Cave and Mountain Rescue in parts of Cumbria, Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales
Busy training week-end, followed by 'real action'
Submitted by cromedia on Tue, 02/06/2009 - 12:14.
Volunteers from the three North Yorkshire rescue teams operating in the Dales shared a two-day training programme at Clapham and Ingleton at the week-end, but had barely finished when called to the real thing, at Giggleswick Scar
The event was run by Dave Gallivan and Pam Hickin of the Cave Rescue Organisation for members of their own team, as well as those from Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team, together with officers of North Yorkshire Police – about fifty people each day. In the grounds of Ingleborough Hall, Clapham, on Saturday, everyone went round a ‘carousel’ of short training or briefing sessions covering water safety (in The Lake!) patient ‘packaging’, a stretcher carry, setting up a tripod and using it for a vertical stretcher haul, displacement of fumes or foul air in a mine or cave, personal safety and proper procedure when an incident may include a ‘crime scene’ and North Yorkshire Police’s major incident communication system. The day was rounded off with a presentation on dealing with downed aircraft (with particular emphasis on personal safety) delivered by CRO member Bill Batson, formerly Chief Instructor with the RAF Mountain Rescue Service.
Sunday’s events were based at Ingleton’s great new venue, Mealbank Hall, on the site of the old Scout Hut. They included four stretcher evacuations from a cave accessible only by special permission, applying yesterday's water safety lessons (in the river), rock splitting with plug and feathers, rock-lifting with low-pressure air bags and a safety briefing from Sea King aircrew from RAF Leconfield, prior to 18 team members and Police officers being flown to the summit of Ingleborough then winched down to terra firma. A 54-year old woman from Preston with an injured wrist – not part of the training exercise – was flown back down to Ingleton and taken to her car, in Clapham, by CRO Land Rover.
The informal conclusion seemed to be that everyone would benefit, if the teams trained together more frequently than of late, as equipment and procedures varied from team to team. It was also very helpful to have Police involvement, to improve mutual understanding’. Unfortunately, the final debrief had to be cancelled when Yorkshire Ambulance Service asked for help with a possible heart attack, at Giggleswick. Members of CRO and UWFRA went to an area known to climbers as ‘Giggleswick Scar South’, where they worked with YAS paramedics and a doctor to evacuate the patient to a Yorkshire Air Ambulance, waiting on the golf course. The site is particularly difficult for a rescue, being steep with very loose scree and edged with dense woodland and scrub. It is understood that the Cheshire man, aged 63 had been climbing, but had descended to rest. He was flown to Leeds General Infirmary.
As if there had not been enough activity at the week-end, UWFRA members were called to assist Yorkshire Ambulance Service with a stretcher evacuation near Springs Canal, Skipton on Monday afternoon. A small team from CRO went to Horton in Ribblesdale on Monday evening, following a report that 12 or 13 students from Merseyside were overdue on a circular training walk. Their route was meant to go no further than Birkwith and Old Ing before returning to Horton, but somehow they reached Greenfield, where local advice soon put them straight! CRO members found nine of the group between Old Ing and Birkwith, walking towards Horton, then a separated group and their supervisor near Sell Gill. All were returned to Horton in Ribblesdale for some helpful advice. UWFRA helped by checking the Langstrothdale end of the potential route, but were stood down when the group was found.
