EAST CHESHIRE RAMBLERS
EAST Cheshire Ramblers spent a fascinating and informative evening as guests of Buxton Mountain Rescue at their headquarters in Dove Holes.
The visit began with an overview of the history and current organisation of mountain rescue in the Peak District.
The Buxton team is one of seven groups which between them provide coverage of the Peak District, stretching from Oldham and Woodhead in the north to Derby in the south.
Each team covers its own area but can call on assistance from the others when needed.
Mountain Rescue groups co-operate closely with the other emergency services and provide expertise and equipment which they do not have.
The service is purely voluntary, relying on members giving up their own time to train and keep their skills up to date, as well as attending incidents.
Members can be called out at any time and rely on the understanding of employers to allow them to help in emergency situations.
We were shown much of the equipment that the team has available to enable them to help members of the public in difficulties in hill country.
This ranges from the cheap and easily available, such as sit-mats and mosquito nets, through complex and expensive specialised stretchers up to fully equipped ambulances and headquarters vehicles. The team also carries a range of drugs and other medical equipment to help in emergencies on the hills.
To lend a practical aspect to the visit, one of our members volunteered to be strapped on to a stretcher and into the associated body bag designed to hold casualties in position while they are being evacuated across rough ground.
As can be imagined, this equipment imposes a heavy burden on finances – a stretcher can cost several thousand pounds.
It is vitally important that those of us who enjoy activities in the hills contribute to the work of mountain rescue. Donations can be made to the Buxton team on their web page at www.buxton mountainrescue.org.uk.
We came away from the visit with heightened respect for the work that the team does in helping to keep us all safe while we enjoy the wonderful Peak District countryside.