Trust asked public for all the support they give throughout whether they could use the team’s base on 6 July, as part of the year. It was a perfect sunny Sunday their 40th anniversary celebration. But, unbeknown to the afternoon, and the team’s rescue centre was team, they were also being asked to host the Prince himself, the ideal setting for afternoon tea. Fun in the sun with the swiftwater kit © Dartmoor Ashburton. so he could meet young people who are turning their lives Vehicles and kit were on display and lots around with the support of the Prince’s Trust. of fun was had as adults and children alike tried their hand at climbing on the Climbing Templer Way this year and we were very The unveiling was led by leader of Merthyr Project’s mobile climbing wall, tried on This, of course, was not the first Royal Prince Charles met young people many young people here, whose lives grateful to them for being so enthusiastic in Tydfil County Borough Council, Brendan specialist rescue equipment, squeezed into taking part with over 28 of their staff walking Toomey, chief exec Gareth Chapman, Alison
S visit the team has enjoyed — they were tackling a climbing wall, climbing rope have been transformed by the support drysuits, got hung from the rafters on honoured to have the Duke of with prussic and demonstrating their they’ve received from the Prince’s the eighteen miles from Haytor to Shaldon’. Reddy (Fund Manager Ffos Y Fran E stretchers and ‘immobilised’ in vacuum Cambridge visit the team to celebrate the first aid skills with the support of team Trust’. Community Fund) and Supt Jim Dyson of L mattresses. The team was also able to 75th anniversary of Mountain Rescue members. He spoke to individuals of South Wales Police, key stakeholders who officially recognise the amazing contribution A England and Wales. the Trust’s team who have secured have supported the lengthy fundraising their supporters make to keeping the team The Prince was joined by team leader work after completing the programme. SOUTH WALES project. Mark Moran, team chairman and
W running. Penny Brockman and a number of During the visit, His Royal Highness project lead for the vehicle purchase said, Local business Plastic Surgeon Fine team members, for a tour of the team’s spoke to all the team members present, ‘we’re delighted that representatives from the Finishers at Bovey Tracey was awarded the CENTRAL BEACONS UNVEILS ITS H base, where the young people pausing for photographs. Keith Ellis, a REVOLUTIONARY FIRST RESPONSE council and the Fros Y Fran Community
T ‘Platinum supporter award’ for being the demonstrated different aspects of CBMRT team member who also works Fund are able to join us this morning. Without prime sponsor at this year’s Templer Way VEHICLE U activities supported by the strong for Tydfil Training, the host company for their support, the vehicle purchase simply event. They contributed over £5,724 to the working relationship the Prince’s Trust the Prince’s Trust Merthyr and When Central Beacons unveiled their new would not have been possible’. The team total, helping to make the fundraising event O Merthyr and Pontypridd have with the Pontypridd welcomed the Prince and 4x4 Ford Ranger response vehicle in early also thanks members of the public and the the most successful in the team’s history S team. This visit was an opportunity to introduced him to the climbing activity. July, unbeknown to them it also marked the many other organisations who have raising over £12,138 in total. Team chairman showcase the great work being done. After having met the young people beginning of the team’s busiest summer supported and contributed to the team's fund Alec Colyer said, ‘We were delighted when Central Beacons support the Prince’s downstairs His Royal Highness period ever for call-outs. raising efforts. the Plastic Surgeon got involved with the Trust on their ‘Team Programme’. One proceeded upstairs where he met the The project team took on the challenge of group of young people recently involved various organisations which support the creating an innovative, simple and reliable in the programme, renovated and Prince’s Trust in Wales, including Penny, Central Beacons is proud to be a part solution for the vehicle. The first challenge decorated the interior of the base for who was representing Central Beacons. of the Trust’s team building process, was vehicle selection and, having always their community project, completing Director of The Prince’s Trust Cymru, bringing many of these young people a HAPPY USE FOR TAVISTOCK used Land Rovers, moving away from them fundraising activities to buy the Phil Jones, said, ‘Our team programme focus on their future. Having met many TEAM AMBULANCE was a big decision before finally choosing the materials they required. Team in Merthyr Tydfil is a great example of of these young people at their award Ford Ranger. Dartmoor Tavistock fundraising officer Garon members also helped the young people different organisations working together ceremony, Penny said she had found After extensive reviews and evaluations, Willis and his bride Susan followed a the team chose Bence of Bristol to fit out the on the programme to develop to support local young people to move them ‘inspirational. They’ve come from longstanding mountain rescue tradition in June, vehicle with the radios, emergency lighting, confidence and new skills, taking them forward in their lives. The Trust would backgrounds we cannot even start to commissioning one of the team ambulances to sirens and bespoke equipment storage that on adventure activity days on Pen Y Fan not have existed without the imagine and found the inner strength to do the ‘transport’ honours. The vehicle was are required to suit operational needs. Bence and teaching them about first-aid and determination of His Royal Highness to start a journey to turn their lives around used as the bride’s transport to the church, and the environment. To many of these get the initial projects off the ground and with the support of the Prince’s Trust then on to the reception at the Mary Tavy Inn at has a fine record of delivering solutions and young people this is a huge guide our strategy over the years. We ‘Team Programme’. Mary Tavy. Congratulations to you both! undertaking. are delighted he was able to meet so PAGE 22 >
PAGE 20 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 21 SEPTEMBER: PARLEZ-VOUS ANGLAIS? ER... team news NON Left : Central Beacons team members with their Penrith needed a French new vehicle © Central Beacons MRT. interpreter in September, when a walker fell and injured himself near Kidsty The event, which generated over 300 Pike above Haweswater. entrants, was deemed a great success with He was with a group the expected income in excess of £6,000. attempting the Coast to It was also a memorable day for a lamb Coast Walk. rescued after getting its head stuck through a fence, followed by an oyster catcher in Unfortunately, the casualty serious difficulties. Team members who spoke no English at all, but a heard the distressed bird discovered that friend was able to translate. both its feet were tightly tied up in sheep wool. Team president Jeremy Daggett, a local farmer and landowner, helped untangle d n
a the bird. Oyster catchers are regulars in the l event in the shape of local climber Will e r I
PAGE 20 Dales, especially during the breeding
A > Mawson, who they’d rescued from a serious
D SEPTEMBER: SAD NEWS season. The team now fully expects some R accident a year earlier. Twenty-four-year-old A
S friendly tweets from their new friends.
SEPTEMBER : SOCIAL FROM SARDA IRELAND showed a real desire to work with us to Will suffered severe injuries when his ©
o climbing gear gave way whilst climbing on t MEDIA STORM OVER deliver a ground-breaking design at a very o Caitríona Lucas, a dog handler with h affordable cost. Ilkley Moor. His 30-foot fall resulted in a P SARDA Ireland, died tragically whilst on CONCERNS FOR THE Early in 2016, the team lost its chairman catalogue of injuries including a broken back, duty as a Coast Guard volunteer. MOUNTAIN WEATHER and founder team member Peter Howells eleven broken ribs, a fractured skull, Catríona, who had worked as a volunteer INFORMATION SERVICE who was instrumental in commencing the splintered clavicle and punctured lung. He with the Doolin Coastguard for over ten fundraising. As a mark of respect, the spent just eleven days in hospital and years, died after she was plunged into the number plate remembers Peter’s call sign. returned to work a month later — much to . the amazement of colleagues, family, friends rough water alongside two of her Kilkee m The team’s busy summer involved 45 call- o
c and the team. colleagues when their boat capsized. . outs through June-August and ‘Morlais e He then set about regaining his fitness and Henry Smith, SARDA Ireland chairman, m Echo’ was used effectively on all. Deputy i t wrote on the association’s Facebook page: s team leader, Huw Jones said, ‘Getting took up running so he could take part in the m
a Wharfedale Three Peaks fundraiser. As well ‘We wish to convey our deepest sympathy e resources to our incidents efficiently and r D to her husband Bernard, also a former safely is a key part of our incident response as completing the course, Will raised over ©
SARDA member, and to their children Ben s and we look forward to benefiting from the £900 for the team. His story generated a d u great deal of press coverage both before and Emma. Caitríona was the secretary of o modern and efficient design and fitted l c
n and after the event and Will sang the praises SARDA Ireland for three years. She was also i technology our new Ford Ranger brings’. a
a fully qualified search dog handler and R of mountain rescue — in particular Upper assisted with numerous call-outs with her Wharfedale — saying if it hadn’t been for the search dog Zac. As part of her dedicated The storm broke following reports that the Galloway-based MWIS team he wouldn’t have survived the ordeal. professionalism, Caitríona attended many would cease in December because its annual £36,000 grant from YORKSHIRE Will and his employers , outdoor activities national and international events. sportscotland was due to end. equipment company FaceWest have ‘Caitríona was a friend and colleague to pledged ongoing support to the team. Team However, after days of speculation and comment on social media, the DALES our members and those of other SAR teams member Nigel Easton said it was a special Scottish Government agency and MWIS issued a joint statement reassuring striving to help people in need. Passionate moment for the team meeting up with Will the public that the current forecasting service will be maintained. INJURED CLIMBER WILL TACKLES about search and rescue, she encouraged again. ‘He’s a remarkable young man and ‘sportscotland has been working in partnership with MWIS since 2007 to WHARFEDALE THREE PEAKS others and was a tireless example for those we’re sure his outgoing personality, provide critical mountain weather forecasting, which has been a valued service training their own dogs or assisting other The Upper Wharfedale team had a rather determination and love of the great outdoors Top : Will Mawson signing in. Above : UWFRA for people who use Scotland’s hills and mountains. handlers. She demonstrated a selfless caring amazing participant on their recent helped him in his recovery. We really look President Jeremy Daggett rescuing our latest ‘An agreement has been reached whereby sportscotland will continue the feathered friend. Photos © Sara Spillett/UWFRA. attitude towards humans and animals, and Wharfedale Three Peaks annual fundraising forward to working with him in the future.’ same levels of investment into MWIS to enable them to sustain current forecast as a volunteer she gave full commitment in provision throughout a development period which will result in a sustainable, all weathers. long-term and enhanced service.’ ‘She will be sadly missed.’ sportscotland was reported to have invested £ 150,000 in MWIS over the past FACEBOOK.COM/SARDA IRELAND four-year cycle and has agreed to continue with the same level of investment WRITE IN THE RAIN WITH RITE IN THE RAIN NOTEBOOKS throughout the development phase for a minimum of three years. Geoff Monk, lead forecaster at MWIS, and regular contributor to this magazine, The Rite in the Rain Notebook and Journals are environmentally responsible waterproof pads which shed water and enable you to write anywhere, in any weather. Ink will not run, pages won’t crinkle, tear or stick together if welcomed the announcement. wet. The All-Weather Notebook measures 4” x 6” and comprises 100 pages of lined paper. The full range ‘We can focus on continuing to provide a quality service to help people enjoy includes many different styles and sizes of writing and drawing pads, along with activity specific notebooks, the mountains safely and we look forward to working with sportscotland to including diaries, travel journals and more. Ring binders with index cards, and A4 printer paper is also support the development plans.’ available, all of which are, of course, waterproof. No special pen is required, although Rite in the Rain does ‘The MWIS team is incredibly grateful for the level of support, feedback and have a selection. This really is the product for every outdoor enthusiast and, unlike other brands, the pages are input that it had received from forecast users in the past few days.’ made of fully recyclable paper, not plastic, and as such the factory where they are made only has one by- Facebook: facebook.com/ product – steam! MountainRescue.MREW MWIS PROVIDES DETAILED FORECASTS FOR A NUMBER OF AREAS, IN ENGLAND AND f CALL 0116 234 4611 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION TLwitter: @mountrescueuk f WALES AS WELL AS SCOTLAND. YOU CAN ACCESS THE MOUNTAIN WEATHER online INFORMATION SERVICE VIA MWIS.ORG.UK OR SIMPLY VISIT OUR WEBSITE – WWW.RITEINTHERAIN.COM
PAGE 22 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 23 o n ry a d or team news Ludadite at Larfge Loosely translated tas: Di The Things I Do FEor Mouintain Rescue IT WAS A DARK STORMY NIGHT IN because it’s our design. But where the Finally, James can detain us no longer Branded thong organisation fell down in the early days of and we head outdoors. Clutching our LANCASHIRE... this latest manifestation of the MR brand vino and blinking into all that summer anyone? (I’m going back maybe fifteen, twenty brightness and there they are, nine sky- In September, Bowland team members were commended for Who knew? I mean, who could years here) is that nobody challenged the blue Cockermouth jackets, arms uplifted their prompt action in saving the life of a lady driver, during the possibly know? That tucked inside some teams, individuals and businesses — and into an ice axe arch. A mountain rescue floods of December 2015. Kev Camplin writes: The first weekend Kansas cowboy’s pants, there’s a other rescue organisations, it has to be tradition I never thought I’d get to in December is traditionally a team social weekend based at mountain rescue roundel. Well, not quite said — who’ve tweaked, distorted or experience! Thanks guys! Smelt Mill, our residential training base in the trough of Bowland the version you and I are used to (and emulated the design, devising their own But the interesting thing, from a near Dunsop Bridge. The normal format is a day out on the fell you know how picky I am about that logos by simply changing the colours of mountain rescue perspective is that the incorporating a barbecue. A barbecue in December? Yes, we flippin’ logo), but a version some might ours. (Imitation being the sincerest form last time those ‘blue jackets’ were in are a mountain rescue team after all. Then it’s back to Smelt think the real thing. At a glance. Should of flattery, right?) Maybe we were naive, action at the Trout Hotel (I use the term Mill for a Christmas dinner. they ever be glancing down a Kansas maybe just too damn nice, I don’t know. ‘blue jackets’ loosely as they wouldn’t cowboy’s pants. I say ‘normal format’, that’s what has taken place in previous years but But try doing that with Harrod’s or have been wearing those very jackets, Maybe I should explain. It was an December 2015 wasn’t going to be normal, Storm Desmond put paid Cadbury’s or, oh any brand really, and obvs, that would be daft), it was under email that first alerted me to it, the ‘KMR to any semblance of normality. When call-outs to flood incidents wait for the thud of that writ on your several feet of river water. Along with Dark Classic Thong’. ‘Don’t ask me how throughout the county started coming in team members were doormat. other teams they were wading in there, I found it!’ ran the message — dispatched and the traditional Christmas dinner looked like a scene When, in more recent years, we have as part of the flood recovery effort. So, a Top: Roof of the Mini just visible and headlights still working! immediately triggering an irresistible urge Above: The same scene a few days later shows that the Mini later from the Marie Celeste. challenged, it’s been with mixed results. poignant reunion for team members and had come to rest along a wall. on my part to ask him exactly that (I’ll not hotel staff alike. Sometimes we’re simply ignored, ✪ The team’s incident log records one particular event: reveal my source — he knows who he is). sometimes the individual or team And sure enough there it is, on the Cafe 52. 5th December. 19:17 Hrs. Denny Beck, Caton. Before returning to reconsiders their efforts — mostly the Below: Yours Truly and new hubbie, Press website, the thong in question, latter, I’m pleased to say. And when it Cockermouth team member Chris, on our Big Smelt Mill from Incident 51 the Team decided to check out Denny Beck comprising a somewhat underwhelming comes to the likes of our thong-seller, we Day out at The Trout Hotel © Martin Hemsley. in Caton (one of the Team members lives in Caton and wanted to assess triangle of white fabric, an MREW blue rely heavily on their goodwill to Bottom: Team members wade up a flooded any risk). On arrival at the water’s edge a cars tail lights could be seen and red roundel neatly positioned up Main Street, Cockermouth, in December acknowledge that actually they have no driving into the water and begin to float away. After a quick exit from the front and a thongy bit (of course), at the 2015 © Cockermouth MRT. right to use that logo without our Land Rover and just time to grab buoyancy aids three team members back. No hunky cowboys available for permission. And, sadly, entered the water. Contact was made with the occupant with the car photoshoots it would seem. Sadly. because versions of the roundel filling with water. The car stopped against a submerged wall and there Everything as you might expect — are readily searchable online was just time to put a spare buoyancy aid on the lady and float her to ‘MOUNTAIN RESCUE ’ white out of blue (albeit rubbish versions), the safety through the car window. There was just six inches of the vehicle outer circle, red and white cross, jagged assumption is that it’s up for visible and shortly afterwards it sank. The lady was given shelter blue peaks — except where the legend grabs. It’s not. It has a value. overnight at one of the houses in Caton. ‘England and Wales’ would normally Well now we have our legal nestle, the word ‘Kansas’ runs The award of three Parchments and one Commendation from the bods on the case and once horizontally across in blue. In a font which Liverpool Shipwreck Humane Society for the Bowland Pennine Mountain registered it should give us teeth, is categorically NOT the correct font. Tsk. Rescue Team members recognises the prompt action in saving the life as it were. Not that I really want to Dodgy fonts aside, if thongs are your Pictured left to right at the awards ceremony: Superintendent John of the lady driver. Not only were they fortuitously in the right place at the see the words teeth and thong thing, for ten of your lovely quids Puttock (Lancashire Constabulary), Inspector David Old (Lancashire right time but they were able to use their training, skills and equipment ever used in the same sentence. Constabulary), Liverpool Shipwreck Humane Society Chairman Brian effectively to bring about a remarkable rescue. Well done guys. (including VAT), the KMR Dark Classic Airey, Bowland Pennine MRT awardees Julian Earnshaw, Gary McGrath, Thong could be yours. They’re in stock. Chris Thomas, Rob Gilder and team leader Kevin Camplin. You can even select a size: Small, medium or
PAGE 24 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 25 How to get in touch with not just the officers and trustees but also some of the key specialist advisers who assist in running the organisation: producing the magazine, maximising PR opportunities, developing and maintaining SARCALL and securing insurance cover on your behalf. who?
CHAIRMAN: MIKE FRANCE VEHICLES: DARYL GARFIELD s CHAIR OF TRUSTEES: PAUL AMOS [email protected] vehiclesoffi[email protected] [email protected] m
Represents mountain rescue with Government, the Works with the police, Government and teams in all e An Emergency Management and Leadership
a emergency services, other SAR organisations and The matters ‘vehicles’. Development consultant, Paul also lectures on field Vice chair: Paul Smethurst: [email protected] e Princes’ Charities Forum. A member of Woodhead MRT. t operations at Coventry University and teaches flood
e rescue management at strategic level. He was with s t Hereford and Worcester FRS for fifteen years.
u t
VICE CHAIRMAN: MIKE MARGESON WATER: JULIAN WALDEN r
wateroffi[email protected] t n [email protected] STEVE WOOD
Wo rks to establish the necessary guidance and l Works on operations and governance, supporting the [email protected] e standards to ensure the safety of members in a water officers in their roles. Currently developing a peer review Steve is well known within the SAR community through environment. Julian is a member of Derby MRT. a process. Team leader of Duddon and Furness MRT. his work at Mapyx Limited which has long been a n m supporter of all charitable rescue organisations. r
e ICT: MARK LEWIS SECRETARY: DAVE CLOSE ictoffi[email protected] e t g [email protected] or Develops com ms technology across mountain rescue. PETER DYMOND
Acts as an interface between teams, regions and the Mark is a member of Western Beacons MRT. x [email protected] a MREW management team. He is a member of Vice chair: Iain Nicholson: [email protected] Peter’s professional background is with the UK e
n Dartmoor SRT (Ashburton). Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Coastguard Rescue Service, the volunteer emergency
a EQUIPMENT: JOHN WEALTHALL response arm of the MCA. equipmentoffi[email protected] FINANCIAL DIRECTOR: John takes over from Richard Terrell, looking after all m
PENNY BROCKMAN things equipment. He is a member of Duddon and r [email protected] Furness MRT . Penny continues in the role in lieu of a new appointment. l u MREW CHAIRMAN: MIKE FRANCE
She manages MREW finances and the administration of a [email protected]
o grant monies and continues to review the financial Part o f Mike’s remit as MREW chairman is to represent n
y systems. Penny is team leader of Central Beacons MRT. the interests of the organisation at trustee meetings, to
ASSISTANT SECRETARY: r ELAINE GILLILAND ensure the smooth running and continued governance [email protected] e of the organisation. t MEDICAL: MIKE GREENE Assists Dave Close in the secretary role. Elaine is a member of Bolton MRT. n medicaloffi[email protected] i SHIRLEY PRIESTLEY Represents mountain rescue in medical matters to the [email protected] Government, the emergency services and IKAR, and Shirley has been a member of the Scarborough and maintains the morphine licence. Mike is a member of TRAINING OFFICER: AL READ Ryedale MRT since 1990, during which time she has Wasdale MRT. trainingoffi[email protected] undertaken a variety of roles at all levels. She is also Develops trai ning and guidelines for team members at treasurer of the Benevolent Fund. all levels across a range of disciplines. Al is a member of Ogwen Valley MRO. PRESS OFFICER: ANDY SIMPSON Vice chair: Tim Cain: [email protected] PHIL PAPARD pressoffi[email protected] [email protected] Deals with the press, TV and radio, and supports teams Phil has been a member of the Cave Rescue in their own publicity, chairs the communication group ACTING FUNDRAISING OFFICER: Organisation for over forty years, serving as controller, (PISC) and is also chairman of Rossendale & Pendle MRT. BILL WHITEHOUSE training officer and chairman. He retired as Principal Vice chair: Judy Whiteside: [email protected] Inspector in the HSE in 2012, after 25 years. fundraisingoffi[email protected] As vice chairman of the fundraising committee, Bill has stepped into the role temporarily. He is also a trustee of the Benevolent Fund.
EDITOR: JUDY WHITESIDE SAR-H: JOHN HULSE PROCUREMENT OFFICER: [email protected] [email protected] DAVIE THOMSON
t Provides design and editorial services for the The creator of SARCALL and a team leader of the procurementoffi[email protected] s
r magazine. Outside her role as editor, she assists in a Ogwen Valley MRO, John continues to lead on the s Davie will be looking to establish an effective i
l number of areas in communication, publications SAR-H migration process . purchasing policy, including an online catalogue and e and marketing and supports the fundraising group. training modules in how to negotiate better deals at s a Judy is also secretary of the Benevolent Fund. i i team level. He is a member of Swaledale MRT. v c PR SUPPORT: SALLY SEED STATISTICS: ROB SHEPHERD d
e [email protected] statisticsoffi[email protected] Supports Andy Simpson and Judy Whiteside in their Collects and collates incident information from the a p roles and provides PR advice and support to MREW teams. A member of Llanberis MRT and North s and teams where required, seeking to improve Wales CRO, he is also involved with SARDA Wales. ▲ communication both internally and externally. Sally ...turn to page 49 for also helps deliver media skills training. BCRC contacts
PAGE 26 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 27 The Columbia Space Shuttle © Wiki Comms
Cognitive biases are some of these initiatives, then in England and Wales to use a psychological tendencies that discuss them and their benefits single page surgical checklist, cause the human brain to draw with the entire team, gain that requires only a few minutes incorrect conclusions . In aviation, consensus of which may be to complete, immediately prior cognitive bias is well applicable or important to your to an operation. It requires each documented and understood, team’s operational efficiency, team member to verbally with checks and controls then have a staged process of introduce themselves by name implemented to minimise risk introduction. and role, confirm the patient’s from bias, part of why flying is so Listed below are seven name, site, procedure, plus the safe. cognitive biases (more than 40 surgeon reviews what are the Similarly, at a major incident an are recognised), most relevant critical unexpected steps. The otherwise innocent cognitive to mountain rescue, plus anaesthetist explores any patient bias, can be the first link in a suggested strategies to specific concerns and the chain of events which can lead counteract these biases. nursing team confirms the to a poor outcome, the most instruments available for use, significant of which is loss of life. AUTHORITY BIAS plus any equipment issues or Yet little work has been done concerns. Most of all these lists I remember encountering this within the high-stress create dialogue and validate the bias on a shout for a missing environments within which the importance of every member of elderly male. The operation, for emergency services operate to the team, empowering personal reasons, was being determine exactly which biases individuals to question. Devised overseen by a very senior police are prevalent and how they can by the World Health officer. In briefing the team’s be countered. Accordingly, a Organization, this checklist was search managers, he informed major piece of work was tested in a year-long study, with us that the immediate area co mmissioned: Project data from more than 7,000 around the MISPER’s home had Melampus. patients and the death rate already been searched and that Mountain rescue responders following surgery fell by more the team did not need to do so operate in the high-stress than 40%! again. Despite compelling environments of a call-out and I I’ve rewound this MISPER historical search evidence, now recognise that I have both incident many times in my head predicting a high probability of personally exhibited and and thought how a checklist this type of MISPER being found witnessed cognitive bias at could have changed the within this area, none of us some MR incidents, and I have situation, given that the senior questioned this. Some days later adapted and summarised police officer was not a member the casualty was found, sections of Project Melampus to of our MRT. An incident checklist deceased, within this area. share with the MR community. becomes an SOP (Standard It’s not enough to say By being aware of these Operating Procedure) and a ‘Question authority’ because this biases, we can negate the threat component of this checklist simply won’t work. All of our lives they pose to ourselves, could easily be that the team we have been taught to respect colleagues and casualties/ must always physically search authority, from our parents and victims, by putting in place the immediate vicinity around teachers to our bosses and simple strategies to counter the LKP (Last Known Point). In specialists we personally deal them: simple solutions that can this case it would have, at the with, such as consultant have a massive impact upon the surgeons. I use this last example outcome. deliberately. However, changing behaviour, PAGE 30 My day job is analysing major In 2010 it became compulsory > incidents to identify predictable especially when it is entrenched, THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF BIAS IN behavioural characteristics that takes a lot of effort because of
assailants exhibit in their modus the 4Us: n o i t
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Uncertain We prefer certainty. d attacks. l Unpopular Resistance to change r We are all knowingly guilty of one or more of the seven deadly sins. We o
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Therefore, to successfully e could have gone better, where poor comms, low turnout, inadequate unexpectedly, we observed h C instigate change we need to mistakes made and which are y
briefing, too many newbies on the shout etc, are the main contributors. t e common to all these services. A have a formal structure which, in f Or are they? a S
pilot in the team made the voluntary organisations, is l a c correlation between these challenging. My advice is, if a i g r u
mistakes and cognitive bias. team wishes to implement S
PAGE 28 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 29 PAGE 29 >
very minimum, given us the real answer is thorough and shutdown procedures, the OUTCOME BIAS known as the default network, mechanism to challenge the comprehensive training that disaster would have been become very active. When the astronauts of the police officer’s instruction, which involves tests/exams, because if catastrophic. In essence, they are involved Columbia space shuttle were we did not, and also question left to the individual, levels of This is the most difficult bias with our memory — particularly informed that a piece of the each other, again which we did competency will vary enormously. counter, as it is so much a part autobiographic episodic protective heatshield had not. I believe that in this instance, All US ground forces now of our everyday lives, prevalent memories. These memories are dislodged they were not the police officer would have undergo this type of training and in everything from our politics, our personal experiences, concerned because ground acquiesced because he worked examination with all electronic attraction to the opposite sex, to associated with time and place, control informed them that they in an environment where SOPs items in their kit. A good start in people we associate with and such as who did I meet at work had seen this happen on are mandatory. MR would be using our the type of food we eat, almost today and where was I numerous occasions before on handheld satnavs (GPS an endless list. yesterday? Episodic memory other shuttle flights, so nobody CONSENSUS BIAS equipment). The Special Forces use the integrates memories from our took any notice. Nine days later lives in a self-relevant way, we Stop Challenge system: when a In MR we are all familiar with the Columbia burned up on re- recognise it as day-dreaming CONFIRMATION BIAS mission critical decision is being avalanche victims stating that entry caused by this missing and some people call it made, the person making this they thought it was safe, Most mountaineers have piece of heatshield, destroying autopilot. The problem arises decision must ask one of his because there were lots of other experienced ‘Fit the Map everything and everyone because we lose concentration comrades how his assumptions people on the slope. We behave Syndrome’, where, at the end of onboard. In simulated tests after and never more so than when could be wrong and the like this because society can a tiring day, wanting to get back this crash, it was found that on we are doing repetitive tasks: recipient must give an answer only function if we all follow each to base quickly, we convince every other occasion when part Research has shown that the that his assumption is wrong other, where we take the lead ourselves that what we are of the heatshield dislodged it more people drive the same and substantiate this with facts. from others, and the larger the looking at in the field is what we had been sheer luck that the route home, the closer they tend This technique forces the size of the group in unanimity, in can see on the map, when in space shuttles did not burn up. to get to the vehicle in front of recipient to think in a different our physical presence, the more actual fact this is not the case. When something is going them and the less aware they way to the person asking the likely we are to follow this group. Fortunately, most of us do find dramatically wrong we are of pedestrians. Furthermore, question and at the same time it Interestingly, if we are physically our way back home! recognise it and react to change the nearer we then get to very puts doubt into the decision isolated from the group we defer This tendency, to selectively it. However, when seemingly familiar places, in this instance maker’s head. It is an effective more to our own judgement search for and consider small things go wrong, but home, the higher our risk of technique, but only with training than to that of the group and information that confirms one’s everything works out well, we accident. and practice. Using it the first time herein lies the counter-strategy beliefs, comes from a much tend to ignore these small Fortunately, by stimulating for real it will most probably fail. to combat Consensus Bias. It’s deeper cognitive function. Our indicators the next time and the other parts of the brain we can something Stuart Johnson, understanding of the world can more we have good outcomes, suppress our default network. Team Leader, Tayside MRT, only run smoothly if we have PRIMAL BIAS the more we ignore these near Caffeine does this, chewing gum taught me to do many years ago accepted given ideas and We’ve all felt fear! Fear triggers misses. can assist this and the most effective counter to this bias is when first arriving at the locus: values, and these ideas are in all of us a surge of a hormone In MR these seemingly small telling other people exactly what instead of rushing in to provide long-held and thereby become called cortisol that increases our errors, such as a piece of rope we are doing with the task in assistance, instead ‘Knock at the entrenched. So when confronted heart and respiratory rate, in being a couple of months past hand. This is why pilots speak door and wait for the answer’, in with something that challenges readiness for fight or flight. its inspection date or a head out loud the steps they take on this instance ‘Is it safe for me these parameters, we look If I was trapped in a building on torch that has sometimes every pre-flight check, and and my colleagues to enter the instead for evidence that fire, I may make a successful flickered can become the cause equally as important their co- area?’ upholds our beliefs, even when escape. Conversely, if Scott of a major accident if not pilot listens careful to them and ‘Wait’ is the operative word. evidence is available to us that Amos, Watch Commander, addressed immediately. acknowledges with a ‘Roger’. In This simple technique suggests otherwise. Scottish Fire & Rescue Service The counter to outcome bias is MR this practice can not only momentarily isolates you from During an attempt to fix a (TVMRT Responder) was good record keeping, action lists keep us task-focused but also the situation, even if just for blockage in one of the cooling trapped, he almost certainly that are actioned and paying helps train newer members in seconds, enough for you to attention to the detail, plus, as water filters at Three Mile Island, would successfully escape and best practice and can also draw your own conclusions. a valve incorrectly stuck open the reason for this is that he my grandmother used to say Photo ©Tweed Valley MRT. guard against Authority Bias. This technique is now ‘Not putting off until tomorrow and a light on the master control would not be generating So, like the seven deadly sins, employed by armed police panel lit. All other readings on everything from first principles. what you can do today’. figure things out, which is fine always keep up to speed with it. GPS’s batteries failed and he I will continue to occasionally officers where there is an the panel were normal and the Instead, he has been trained when you never discover Added to which, this pace of inserted new ones then relayed lapse with personal bias, but in immediate threat to life, just operators erroneously decided and drilled in procedures to DEFAULT BIAS knowing about them and having another dozen TV channels to change means that the coordinates. All of the Green before they open fire, this light was informing them that perform without having to think Neuroscientists have recently been given coping strategies, watch, because it makes little manufacturers frequently Berets died as the munitions irrespective of whether their the valve was closed and about them, when in this type of discovered that when we are maybe not as much as I did difference to our use and introduce new technologies landed directly on them and not colleagues have done so continued to believe this for high-stress environment. relaxed a set of brain structures, before! ✪ appreciation of the equipment. where the user interface has not the Taliban, for the reason that already, they ask themselves another ten hours. At 0600 hrs Primal bias is probably one of This is why for decades, with been fully developed or tested. when any handheld GPS is ‘Do I personally need to engage there was a shift change and a the easiest to counter, realistic equipment that is potentially In Afghanistan, December switched off, when turned on and is it safe for me to do so?’ new arrival noticed this light and, scenario training equips us with lethal, we have compulsory 2001, a member of a 4-man unit again they default to their current following protocol, checked the both the confidence and the LYLE BROTHERTON testing, from passing a driving from 3rd Battalion, 5th Special location. ASSUMED temperature in a relief valve tail knowledge to calmly manage INSTRUCTS ADVANCED SEARCH test to a soldier learning to field Forces Group, called in an Whilst technology interface is a pipe, which was high. By itself the situation. This is why armed AND RESCUE NAVIGATION TO TECHNICAL BIAS strip, disassemble, reassemble airstrike against Taliban forces significant component of MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS AND THE this would not have been police officers enact potential How many of us have not fully and clean their rifle blindfolded. they were engaged with, using Assumed Technical Bias, and SPECIAL FORCES. HE IS AUTHOR OF dangerous, but in combination armed confrontations and we read the instructions to use a However, advances in coordinates that he had forward thereby improved interfaces will THE ULTIMATE NAVIGATION MANUAL: with the valve stuck open, it was practise stretcher lowers from new electronic piece of kit, if technology are increasing at projected as a waypoint on his reduce human error, the error is ALL THE TECHNIQUES YOU NEED TO critical. Had the new operator not cliff faces in the dark. read them at all? We like to such a pace it is difficult to handheld GPS. However, the still human. Therefore, the only BECOME AN EXPERT NAVIGATOR. recognised this and implemented
PAGE 30 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 31 s . e d e b l o K
u y n d n e c W u
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SION JAIR AND WENDY KOLBE i
Sion Jair is a remarkable man. Diagnosed with both Alzheimer’s and Pernicious Anaemia, with the help a and support of his partner Wendy Kolbe, he was determined not just to continue pursuing the outdoor activity he loved but to support the charities closest to his heart in the process. r
The first of these was his order,’ says Sion. ‘After to carry on with something I’ve ‘The physical activity has ‘Mountain Marathon’, in July, restarting in Braithwaite, we did always enjoyed. Taking on this helped oxygenate the blood starting out by torchlight at a circular route to include challenge has proved to me with what little oxygen-carrying 2.00am from Coniston village. Grisedale Pike, Grasmoor, that it is still to possible to blood cells I have. The day before the pair were Robinson and finally Dale Head, continue well into the future ‘The type of Alzheimer’s I due to start, they suffered a descending down to despite my illness. My advice to have, in most cases, would major setback when their Braithwaite via Hindscarth. anyone in my situation, based result in a five to eight-year supply vehicle broke down. This Given the setbacks, we still upon my own experience, lifespan from diagnosis, meant they weren’t going to be managed to complete our would be to carry on doing the However, both my doctor and supplied along the route and challenge covering all twelve things that they are familiar with the specialist agree that the had to carry all their supplies in mountains, plus the 28 miles, and used to, for as long as regular extreme physical activity their rucksacks, now three to well within 24 hours. possible and not to give up just has prolonged my lifespan by four times heavier than ‘Overall we really enjoyed our because of a diagnosis of greatly slowing down the anticipated. The driver of the challenge, enjoyed some Alzheimer’s.’ degeneration caused by the supply vehicle would also have wonderful scenery, encouraged The final total raised for the Alzheimer’s.’ been in two-way radio contact one another and got on well as challenge was £1,034, of which Sion’s next challenge (as we — vital for the last section, a team, and have no regrets £300 was for Mountain Rescue write), was planned for which was far more remote about taking up the challenge. England and Wales. September. Rather than raising than the other sections. But, In all that distance and time, Sion was diagnosed with funds for the Alzheimer’s despite these setbacks, they navigation between all the Pernicious Anaemia seven Society, he simply wanted to went ahead. mountains didn’t prove to be a years ago but is unable to take raise awareness of the After successfully climbing problem to me, this gave me B12 injections due to his body condition and mountain rescue. eight of their twelve mountains, the reassurance that I can still rejecting it. In the majority of To this end, he planned to climb they decided to modify the last do this kind of thing. cases, this leads to death within Coniston Old Man three times a section of the route, managing ‘However, without Wendy’s a few years. In Sion’s case, he day for four consecutive days. to get picked up at Honister encouragement, I can honestly was told he had only had a few Those twelve ascents amount Pass and taken via Keswick to say I couldn’t have done it on years to live without the to just over the height of Braithwaite, the planned finish my own. injections but, as he says, ‘it Everest. We wish him well and point. ‘Doing something physical appears that climbing look forward to hearing about ‘After a good rest and fresh that I have been doing for many mountains almost every day this latest adventure supplies we decided to do our years, that includes a level of has helped his body adjust to last four mountains in reverse mental activity, has enabled me surviving on very little B12.
THE BEST MOBILE SIGNAL GUARANTEED FOR SCARBOROUGH & RYEDALE MRT Touchdown Offices continues to support Scarborough and Ryedale MRT, a highly valued customer, who play a vital role in saving lives. The team provides an invaluable service to those in and around North Yorkshire and their heavy reliance on mobile phone services, as well as an increasing need for reliable communications led them to us back in 2012. The area, terrain and low density of population in their patch meant that mobile communications were often difficult, if not impossible. They have been using Strongest Signal SIM for over four years, which combines the power of the major UK mobile networks by intelligently switching between them to provide the best signal available. ‘The SIM helps our incident controllers have mobile coverage in even the most remote of areas, the wifi hotspot they advised us on in our control vehicle provides access to real time data and reporting via the internet while deployed and the sponsorship they provide means that operational members can focus on search and rescue rather than fundraising. They truly help us to ‘save lives in wild and remote places’, said Ian Hugill, incident controller and PR officer. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT STRONGEST SIGNAL SIM. PLEASE VISIT WWW.TOUCHDOWNOFFICES.COM.
AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 33 NIKWAX DOUBLES TECH s e WASH ® EFFECTIVENESS d u AND SAVES ENERGY n c
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Blue lights, headlamp flash, 2-tone sirens, rear treatment will be much more effective than if washed with other o h reds, covert blues, diesel heaters, run lock products.’ Nikwax pioneered the move away from polluting PFC water P systems, tracker units, strobes, hands-free repellents and continues to demonstrate that high performance phone systems, 2-way radios, speakers, GPS and waterproofing can be achieved with minimum Sophie Rooney from Banbury, North Oxfordshire has taken a break from kayaking satnav systems, plus much more. environmental effect. Tech Wash is available online and is currently travelling the length of Scandinavia on foot – solo and and in all good outdoor stores, 300ml RRP £4.75. unsupported, raising money for the Stroke Association, Mountain Rescue England Our on-site service limits down time on the NI KWAX IS AVAILABLE FROM ALL GOOD and Wales and the Thomas Theyer Foundation. vehicle, or we can offer our equipped OUTDOOR STORES AND ONLINE RETAILERS. workshops near Peterborough. Sophie has spent the last few years focused on studying for her degree and masters in geography, alongside training as a sprint kayaker. She has represented the UK at the World ● Blue Light Conversions Student Games, and on various GB development teams. Her initial plan to run the route of E1 ● Airwave Installations ● Vehicle CC TV changed as she became unwell. The new route, based around roads, luckily took her via Kiruna, when she finally went to see a doctor — and quickly found herself in hospital having a ● Vehicle Tracking EPIC EXPEDITION WITH PARAMO gastroscopy and a blood transfusion. She had lost half her blood volume due to a bleeding ● Amber Light Conversions ulcer and had become seriously anaemic. It’s no wonder Páramo is chosen by a host of professionals including ● Vehicle Racking ● Conspicui ty Despite advice from many at home, after a few days rest in Kiruna, and a tentative ok from mountain rescue, the British Antarctic Survey and many emergency the doctor that she could continue as long as she took it easy — she set off again By mid- ● Vehicle Lighting services. Páramo gear lasts longer, keeps you drier, is environmentally September, she had passed the first 1000km. and ethically sound –the perfect choice for Sacha Dench from Wildfowl Doing a mixture of wild camping, occasional campsite, very occasional lodges and a hotel & Wetlands Trust. Sacha is embarking on an epic 7000km expedition by when she was effectively dying, Sophie is carrying everything she needs on her back. Her paramotor to draw attention to the plight of the Bewick’s Swan. Her kit requirements: to keep her warm and comfortable in temperatures down to original plan would have seen her back in Oxfordshire at the end of October, however the -20C, provide top-level protection and performance whilst travelling illness and subsequent slower pace has seen this change to December. Although the time across the Tundra of remote Siberia and accommodate an internal heating itself is not a concern, funds and the approaching cold weather obviously are. She has been system. Páramo was an obvious choice as they will undertake custom supported in this venture by Baslager clothing and LD Mountain Centre, and by raising alterations/modifications for customers at their in-house workshop. money through Pledge Sports Here’s wishing Sophie a successful adventure and a healthy So, if you or your team are seeking unrivalled outdoors comfort from and safe return home. gear that keeps you dry in all conditions... YOU CAN FOLLOW HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA VIA FACEBOOK.COM/RUNDINAVIA OR HER TWITTER FEED ABOVE: THE UPPER WHARFEDALE FRA VEHICLE CONTACT PÁRAMO CONTRACT SALES ON 01892 786446 OR EMAIL @THESOPHIEROONEY. [email protected]. WWW.PARAMO.CO.UK
For further information contact APB Mobile Installations Ltd Tel: 0845 331 2727 Fax: 0845 331 2722 2000 SPONSORED BOUNCES! Web: www.apb-ltd.co.uk Email: [email protected] Unit 4, Pinnacle Close, Crowland, Peterborough PE6 0GB We like an unusual fundraising idea so how about a ‘sponsored bounce’? Young Keira, from Bethesda Girl Guides, raised £ 100 for the Ogwen team by doing a sponsored trampoline bounce in September.
She did 2000 bounces in half an hour after being inspired to raise funds for the team after visiting the team’s rescue base as a Brownie. The IF YOU’D LIKE TO KEEP AN EYE ON team would like to thank her for her support and great effort! SACHA’S PROGRESS, VISIT Keira (centre) with team members (from left) Chris Lloyd, Joe Begley, Tim Radford WWW.FLIGHTOFTHESWANS.ORG and Bob Lewis © OVMRO.
PAGE 34 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 35 incidents Apr•May•Jun •2016 . . r d o t o i i r d e E
p
e
st Glossop 10 Yorkshire Dales n Lake District North Ea h t e
v i o t g Cockermouth 19 Cleveland 6 Kinder 13 CRO 28
t y o n n
a Oldham 14 Upper Wharfedale 9 , Coniston 21 North of Tyne 12 r r e o f c
i
Duddon and Furness 12 Northumberland NP 14 Woodhead 12 (Last quarter: 18) 37 f e f s i O
c s
Keswick 3 Scarborough & Ryedale 27 (Last quarter: 53) 90 e c r i t p s
i t Kirkby Stephen 4 Swaledale 5 Search Dogs e a b t
S t
o
Langdale Ambleside 16 (Last quarter: 33) 64 Peninsula England 2 e n h
t y
a Cornwall 9 Lakes 2 o
Patterdale 8 t
m
d d Penrith 6 North Wales Dartmoor Ashburton 1 South Wales 1 e e n t r u o t u
Wasdale 22 Aberdyfi 8 Dartmoor Okehampton 8 Wales 3 e q r
s e r b (Last quarter: 92) 109 Aberglaslyn 5 Dartmoor Plymouth 16 (Last quarter: 16) 8 e
b d l m Llanberis 20 Dartmoor Tavistock 8 u u o n h
s t
s Mid-Pennine North East Wales 3 Exmoor 5 RAF a t h a t t
S e
Bolton 27 Ogwen Valley 10 (Last quarter: 21) 47 Leeming 1 t o n (Last quarter: 4) 1 Bowland Pennine 20 South Snowdonia 3 e s a e
Calder Valley 19 (Last quarter: 82) 49 South Wales l P
: e
Holme Valley 1 Brecon 17 Total 507 t o n
s
Rossendale & Pendle 4 Peak District Central Beacons 8 (Last quarter: 399) ’ r o t (Last quarter: 50) 71 Buxton 24 Longtown 6 i d Derby 8 (Last quarter: 30) 31 E Edale 9
AUGUST: MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASH IN NORTHERN SNOWDONIA Llanberis MRT was called to the mountain of Yr Aran in when a military training aircraft crashed in August. Team members were already attending two other incidents involving walkers on Snowdon at the time, so requested further assistance from neighbouring teams Aberglaslyn MRT and Ogwen Valley MRO. Two Coastguard Search and Rescue aircraft were also deployed from their bases in Caernarfon and St Athan. The unhurt air crew were recovered by the North Wales Air Ambulance (who happened to be in the area), to the Llanberis base in Nant Peris. Five Llanberis team members made their way to help secure the site and await the arrival of RAF mountain rescue personnel who are specifically trained to the task. The incident involved 25 Llanberis rescue team personnel and ten from neighbouring teams.
WHERE NOTHING IS EVERYTHING AUGUST: WOMAN GETS ENTANGLED IN WIRE FENCE The award-winning Puritii Water Filtration System ensures safe drinking water from We get involved in disentangling all sorts of any water source in the world. Our patented entangled situations in mountain rescue. triple filter removes toxins and destroys Aberdyfi team received a request from North pathogens, leaving pure, clear water, Wales Police to assist in the extraction of a woman 99.99% free of chemical, microbial and trapped in a precarious position on the hills behind even radioactive contamination. Aberdyfi. The lady was entangled in a wire fence at the top of a steep drop on the hills above the town WWW.PURITII.COM/CLARITY and, worried about the consequences of a slip, 07763606739 had wisely called for help. Given the locality, the call-handlers went directly to the scene to establish what was required, and with the assistance of police officers, were able to bring the woman to safety. All in a day’s work!
AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 37 . T R M
s i r e b n a l L
©
s o t o h P
SEPTEMBER: TEAM URGES WALKERS TO ‘DO THEIR HOMEWORK’ BEFORE HEADING FOR THE HILLS
To say that 2016 has been a busy year for Llanberis team Call-outs to this popular spot continue to rise — a staggering is something of an understatement, but it was a weekend 400% increase over the last decade. Throughout August, the in mid-September which prompted the ‘homework’ plea, team responded to 43 incidents — an increase of nine on the according to reports online and in the Daily Post. previous record of 34 in August last year. It’s a situation the tea believes is ‘unsustainable’. Over the course of the weekend, team members spent a total of ‘Our frustration as a team is that people don’t prepare for the eleven hours over six separate incidents on Snowdon’s notorious mountain,’ said Jones. ‘They don’t find out which route is best for Crib Goch ridge — two on the Saturday, and a further four on the them and then get into difficulties. Some would agree there needs Sunday. to be signs warning people of the dangers on Snowdon, but we ‘Basically there are walkers who decide to go up Crib Goch and believe as a team people should take responsibility for then get terrified as it is a very tricky route,’ said George Jones, themselves. So many people don’t have the right clothing — there secretary of Llanberis MRT. ‘People should really do their are still instances of people wearing flip-flops walking up homework before they come on the mountain — Crib Goch is not Snowdon. We say the same message over and over again but the Watkin Path. We got them down by ropes and a great deal of still people don’t listen.’ encouragement, and were also assisted by the 936 coastguard rescue helicopter throughout the day on Saturday, but there was FACEBOOK: @LLANBERISMRT DAILYPOST.CO.UK too much low cloud on Sunday for them to land.’ ACCREDITED TRAINING FOR BLEEDING INJURIES THANK YOU TO ALL THE SUBSCRIBERS, Current First Aid guidelines include the use of haemostatic gauze CHECK OUT THE OPENHOUSE and/or tourniquets to control bleeding based on risk assessment in the SPONSORS, SUPPLIERS AND work environment. Training is required to make sure that use of these RANGE OF DRY BAGS .. . MANUFACTURERS WHO SUPPORT US. devices is safe and effective. CELOX™Academy is a training service, ...the extremely durable, multi-bag system from Openhouse Products – the for front line responders, teaching best practice techniques for controlling UK’s leading bespoke bag manufacturers. The dual fitting, waterproof roll top bleeding, including haemostatic products. The Celox Academy training closure allows you to create a strong carry handle and creates a water tight programme is endorsed by Qualsafe Awards in line with European seal. All seams are welded to ensure complete water and weather protection. Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines for the safe and effective use The bags can also be used as a multi-bag system –connect combinations of of haemostatic gauze and is free of charge to groups of responders. bags together using our strong anchor points and webbing straps to increase Contact us to organise training and learn more about Celox Academy your capacity . The strong anchor points use concealed webbing with box and to maintain your CPD. stitching to keep your bag fitted securely and utilise a simple self-contained system for keeping all webbing straps together around the bag. MEDTRADE PRODUCTS Three sizes are available to ensure that you’re covered no matter where you’re [email protected] going – available in 5 Litre, 10 +44 (0)1270 500019 Lite and 25 Litre CELOXMEDICAL.COM/CELOXACADEMY versions. Inner modules are also available for the 25 Litre version to help keep your equipment separate.
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PAGE 38 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 39 Peer review: Progress TIM CAIN By 20 September 2016 five teams had conducted reviews of their processes and practices. All have reported the experience a positive one, with learning outcomes that will enhance their team effectiveness into the future. An exciting development coming out of Woodhead team’s review was the inclusion, on the team’s invitation, of observers from their partner agencies, in their case from South Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service. This turned out to be an excellent idea with the representatives of both agencies providing thought-provoking insights and learning much about the team too. I hope other teams will invite their partners to future reviews.
As expected, there have been some excellent examples of good practice amongst the teams that we have supported. Nobody likes to boast about his or her own strengths, however, teams are all doing similar things and sharing of good Top and centre © practice has got to be sensible. The challenge is how best to spread the word? I have started to use the MREW Facebook Wasdale MRT. Bottom © Bowland Pennine page to mention some of the good stuff (with the subject team’s permission), and this magazine offers another outlet for MRT. ‘communicating good’ as well. Below I have listed the ‘Top Ten’ questions that have highlighted areas of ‘Good Practice’ and the ‘Top Ten’ that have highlighted ‘areas for development’. These are based on ‘themes’ across the five teams who have completed a review so far and do not provide evidence of strengths or weakness in any one particular team.
Peer Review Quiz. How would you answer for your own team? Top 10 examples of good practice Top 10 of areas for development 1. How is safety embedded in the culture of 1. Where are the team’s operational procedures the team? written down? 2. How are new team members integrated onto 2. How is risk managed? the call-out list? 3. How are lessons learned fed back into 3. Describe the equipment maintenance continuous improvement? programme? 4. Describe the processes used to minimise 4. Describe the call-out process. human error during call-out. 5. Describe the procedures for controlled drug 5. Describe the way the team maintains a record security. of decisions during call-out. 6. How does the team ensure patients are treated 6. Describe how cascarers maintain currency in their best interests and afforded dignity, and competency. privacy and respect? 7. How is individual training recorded? 7. How is team driver training managed? 8. How are team leaders trained? 8. How is water rescue managed? 9. Describe the team’s training development plan 9. Describe the process for decision making. for individuals. 10. How does the team use SARCALL? 10. What would happen if a team member was injured or killed during call-out or training?
Next steps... The aim: To build upon the success so far, developing • Reviewers who have supported a review. peer review as a tool for supporting individual mountain • Those teams due to conduct their review in 2017. rescue teams in maintaining outstanding levels of service • Teams who are thinking about it. and performance. To that end, on Saturday 7 January • Anyone who feels that they have a stake in this project. 2017, we will be holding a meeting for stakeholders: Bowland Pennine Team have kindly agreed to host this • Team officials of the teams who have completed a meeting. See you there! review.
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AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 41 station. By the end of 1943, member you assume the rank WHAT DOES MRS GET thirty-three survivors had been of novice, with continual training INVOLVED IN? rescued from twenty-two and the gaining of experience In addition to providing high crashes. At this stage, Flying the member can progress to readiness incident response for Training Command decided to part-trained and awarded the military SAR and APCM inaugurate rescue units, under MRS badge, which is proudly Operations, the Mountain WHENSOEVER the direction of the SMO, at three worn on the right sleeve of the Rescue Service’s unique skills other stations within their jumper or No1 jacket. enable it to undertake resilience command, to coordinate the From here the progression is support to the civilian rescue work of all units, supply to fully Trained, Party Leader, community. This can be in the special equipment, and Deputy Team Leader and finally form of assisting civilian supervise the training of Team Leader. Along the way mountain rescue teams, civilian volunteers. From this work qualifications can be gained in police searches for missing evolved the present RAF mountaineering, climbing, persons, assisting at the scene Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) immediate emergency care, of a RTA or providing an incident with the Moto ‘whensoever’. skiing, emergency response control point and driver training for driving on communications support for WHY THE MOVE? ‘blues and twos’ and technical incidents such as major With the closure of the Search rescue. flooding. These incidents and Rescue Force and the provide invaluable training retirement of the aging yellow WHO CAN opportunities and give the Sea King helicopter, the MRS VOLUNTEER? Troops a sense of purpose, needed to find a new home, so We are a unique organisation while also giving the RAF on 1 April 2015, we moved from that is volunteer based, so we fantastic publicity. 2 Gp to 38 Gp under the accept anyone from any rank Although we are command of 85 (EL) Wg. This and or trade, often without prior predominantly a UK-based move is quite fortuitous as it mountaineering experience, but asset we have and should brings all the Aircraft Post Crash it’s all subject to passing a three circumstances dictate may well Management assets in the RAF week-long suitability trial. be deployed overseas in rescue under one umbrella and we now operations. We have in the past sit alongside JARTS and 3MCS. HOW DO WE TRAIN? operated in numerous overseas As an organisation we are The training and personal locations including Borneo, delighted by how we have been development that MRS provides Albania, and Alaska in order to welcomed by everyone at RAF is second to none. Team work is recover aircraft and rescue Wittering and see our future as at the heart of everything that we military personnel. extremely bright. do so that when we are In sum, the RAF MRS is the deployed on ops in extreme only UK military all-terrain all- WHERE ARE THE weather everyone knows their weather rescue asset. TEAMS? role, can look after each other The MRS Operates three and be safe in potentially risk to OUR EQUIPMENT? teams, based at RAF Leeming, life situation. Strong leadership Each team operates with a Lossiemouth and Valley. Each and excellent administration is huge amount of equipment team is 36 personnel strong; learnt very early on in a ready to deal with any situation Leeming and Lossiemouth are mountain rescue career as well in the mountains or remote made up of seven permanent as developing life skills, such as, location. On an operational call- and used the most readily staff and 29 part-time volunteers cooking for a lot of people! out, a team can deploy with a If you wondered what had happened to available equipment for their from the respective stations. The communications incident vehicle the RAF since the demise of the yellow bird, purposes. Early in 194,2 one Team at RAF Valley is also HOW OFTEN DO WE the ‘C3’, a domestic vehicle read on. The guys on the ground are still such party was organised under supplemented by a Support TRAIN? ‘Delta’ carrying everything to set very much there and ready to help where the direction of Flt Lt George Flight and Training and Although it sounds a lot, each up bothy (accommodation) needed as Cpl Alec J Fitzpatrick, Support Graham, the SMO at No. 9 Air Standards cell. troop is required to train two including drying facilities for wet Flt Media explains. Gunners School Llandwrog, weekends per month, but many kit, an operational support North Wales. It soon became HOW DOES MR do far more than that. It’s a vehicle ‘Oscar’ that carries clear to him that the equipment WORK? lifestyle and the troops extended operational equipment and personnel at his disposal MRS personnel are referred to thoroughly enjoy it. Training and four Hi-Lux operational WHAT IS MOUNTAIN matter of chance and the were inadequate to deal with the as ‘troops’ and we have our own takes place away from the unit vehicles that carry IEC and RESCUE? subsequent removal of number of aircraft crashes in the rank structure based on at weekend and everything is technical rescue equipment. For casualties a difficult problem. mountainous Snowdonia area. qualifications and experience, so provided at no cost to the ‘call-outs’ with an immediate risk During the early stages of the Stations near mountainous Flt Lt Graham adapted what an SAC could be responsible for individual, including superb to life and where available Second World War the areas made their own equipment he could for an SNCO or officer on the hill. On equipment and clothing, assets and weather permits a discovery of an aircraft crash in arrangements for the mountain rescue and trained successful completion of a trial accommodation, food and fast party can be deployed by the mountains was often a organisation of search parties, selected volunteers from the and acceptance as a team transport. helicopter. ✪
PAGE 42 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 43 The history of mountain rescue has been well documented and many comprehensive accounts have been written. Five-barred gates and shepherds usually feature significantly in the telling. In this article, Bob Sharp takes a broader look at our history, not just in the UK, but the Republic of Ireland (RoI) too 1. Specifically, he identifies every team that has been The adventure formed and the year they started, and looks at the pattern that emerges when all the dates are compared, revealing a picture that team members may find interesting. He also seeks to explain this pattern.
My starting point was a UK And it’s quite humbling to time to organise and initiate fisherman who broke his ankle begins ... Mountain Rescue conference appreciate the hardships and (occasionally several days) and near a high mountain loch. some years ago. Someone initiatives of the early pioneers rescuers might have to travel Evacuation was challenging, commented that mountain and the enormous contribution great distances before they involving the fisherman being rescue started in Scotland. they made. All this puts into arrived on scene. There were no carried down an icy path in Having previously carried out perspective our own efforts, and speedy means of calling out darkness by a group of people, research on the background of helps generate a measured and people to help other than word many in wellington boots or golf mountain rescue teams (MRTs), reflective approach to what we of mouth or letter. The position shoes! As a result, a public I doubted this and it seemed do. For the duration of our was the same across the whole meeting of interested parties appropriate to look at the subject involvement in mountain rescue, of the UK/RoI. agreed a team should be more objectively. we all serve as guardians of our A number of excellent formed. The Moffat Hill Rescue Many downplay the value of own team and therefore have a publications, which provide Service was formally established historical information, taking the duty to record fully all that we do much more detail on these early in January 1969. view that what we do today and for those who follow. days, are listed at the end. For Many other teams owe their now, let’s now turn to the key foundation to one or more tragic reasons teams were established incidents. and the timescale of their development. Increasing incident numbers CATALYSTS FOR In many cases, fledgling CHANGE rescue groups were gradually All teams have a distinctive inundated with more and more history and are justifiably proud calls for help as increasing of the early days, the challenges numbers of people flocked to they faced and their the popular walking and determination to move forwards. climbing areas. The Brecon In many cases, the extraordinary Beacons in South Wales was efforts of a small number of one such location. Due to the individuals who had the required rise in incidents, a local police skills and vision were officer was asked to gather instrumental is laying the together a group of people with foundations for the teams we experience of the outdoors, to know today. However, a number form a team. The original group, of common factors provided the comprising police officers and stimulus for change. civilian friends, became known as the Police Civil Defence Tragedy Mountain Rescue Team — now Central Beacons MRT. It often takes a significant (and Elsewhere in Wales, the sometimes tragic) incident to Above: First combined Winter and PTI Course, February 1953. On the last day, popularity of Snowdon and the stimulate action and focus a party of reporters and cameramen were rigged to the Lairig Ghru in near Llanberis Pass had increased to minds on change or the blizzard conditions to see the results © Heavy Whalley. Main image: From such an extent that demands on the archive. Coniston Fell Rescue Team 1947 Picture Post. formation of new systems to the volunteers summoned to cope with similar events in the help had become too onerous. the issues that currently future. The recent floods, for HISTORICAL This eventually bought about the influence our work are more example, have stimulated many OVERVIEW formation of the Llanberis MRT. important. I have great organisations and government Most will know that before the A similar pattern emerged sympathy with this, but we agencies to take action. For formalisation of the mountain across the high moorland and shouldn’t dismiss historical many teams, a serious incident rescue service, if anyone had an mountain areas across the land. evidence. It’s always good to was often the catalyst for accident it was left to their understand our roots and reflect change and the key reason companions and others to on how this has shaped current behind the launch of a bespoke Organisation and arrange a makeshift rescue practice. Indeed, it is quite organisation. coordination party. Rescuers were drawn refreshing to see that some For example, in the Scottish We are well aware that today’s from the local community, things change very little over Borders, the idea to establish a mountain rescue service is friends of the injured and other time, that ideas and practices formal mountain rescue team hillgoers. Self-reliance and long forgotten sometimes came from a local GP, prompted resourcefulness were key skills. resurface and impact again. by a number of accidents in the PAGE 46 Rescues sometimes took a long area, not least of which a >
1 Many people were supportive and helpful in researching their own team’s archives for relevant information. Of those who helped, I would like to make special mention of the late Tony Jones. Tony thought it vital to record historical information, particularly for the benefit of future generations. He was well aware how difficult it is to record accurately events from half a century ago, especially when relying on anecdotal evidence and fading memories! He was mid way through comparing my figures with his own rich archive of materials when, sadly, he passed on. This study is a very small token of my appreciation of Tony’s wise council over many years. PAGE 44 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 45 PAGE 45 >
highly structured, organised and Whirlwind helicopters. Despite when a youth lost his life after successful and a year later dates. This was not Those in orange no longer exist effectively ceased to exist in combined with others. For focused. But prior to this, the this, the missing persons were falling down local cliffs. A Oban MRT was established. In straightforward. Over the years, (27) — having either ceased to 1971 when it divided into SARDA example, sixteen teams are choice and deployment of not found for a further two days, number of individuals put their other cases teams were several teams started life, but exist with no further Wales, SARDA England and identified within Ireland, but only personnel was typically ad hoc, raising serious questions about own lives at risk attempting a established to fill a gap in then ceased operation. For development, amalgamated SARDA Scotland. Today, there fourteen are ‘foundation’ teams. complicated by poor (or non- whether the operation could rescue, but the difficulty of provision or ease pressure on some of these, there is little with other teams or combined to are twelve search and rescue That is because the two existent) communication systems, have been more effectively access and recovery from both neighbouring teams. evidence of their role and form new ones. dog associations recognised by SARDAs evolved from the the absence of specialised organised and coordinated. This the cliff top and the lifeboat, But, to highlight again, in a background. Some began life Here are some examples. The one of the national bodies. original SARDA in 1965. equipment and lack of specific was the catalyst for change and prevented further intervention in large majority of cases, a variety as independent organisations Sett Valley MRT (established in To summarise, since the CRO To take an example from expertise. the formation of civilian teams in the tragedy. Urgent meetings of factors combined to stimulate but then combined with others. 1959) and the Goyt SRT was formed in 1935, a total of England, Duddon & Furness Whilst the police had overall the area. followed. There was clearly an action. And for most teams, One (the Search and Rescue (established in 1964) ceased to 140 teams have been MRT started life (in 2003) responsibility, the procedures for In the Peak District, following a urgent need for a specialised cliff whilst there was an initial Dog Association) spawned a operate independently in 1971 established across the UK/RoI. through the amalgamation of calling in relevant agencies or number of high profile fatal rescue team, along the lines of exploratory period, there came a number of other organisations. when together they formed the Today, the number of Furness MRT (established in personnel were either non- incidents, including the Four Inns the already established Sea point when change became In addition, not all teams were Kinder MRT. Ullswater OB operational teams is 113. 1962) and Millom Fell Rescue existent or very crude. The will to Tragedy of March 1964, there Rescue unit. Many of the original urgent and formalisation took civilian-based. We know that the Rescue Team (formed in 1959) Without wishing to complicate Team (established 1967). So, the help was strong but the ability to was a strong view that the police volunteers came from the RNLI place. bedrock of mountain rescue in ceased operation following matters, and with a view to latter two teams are defined as cope was often lacking. Many needed greater assistance and and Sea Rescue lifeboat crews The official starting year for the UK is the civilian operation, publication of ‘RESCUE 2000’, further analysis, I have ‘foundation’ teams, whilst teams cite this as the reason there was a need for improved as they had the skill and each team is the focus for the but a small number of police and merged with Patterdale established for each country the Duddon & Furness is not. their own team was created. cooperation of all the relevant knowledge and were famil iar next section. The very first team and military teams have played MRT. RAF Leuchars MRT was number of teams, which I call Applying this logic to all teams In Tayside in Scotland, agencies. The outcome was the with the coastline. established was the Cave a significant role. Further, some founded in 1944 (as RAF the ‘foundation’ teams. These yields the pattern shown in Table 2 following a serious incident in the establishment of the Peak Rescue Organisation in 1935. teams no longer in existence, Montrose MRT) and disbanded are the teams that started and (below left), which gives a early- 1970s it was realised that District Mountain Rescue Other factors The last (Hebrides MRT), was set were attached to schools and in 20 13. Finally, the Search and are either still operational or breakdown by country for the existing provision for mountain Organisation. The above factors are often up in 2010. All the others started outdoor centres. Rescue Dog Association, which ceased to exist, but not the ‘foundation’ and current teams. rescue was inadequate, falling cited but others, such as the life between these two end In regard to the dates that was established in 1965, teams that developed from or It is the ‘foundation’ teams that far short of that provided Skill and expertise absence of local resources, points. The distribution of ‘start teams were founded, I have provide data for subsequent elsewhere. In one particular In addition to organisational perceived need, delays in years’ reveals an interesting used the date agreed by the analyses. Because Table 1 is a search for two missing people, a and communication problems, response and unsuitability of pattern. team. In some cases, this was Table 2: Breakdown of teams according to country. simple listing of teams, it doesn’t vast number of people were fledgling rescue groups were equipment played a part. the date when a key meeting of reveal the distribution over time engaged in what is believed to often hard pressed to cope In 2000, troubled by poor cover WHEN WERE TEAMS interested parties took place. England Ireland Scotland Wales Total of the starting years. This is be the largest airlift undertaken because they lacked key skills or in Argyllshire in Scotland, ESTABLISHED? With others it was the date the ‘Foundation’ teams 57 14 35 15 121 shown in Figure 1 (below). There on a mountain rescue in Britain. relevant assets. Strathclyde Police contacted the team carried out its first is a clear pattern. It is broadly What I’ve tried to do is produce Current teams 52 15 31 15 113 Over 150 people were The Tramore Cliff Rescue Oban Mountaineering Club to operation. For many, it was the ‘normal’ in nature with two high a definitive list of all teams 2 that transported to the search area in Team in the RoI was formed as see if it could muster a mountain date the team gained affiliation points: one in the 1940s and one have existed, with their starting hundreds of lifts by two RAF SAR a result of a tragic accident rescue team. This proved to its national body (Mountain in the 1960s. The first reflects Rescue England and Wales, 40 establishment of the RAF Mountain Rescue Ireland, Mountain Rescue Service and 35 Figure 1: Starting year for Scottish Mountain Rescue, the formation of teams such as Table 1: Complete list of all teams (those in orange text no longer exist). A fuller list, arranged by country with notes for each team, can be obtained from the teams in five-year intervals. British Cave Rescue Council, RAF Montrose (later to become author at [email protected] 30 The upper graph shows all
National Search and Rescue S teams and the lower graph RAF Leuchars MRT) and RAF M
Ambleside Fell Rescue Team 1967 Dundonnell MRT 1972 Moelwyn Rescue Team 1973 SARDA England 1971 Dog Association), became A 25 only the civilian teams Llandwrog (later to become RAF E T Aberdeen MRT 1964 Edale MRT 1956 Moffat MRT 1969 SARDA Ireland 1987 formally constituted or was Valley MRT). If the RAF teams F O Aberdyfi SRT 1973 Eskdale OB Rescue Team 1950 Mourne MRT 1962 SARDA Ireland North 1995 20
officially recognised by a police R and the Police MRTs are E
Aberglaslyn MRT 1996 Exmoor SRT 1992 NE Wales SAR 1980 SARDA Isle of Man 2004 authority. In every case apart B removed from this picture, the
M 15
Arran MRT 1964 Furness MRT 1962 North of Tyne MRT 1974 SARDA Scotland 1971 U from one or two, teams started distribution of starting years for Arrochar MRT 1978 Galloway MRT 1975 North Wales CRO 1995 SARDA South Wales 2002 N life before the formal date given the civilian teams shows little Assynt MRT 1976 Galway MRT 1975 North West MRT 1980 SARDA Southern Scotland 1983 10 Avon & Somerset SRT 1990 Glen of Imaal Red Cross MRT 1983 Northern Rescue Organisation 1962 SARDA Wales 1971 here. For this reason, the overall difference except there is now Avon Rocks Rescue Team 1976 Glencoe MRT 1961 Northumberland NP MRT 1963 Scarborough & Ryedale MRT 1965 time picture given in this article, 5 only a single high point in the Bolton MRT 1968 Glenelg MRT 1973 NSARDA Anglia 2006 Scottish CRO 1966 could be shifted a few years 1960s — see Figure 1. 0 0 5 Borders SAR Unit 1963 Glenmore Lodge MRT 1972 NSARDA Kent 2010 SARDA 1965 earlier. But, it is not possible to 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 00 10 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 12 -2 20 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 11 6- Bowland Pennine MRT 1980 Glossop MRT 1957 NSARDA Staffordshire 2015 Sett Valley MRT 1959 93 93 94 94 95 95 96 96 97 97 98 98 99 99 00 00 quantify the exact period 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 WHY THE MID 1960 s? Braemar MRA 1965 Gloucestershire CRG 1962 Oban MRT 2001 Severn Area RA 1973 involved. YEAR The distribution shown in Brecon MRT 1969 Gordonstoun School MRT 1951 Ochils MRT 1971 Shropshire Mining Club 1965 Information was gathered from Buxton MRT 1964 Goyt SRT 1964 Ogwen Valley MRO 1965 Skye MRT 1962 40 Figure 1 begs the question why a variety of sources including Cairngorm MRT 1963 Hebrides MR 2010 Oldham MRT 1964 Sligo/Leitrim MRT 1991 did so many teams start up in team websites, published books 35 Calder Valley SRT 1966 Holme Valley MRT 1965 Patterdale MRT 1964 South & Mid Wales CRT 1946 the 1960s? Indeed, almost half Cave Rescue Organisation 1935 Irish Cave Rescue Organisation 1961 Penrith MRT 1959 South East CRO 1968 and leaflets, emails and 30 of all teams were established in Central Beacons MRT 1959 Kendal Mountain SAR Team 1953 Police Scotland (Grampian) MRT 1960 South Eastern MRA 1977 telephone conversations. The
S the 1960s and just less than one
absence of key information from M Cheddar Gorge CRT 1977 Kerry MRT 1966 Police Scotland (Strathclyde) MRT 1975 South Ribble SRT 1962 25 A quarter in the three-year period the early years made it difficult E Cleveland MRT 1965 Keswick MRT 1947 Police Scotland (Tayside) MRT 1971 South Snowdonia SRT 1991 T 196 4–1966. What was special F
Cockermouth MRT 1953 Killin MRT 1967 Police Service of N Ireland SRT 1975 Swaledale MRT 1968 for some teams to clearly O 20 about this period in our history? I R
Coniston MRT 1947 Kinder MRT 1971 RAF Aldergrove MRT 1949 Tayside MRT 1976 specify their starting year. Where E B suspect the answer lies in the
Cornwall SRT 2003 Kintail MRT 1965 RAF Leeming MRT 1944 Teesdale & Weardale SRT 1968 possible, to improve accuracy, M 15 U rapid and unprecedented social Cumbria Ore Mines RU 1978 Kirkby Stephen MRT 1952 RAF Leuchars MRT 1944 Torridon MRT 1971 N dates from two or more sources Dartmoor SRT (Ashburton) 1976 Lake District MRSDA 1992 RAF Lossiemouth MRT 1944 Tramore Cliff & MR Ass 1978 10 changes that took place in the for each team were cross- Dartmoor SRT (Okehampton) 1969 Langdale Ambleside MRT 1970 RAF Millom MRT 1944 Tweed Valley MRT 1968 1960s. The ‘Swinging Sixties’ referenced. Dartmoor SRT (Plymouth) 1969 Langdale MRT 1965 RAF St Athan MRT 1944 Ullswater OB RT 1956 5 were a defining decade for Table 1 (opposite page) lists all Dartmoor SRT (Tavistock) 1968 Llanberis MRT 1968 RAF Stafford MRT 1945 Upper Wharfedale FRA 1948 Britain in numerous ways. the teams and their starting year. 0 Derby MRT 1964 Lochaber MRT 1969 RAF Valley MRT 1942 Wasdale MRT 1965 0 5 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 00 10 Consider some of the significant 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 12 -2 20 Derbyshire CRO 1952 Lomond MRT 1967 RAF West Freugh MRT 1944 Western Beacons MSRT 1964 The left-hand column lists the 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 1- 6- 11 6- 93 93 94 94 95 95 96 96 97 97 98 98 99 99 00 00 Devon CRO 1965 Longtown MRT 1965 RAF Wick MRT 1944 Woodhead MRT 1964 name of every team ( 140). 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 Donegal MRT 1984 Mayo MRT 1989 Rannoch School MRS 1959 YEAR Those teams in black are PAGE 48 Dublin & Wicklow MRT 1966 Mendip Cave Rescue 1936 Rhinog Rescue Team 1986 currently operational ( 113). > Duddon & Furness MRT 2003 Midlands CRO 1975 Rossendale & Pendle MRT 1963 Dudley CRT 1966 Millom FRT 1967 Royton ATC MRT 1943 2 Every team has a unique name, but not all are referred to as mountain rescue teams per se. A variety of terms are used. Most are mountain rescue teams, but there are also search and rescue teams, rescue organisations, rescue units, cave rescue teams, mountain rescue associations, fell rescue teams and associations. Without wishing to diminish the nature or importance of each organisation, for simplicity, I have used the word ‘team’ from hereon.
PAGE 46 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 47 ▲ ...turn PAGE 47 > Brief introduction to the British back to Cave Rescue officers and how page 26 events. The decade saw the end for example, Arrochar, Llanberis FINAL THOUGHTS history of the Cave Rescue to find them... of conscription for teenagers; and Cleveland — comment on Organisation. Dent: Lyon for The emergence of the feminism became an influential increased participation, rising Equipment (Books). mountain rescue service in the who? MREW ideology in society; technological incidents and the need to • High Katherine (20 10). 40 Years UK/RoI, especially the civilian advancements such as colour formalise and better coordinate and Counting. Teesdale & operation, took place over a contacts TV, pocket transistor radios and rescue provision. Weardale Search & Mountain period of several decades, with CHAIRMAN: DANY B RA DSHAW microwave ovens appeared and Rescue Team. Barnard Castle: [email protected] a particular surge in the 1960s. reforms in education led to the WHICH COUNTRY Teesdale & Weardale Search & Represents cave rescue with Government, the emergency services, UKSAR and MREW. The last new team was Hebrides effective elimination of grammar LED THE WAY? Mountain Rescue Team. Currently taking the lead on the team assessment process. Dany has been a Warden for Mendip Mountain Rescue, which was schools and the rise of the • Hipkin Trevor (20 13). Tales Cave Rescue since 1979. The starting point for this study formally affiliated to the Mountain comprehensive school. No doubt from the Killin Mountain Rescue was a question: which country Rescue Committee of Scotland readers can cite many more. Team. Callander: Killin VICE CHAIRMAN: BILL WHITEHOUSE was first in setting up mountain in 2010. Its emergence was Critically, the 1960s saw a rise Mountain Rescue Team. [email protected] rescue? Putting to one side the designed to fill a serious gap in in economic prosperity and • Holland Pat (20 16). Call out: A Assists the chairman in his role and is a trustee of the Mountain and Cave Rescue Benevolent RAF Mountain Rescue Service provision, particularly in light of Fund. Bill is the current chairman of Derbyshire CRO. personal wealth with disposable History of Mountain Rescue in whose foundation in the mid- the proposed closure of the income at their highest levels Ireland. (Publication details to 1940s was common across the Stornoway Coastguard station ever. For many people there was be confirmed). UK, the figures show that many (and consequent withdrawal of SECRETARY: EMMA PORTER an increase in annual holiday • Hurst Ian & Bennett Roger of the civilian teams were the cliff rescue teams). [email protected] entitlement and a gradual (2007). Mountain Rescue: History established in England a long Will there be any more new Ensures comms between teams, BCRC and beyond , currently reviewing BCRC incident reports. reduction in weekly working and Development in the Peak Represents BCRC at the British Caving Association and lecture secretary for the national caving time before Scotland. Indeed, MRTs? It seems unlikely, since hours, both of which led to an District 1920s – Present Day. conference. Training coordinator of Midlands CRO and member of Gloucestershire CRG. the CRO in Yorkshire was all the high ground in the UK/RoI expansion in the amount of free Cirencester: Tempus. established in 1935, several is now systematically covered by time people had for leisure. The • Lawson Kenny, Masson Allan, MEDICAL OFFICER: RICH MARLOW years before Gordonstoun the existing service. There may vast increase in car ownership Murray Ian and Brown-Kerr [email protected] School MRT ( 1951) and the be a continuing rise in the and road networking gave Willie (20 15). Mostly Happy Advises on medical matters and keeps teams aware of medical issues of concern to cave rescue. Rannoch School MRS ( 1959) in number of lowland organisations people greater freedom of Returns. Ballater: Braemar Represents BCRC at the MREW medical committee and represents BCRC at UKSAR. Rich is a Scotland. It was a quarter of a as evidenced by the recent movement and independence. Mountain Rescue Association. Mendip Cave Rescue warden. century before Glencoe MRT establishment of NSARDA All these things led to a burst in • Richardson Sheila (2002). The was founded in 1961. (Staffordshire) in 2015. At the leisure and recreation Team: The Story of Cockermouth TRAINING COORDINATOR: JIM DAVIS A detailed analysis of the present, there are 36 lowland [email protected] industry and a growing attraction Mountain Rescue Team 1953 – figures shows that by the end of teams affiliated to the Addresses national training needs and works closely on the team assessment process and for people to explore the ‘great 2003. Workington: Mill field 1960, 33% of all the English Association of Lowland Search represents BCRC at the MREW training committee. Jim is a member of the Cave Rescue outdoors’. Publications. Organisation. teams had been established and Rescue. And it is possible Indeed, the early part of the • Sharp Bob (2003). A History and 20% of all the Scottish that some teams may cease 20th century had already seen of Scottish Mountain Rescue. teams. By the end of 1965, the operation or combine with INFORMATION OFFICER: IVAN YOUNG an emerging appreciation of the Glasgow: The Mountain Rescue informationoffi[email protected] figures were England (67%) and others as their workload great outdoors and the benefits Committee of Scotland. Ensures that contact information for the fifteen cave rescue teams within the UK and Eire is Scotland (49%) and by the end of changes. of physical exercise. As early as • Sharp Bob (2010). Mountain maintained and updated regularly. Collects, collates and distributes incident and other statistics 1970, the figures were England But, nothing remains still for 1931, a government inquiry had Rescue Committee of Scotland. from the teams. Rescue controller and treasurer for Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation. (86%) and Scotland (63%). very long. Whilst new teams recommended the creation of a The Oracle (currently unavailable) Based on these figures, one may not emerge, there is bound ‘national park authority’ to select mountain.rescue.org.uk EQUIPMENT OFFICER: MIKE CLA YTON might conclude that mountain to be a continuing look at how areas for designation as national • Sharp Bob & Jennison Bill [email protected] rescue was established earlier in teams are governed, their Liaises with MREW regarding the Government grant and runs PPE inspection courses for teams. parks. No action was taken and (20 15). Search and Rescue England compared to Scotland. relationship with the statutory Represents BCRC at the MREW equipment committee. Chair of Midlands CRO, he is a member this led directly to the mass Dogs: Fifty Years and Counting. These figures are of academic organisations and widening role of Gloucestershire CRG. trespasses on Kinder Scout in National Search and Rescue interest only, although some in the community, and how they the Peak District, and the rise of Dog Association. readers may question why the are funded, to list a few current COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: JON WHITELEY leisure activity enthusiasts and • Whiteside Judy (2010). From [email protected] service first gathered pace in issues. Most important, we nature conservationists, who the mountains to mountain Seeks to enhance ICT for cave rescue and is BCRC rep to the MREW ICT committee and also England. The answer can’t have should recognise and applaud lobbied the government for rescue – the birth of Mountain PenMaCRA chairman. One of three MREW SARCALL administrators and a rescue controller for anything to do with the our history. There are many rich measures to protect and allow Rescue. (link to be added) Devon CRO. respective geographies of each stories to be told and lessons to access to the countryside. This • Whiteside Judy (2015). Risking country else one might have be learned from others. We pressure culminated in the 1949 li fe and limb. Celebrating fifty TREASURER: HEATHER SIMPSON expected Scotland (with have a massive depth of Act of Parliament to establish years of the Ogwen Valley informationoffi[email protected] or [email protected] significantly more high experience and should recognise national parks. It was no wonder Mountain Rescue Organisation. Manages finances and coordinates fundraising. Part of MREW fundraising group and also mountains) to be ‘ahead’ of the that future developments may manages MREW collecting tins. Heather is a member of North Wales CRO, Midlands CRO and that when the first national parks Capel Curig: OVMRO. ✪ game. It might be that the surge well be steered and shaped by Derbyshire CRO were established in the 1950s — in outdoor recreation and the that experience. such as those in the Lake BOB SHARP HAS BEEN efforts to open access were LEGAL ADVISER: TOBY HAMNE TT District, Snowdonia and the INVOLVED IN SCOTTISH more advanced in England. The REFERENCES [email protected] Yorkshire Dales — all experienced MOUNTAIN RESCUE FOR A solicitor by profession, focuses on pragmatic solutions and believes in communication to ensure pressure to extend access in .
a rapid increase in visitors and • Bott George ( 1997). Call-Out: ALMOST 40 YEARS. A p Scotland may have been less. legal risk is minimised. If a case requires specialist knowledge outside his area of expertise he can u o outdoor participation. The First 50 Years. Keswick: FORMER TEAM LEADER assist in ensuring the right expert is identified. r
Certainly, the ‘right to roam’ was G
As a result of developments Keswick Mountain Rescue Team. AND OFFICER OF THE e
a well-established tradition in u
like these, the 1960s saw a c • Card Frank ( 1993). Whensoever NATIONAL BODIES FOR DIVING OFFICER: CHRIS JEWELL s
Scotland in the 1960s. It is e
significant rise in participation [email protected] R – 50 years of the RAF Mountain MOUNTAIN RESCUE,
possible that the ad hoc e
and as a direct consequence, a Rescue Service 1943 – 1993. MOUNTAIN TRAINING Advises on cave diving issues and liaises between the Cave Diving Group and BCRC. v provision for mountain rescue in a C
rise in the number of people lost Glasgow: The Ernest Press. AND MOUNTAINEERING, the UK worked better (or was r e or injured and in need of outside t • Cliff Peter ( 1988). Friends in HE NOW WORKS AS s
tolerated longer) in Scotland, e
help. It is probable this is the High Places – The Cairngorm A MOUNTAIN RESCUE c thereby delaying the need to u
FOREIGN SECRETARY: PETE ALLWRIGHT o most significant reason for the Mountain Rescue Team ( 1963 – AND SAFETY RESEARCH l
formalise and restructure the Represents BCRC at the European Cave Rescue Association and liaises with overseas cave G rapid formation of rescue teams 1988). Aviemore: Cairngorm CONSULTANT. ©
service. There may be other rescue bodies. across the country in the 1960s. Mountain Rescue Association. e factors or a combination of g Indeed, many established • Eyre Jim & Frankland John a m
reasons. There is an interesting I during this period — including, (1988). Race against time – A study here for a curious reader!
PAGE 48 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE AUTUMN 20 16 AUTUMN 20 16 MOUNTAIN RESCUE MAGAZINE PAGE 49 many ways. Knowing your (Petroleum jelly or silicone battery will help, however, you assets helps for long term grease, for example) will eventually have to decide MANAGING SEARCH planning, maintenance and at what point a battery should • Cables , especially mic locating missing kit. An be replaced. cables which get tugged and AARON WARD FOUNDED inventory of the radio and At Wildtalk we consider a WILDTALK IN 2006 TO AND RESCUE RADIOS snagged, are prone to failure battery IDs, where they were battery is marginal for SUPPLY RADIO EQUIPMENT sometimes visible but more sourced, along with serial replacement when it has FOR USE IN EXTREME often internal and invisible. AARON WARD WILDTALK numbers and to whom they reached 1000mAH on a ENVIRONMENTS. HE IS They can be checked by are issued will help identify not battery analyser. This would INTERESTED IN MOUNTAIN having a helper on another only defective kit but help in equate to around six hours in SPORTS AND PARTICULARLY radios receive or transmit One of the most powerful tools a search and rescue organisation can future to source good quality a ‘typical’ commercial use, INTERESTED IN DESIGNING while you stretch and stress have is their radio system. The fundamental design of the UK VHF kit and reject suppliers of poor using the duty cycle above. VOICE COMMUNICATION the curly cable. If these items search and rescue radio plan is that it will continue to work when other quality equipment, non- Not very useful figures when SYSTEMS THAT WILL WORK IN are marked and logged like genuine batteries being an you don’t have battery TOUGH AND NOISY communication systems have failed. It is infrastructure free, and thereby batteries and radios, isolating example of a widely variable- analysers or work factory ENVIRONMENTS. immune to the fail modes other communications system could them will be much simpler. quality consumable. shifts. But once a battery encounter under extreme events, failures such as grid power outage, Note: Good quality non- does reach these reduced WILDTALK HAS MOUNTAIN- internet failure or network traffic overload. genuine batteries can be as BA TTERY capacities it does decay quite TOP OFF-GRID REPEATERS good as original equipment MANAGEMENT quickly and it will be a few OPERATING IN SOME OF and at a significant cost The first step is to establish tens of charge cycles before it THE TOUGHEST SCOTTISH saving but poor quality non- what is a good battery and has reached only a few hours ENVIRONMENTS AS WELL genuine batteries at best offer which batteries should be capacity. So I would say six CUSTOM DESIGNED COMMS SYSTEMS It is also self-maintained and well. When a brand new radio LOCATE can mostly be avoided by taking very poor value and at worst discarded. hours of use based on the does not depend on any central system is set up, it works so well care not to stress the radio can be hazardous in that duty cycle (less time for the WORKING IN BOMB Depending on how you deploy Physical damage: Lithium DISPOSAL, NUCLEAR- organisation for maintenance or that planning for long term unnecessarily. Use carry cases critical internal safety more talkative user) above your radios, you might consider batteries when damaged can DECONTAMINATION AND control and to date is more or maintenance is often forgotten. or lanyards to prevent the radio components have been would be the point at which issuing each radio-battery fail spectacularly by catching MANY HIGH NOISE AND less free of propriety It might be a couple of years being dropped. Faults of this omitted to reduce costs. Try the battery should be combination to a particular user. fire so any batteries showing INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS. technologies. This gives teams before a single fault occurs even type should also be returned to and establish from your watched closely for potential This encourages the user to take splits to the casing, leakage of FOR MORE INFORMATION the freedom and independence in the largest radio system. a supplier or manufacturer for supplier the origin of non- replacement. better care of them and also to electrolyte of damage of the VISIT WWW.WILDTALK.COM. to set up robust and flexible With a poorly or unmanaged repair. genuine batteries and their report a fault rather than grab parts that hold it securely to communications suited to their radio system, one single fault guarantees before you buy. CHARGING another radio discarding a failing Battery failure: This is by far the radio should be disposed WILDTALK OFFER A 10% need, tailored to their location or can often make the whole radio Beware. There also many one which can get recirculated the commonest problem. of immediately. • Charging should follow the DISCOUNT OFF LIST to their current incident even in system seem as though it has fake ‘genuine’ batteries to another user. And you know Battery failures are usually manufacturers instructions. PRICES TO ALL UK MR the remotest locations and in the many faults. For instance a available too. Generally which radio is where and when associated with the battery Poor capacity: This is how Usually a couple of hours in a TEAMS worst weather all at relatively low single fault in one unidentified speaking you will get what one goes missing. having completed its lifetime of much charge the battery rapid charger is all that is cost. radio or battery that gets you pay for with most things charge-discharge cycles. This is holds once it has been fully required. Lithium batteries The down side of this flexible circulated between users can and batteries are no ISOLATE a variable quantity but is well charged. There are have no ‘memory effect’ as system is that each team needs often make it seem that several exception. above 300 cycles for most sophisticated battery analysers NiCd used to have so partial to find volunteers with the radios are faulty. Several small With these two simple steps batteries so for typically available and these will tell discharge-charge cycles are interest and skill to manage the faults, can in turn, make for a you will be able to identify any intermittent search and rescue PLAN you this figure. This figure is harmless. system and train fellow frustrating and unreliable battery or radio that might show use it should be several years MAINTENANCE interesting but in real terms • Deep discharge or being members in radio use, how the communications system. a fault, intermittent or before this life cycle expires. Parts subject to wear and you want to know how long a left flat should be avoided as system works and equipment permanent, then isolate it for Modern batteries use lithium tear should be checked battery will last before Lithium chemistry batteries maintenance. This need not be BASIC repair or replacement. based chemistries and these regularly to help prevent recharging and this depends can sometimes be impossibl e a burdensome task and the aim MAINTENANCE: have other fail modes too. They problems before they arise. on how much you transmit. to revive. of this article is to give some REPAIRS If you do nothing else, these don’t like being left discharged These parts are all easy to No analyser can know this • Long duration charging of ways to make this task simpler. three simple steps will help keep Radio faults tend to fall into for long periods and can be hard identify, mostly parts external information. lithium chemistry batteries is RELIABILITY your radio system in tip-top three types: to revive if they are. They don’t to any radio, handheld or The answer to this problem almost always mentioned in condition allowing you to quickly like being charged in hot is simple: if the battery doesn’t the manufacturers instruction Electronics failure: This is now mobile. Unlike the common consumer identify, locate and isolate faulty environments as this can age last long enough replace it. to be avoided. It is inevitable a very rare event with modern The frequency of check electronics we are familiar with equipment. them prematurely. Also they do How long is long enough? that radio users do this and I electronic construction using should be tailored to the such as mobile phones, two- self-decay, losing capacity over Typically radio batteries range have never encountered any surface mount assemblies. amount of use and your way radios are usually designed IDENTIFY time even if they are not used — from 1500mAH to 2000mAh problems with customers Faults of this type are usually operating environment. to be long lasting, robust, as much as 20% per year by capacity when new. A doing this even with radios left Mark each radio with an manufacturing defects and reliable and usually repairable. • Vehicle antennas: These 1500mAH battery would last external unique mark so you can some estimates — so most on charge for weeks at a rarely caused by misuse — the potentially take a lot of abuse: New radios just work, and work batteries will need replacing at at least eight hours with a 5% time. If you do choose to easily identify it: 1, 2, 3 etc. The radio will need to be returned to the weather, tree strikes and transmit, 5% receive and 90% radio will also have a serial least every four years. leave radios on charge a supplier or manufacturer for collision with kit being on and Battery failure can usually be standby duty cycle on most monitor them closely over the number (usually behind the repair. off-loaded to roof racks. radios with 5W RF transmit battery) for warranty purposes. It established and dealt with first 4 to 24 hours after they Tighten, check for corrosion power and it is transmitting is worth recording this too in Mechanical failure: These are without returning the battery to have completed the rapid and cable damage, at least that places the real demand case external markings get problems with moving parts: your supplier. See Battery charge phase to make sure monthly if you operate in tree on the battery. removed. rotary controls, damage to the Management below. they trickle charge cool. and hedged areas. If you With search and rescue Mark each battery too with a case or housing, battery clips, • Charging and storage in operate in a marine there are no regular shift unique mark or ID. It should also aerials and aerial sockets and BEYOND BASICS hot locations prematurely environment, you will need patterns and a call-out could have been supplied date-coded most often the earpiece ages the cells and should be RECORD sprays or lubricants designed last a few hours or overnight. so you can establish when (and (accessory) socket. These faults avoided. ✪ Keeping an inventory of all your for marine use to offer To cover this variability issuing where) it was bought and when are usually caused by long term team’s comms kit will help in additional protection. each radio with a spare it falls out of warranty. wear and tear or misuse. They
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TO ADVERTISE CONTACT CAROLINE DAVENPORT CALL 012 70 878324 OR EMAIL [email protected]
EMERGENCY CARE OUTDOORS
Emergency care in the outdoors is a challenging and rescuer alike. Think of it this way, we should with all emergency services, to create a training task that is faced by rescuers in a diverse range always aim to provide the highest level of care programme that is appropriate to the environment, of environments. These environments demand a that can be achieved whilst recognising the evidence based and skilfully delivered. This range of skills and attributes from those involved constraints place upon care delivery by the helps ensure that when organisations are working in the provision of such care. Technical, clinical, environment and other factors. together, they don’t just have an understanding intellectual and ethical decisions must be made of each other’s technical capabilities but also if the casualty is to receive high quality care, THE GOLD STANDARD IS THE have a common understanding of their clinical HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE WHEN capabilities as well. THE WORLD ISN’T PLAYING FAIR! Emergency Care in the Outdoors (ECO) is a series of courses that gradually build upon each When you add other, non-environmental elements other. The courses enable the student to enter into the mix – logistics, communications, team with little or no clinical skills and progress to skill mix, ergonomics and other agencies – the the same level as entry level winch operators potential for ‘human factors’ adds even more employed across the UK on helicopter search fuel to the fire. and rescue (equivalent to Emergency Medical High quality care – the Gold Standard – can Technicians). only be achieved through teamwork and a Final point, the level of clinical capability counts greater understanding of how those teams work. for nothing unless the care provider can Many rescue organisations have recognised the contextualise that care in an appropriate manner. need for a patient-centred approach when dealing with the injured and ill in outdoor environments. Outreach Rescue Medic Skills is based in There are some excellent providers of clinical North Wales, and is currently supports students education catering for outdoor environments, from non-governmental organisations, UK and ensuring their knowledge, experience and skills sometimes known as the ‘Gold Standard’. overseas SAR-H services, the MoD, RAF MRS are reflected in the courses they deliver. The concept of ‘Gold Standard Care’ should be and civilian mountain rescue. Outreach Rescue Medic Skills (ORMS) aims to explored. It’s tempting to assume that the Gold join this community of practice with the launch Standard is defined by what can be read in a TO FIND OUT MORE, CALL 01248 601546 OR of its new range of courses catering for this textbook or a journal. Whilst this is an excellent EMAIL [email protected] niche area of clinical care. starting point, as it ensures that care provision is WWW.ORMS247.CO.UK ORMS has drawn upon over 35 years experience evidence-informed, this fails to recognise the of mountain rescue, helicopter search and rescue, fact that outdoor environments are dynamic, emergency care and our experience in dealing ever-changing and often hazardous to casualty
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