CVSRT the Rescue Post Issue 06.Indd
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Welcome The With Cooper! Fox of Grateful Glencoe Thanks Page 11 Page 12 Page 14 CALDER VALLEY SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM THE RESCUE POST BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER DEC20/JAN21 Support Us cvsrt.org.uk In the event of an emergency, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue Welcome CVSRT attended 96 full team callouts in total last year, with a global pandemic to contend with too. Near the start of the pandemic, CVSRT experienced their busiest single day since the team was formed in 1966, with four separate incidents over a 12-hour period on the hottest day of the year - all this wearing full top-to-toe personal protective equipment (PPE)! Operational costs increased considerably due to the additional PPE required for every callout, whilst all fundraising events were cancelled and donations reduced significantly in what was a worrying time. It’s worth reminding ourselves that Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team are all volunteers who choose to drop everything at a moments notice and rush to the aid of someone in distress, all in support of the statutory emergency services. Safeguarding our community and those in need is why the team exists. None of this would be possible without the unwavering support from our families and very understanding places of work. Without your support, we’d be lost. Tim Ingram, Newsletter Editor ([email protected]) What’s Inside? 3 2020 At a Glance 4 December Callouts 6 January Callouts 10 50years of Search Dogs in England 11 Trainee Search Dog ‘Cooper’ 12 ‘The Fox of Glencoe’ 14 Fundraising & Grateful Thanks 17 Congratulations Laura! 18 Who We Are & What We Do 19 How To Support Us 2 In line with Government COVID19 guidelines, we 2020 At a Glance changed to online training. These regular online sessions were excellently put together, with support Callouts from healthcare professionals (and our friends) Assisting the emergency services when required is within the NHS, and provided all of the information the reason Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team and knowledge to effectively substitute the training (CVSRT) exists and 2020 was a busy year. There we have been used to in the past. were 96 full team callouts in total, with our first of There is, however, some training that can only the year on New Year’s Day. 2020 also saw the be completed in the field and when Government busiest single day since CVSRT was formed in 1966, guidelines allowed, the team were able to with the team out on 4 separate incidents over complete appropriately adjusted sessions for some a 12-hour period. of these key skills. This included a training exercise COVID-19 with Yorkshire Air Ambulance and an intensive Water and Flood Rescue course. The global pandemic is something that has had a huge impact on all of us. As a team we had to Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England (MRSDE) adapt quickly and make significant changes to the We have a really strong search dog team within way we operated to reduce the risk to ourselves CVSRT. These teams are not only ready to respond and the casualties in our care. The additional PPE to every callout CVSRT receive, they also support worn for each job made for some sweaty team other rescue teams which included responding to members during the hotter parts of the year and 7 ‘out of area’ callouts during the year. increased our operational costs as we purchased this much needed equipment. These additional 2020 also saw our search dog team go from operational protocols are still in place today and strength to strength. At the beginning of the year, form part of all our regular activities. Search dog Orion with handler Gary passed their assessment to become a fully qualified operational Fundraising Search dog team - a great result following 3 years As COVID-19 impacted the running costs of training to reach that goal. Later in the year we the team it also affected our ability to raise the welcomed 2 new and very cute additions, Trainee much-needed funds to cover these costs. As a Search dogs ‘Spot’ and ‘Cooper’ along with team we made the decision to cancel the majority handlers Simon and Nic (Spot and Cooper are of our regular fundraising activities the team would the cute ones!), who started their 3-year training have been involved with during a normal year. journey to become qualified Search dogs. However, the local community was on hand to Long Service help, with many people donating online and As a recognition to the commitment many of our purchasing one of our branded head scarfs and members continue to give to the CVSRT, we were some fantastic folk doing even more to help raise honoured this year to be able to present long funds for the team. Just a few of those special service awards to 18 of our operational members. events included: our very own Paul Taylor unicycling The years of individual service range from 10 to 45 the canal towpath system across the country from years representing a combined total of over Runcorn to Goole; Will Carver who completed the 340 years of service to the team. Peak District 75KM Silver Challenge; Robert Batty who took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks; Tracy Cokill Supporters, families and friends and Janet Whitaker amongst others who took The team received a huge amount of help part in the Mountain Rescue England and Wales from the local community during the year with MR’athon; Tinyhorses - Angus, PageBoy and Titan companies offering their support, products and who completed the Tri-Nation Trotathon; all the services to help keep the team operational. fell runners who completed, virtually, the Horsforth Just a few of the companies that have supported Fellandale’s Danefield relay and the CraggRunner’s CVSRT this year include - Totally Screwed Hardware, Stock’s Lane Stinger, and who could forget Amelia Cooper King Distillery, DD Products, Moderna MOT’s who had her long hair cut to support both CVSRT LTD, Mountain Wild, Jacks Barbers Shop, Craggies and the Little Princess Trust? Amelia’s last haircut, Farm Shop, Blazing Saddles Cycles, Drink? Hebden, two years previously, also raised a fantastic amount Score (Europe) Limited and Tristel. of money for the team, which we are very grateful. And finally, thanks to all of our families, firends and Training regular supporters who put in so much hard work Training is an essential part of the team’s ability to and make numerous sacrifices behind the scenes, ensure our ‘core skills’ remain high. Our ‘normal’ without which the team would not be ready and training ended in March 2020, following a dark, able to respond when called upon. wet and muddy stretcher exercise and the Thank you to everyone, with our very best wishes announcement of the first national lockdown. for a happy and safe 2021! 3 December Callouts #1308 Hill Top Farm, Bingley. 4 #1309 Near Ox Heys, Shelf. Sat 26th Dec. At 14:45, CVSRT received a request from Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to assist with the evacuation of a female who had suffered an ankle injury whilst out walking near Shelf. CVSRT members local to the incident were first on scene and provided initial medical care. On arrival of remaining CVSRT members in team vehicles the casualty was provided pain relief, placed in a winter casualty bag then onto a stretcher and carried to the road-head for transfer onto #1309 Near Ox Heys, Shelf the ambulance. Duration 2hrs 40mins In attendance 29 CVSRT, MRSDE Meg & YAS #1306 Search in Wetherby. Mon 14th Dec. At 15:20, CVSRT received a request from West #1310 Widdop. Tue 29th Dec. Yorkshire Police (WYP) to assist with the search for a At 22:07, CVSRT received a request from West high risk missing person in the Wetherby area. Yorkshire Police (WYP) to assist with locating and Due to the area of the search, a joint co-ordinated evacuating a stranded motorist, stuck in snow. response was initiated with our neighbouring team CVSRT were stood down en-route as the motorist Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA). had been able to recover himself and make his As teams were preparing to deploy, we were stood way safely home. Duration 1hrs 40mins down as the casualty was found safe and well. In attendance 12 CVSRT & WYP Duration 2hrs 10mins In attendance 33 CVSRT, 10 UWFRA & WYP 4 x MRSDE search dogs Jack, Wynn, Orion & Meg 2 x Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England (MRSDE) - North East #1307 East Lee Lane, Todmorden. Tues 22nd Dec. #1311 Weavers Gate, Old Town At 01:49, CVSRT received a request from West Yorkshire Police (WYP) to assist with the recovery of #1311 Weavers Gate, Old Town. Wed 30th Dec. a body located near East Lee Lane, Todmorden. At 00:25, CVSRT received a request from West Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the Yorkshire Police (WYP) to assist in a search for a deceased. Duration 2hrs 44mins high risk missing male on the moor above Hebden In attendance 11 CVSRT & WYP Bridge. The casualty was located by the police who provided initial medical care guided by #1308 Hill Top Farm, Bingley. Tue 22nd Dec. CVSRT medical advice. Upon arrival of CVSRT At 12:03, CVSRT received a request from members, further medical care was provided Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to assist with the and the casualty was placed into a winter casualty evacuation of a female who became unwell whilst bag and vacuum mattress. The casualty was out walking from home near Hill Top Farm, Bingley.