Patrick Relay News from the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team Spring 2022
A New Set of Wheels Having a fleet of vehicles, fit for purpose, is fundamental to the successful operation of the Team and the latest addition to the PMRT fleet is no exception. Our Team ‘off road vehicle’ aficionados have dedicated hours of time to ensuring our new set of wheels meets the grade.
The new Defender is a totally different model to the old ones and is easier to drive as it is automatic – older vehicles are manual – but it’s wider, making some tracks trickier to negotiate. It has state of the art emergency lighting and cameras which record as soon as the engine is running, as well as cameras to enable the driver to see what they are driving over when in off-road mode. A really nifty feature is the capability to go into ‘off-road height’ facilitated by air suspension lifting the vehicle body so it can drive over deep ruts and rocks. Some techie stuff: Old Defenders only have low box and diff lock where the new Defender has low box, rear locking differential and various terrain responses, rock crawl, mud and ruts plus many other new features. To introduce the new Defender, all Team members will go through a garage-based familiarity session before practical driving sessions.
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on daily routines; and what to do if something goes wrong when driving off road.
Before driving any vehicles off road, Team members go through a half day practical 4x4 training course consisting of a classroom based session learning about: driving techniques; how to tackle steep climbs; how diff locks work; the vehicles themselves; what to check
The practical training is carried out by LDSMRA/MREW instructors and PMRT are fortunate to have an instructor in-house which helps facilitate ongoing assessment for Team members as they join the Team and then every 3 years to keep their skills up to date.
A Successful Calendar Year
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This will be reinforced by practical off road driving instruction planned for this summer.
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This year’s calendar has been hugely successful, contributing a massive £3,220 toward the purchase of the new rescue boat. Not only was there a bigger print run, as some people were disappointed when stock ran out last year, a number of enhancements were made, including the addition of a bonus month, to make a 13 month calendar. The quality of production and binding
were higher spec - thanks go to Dave Freeborn MBE, President of PMRT and long-standing Team member, who worked closely with Penrith-based printers H & H Reeds to achieve this. Photos from a wider range of photographers were incorporated, two of whom, Carmen Norman and Mark Littlejohn, are professionals. Feedback has been extremely positive; the most often used phrases being “stunning images” and “quality production”. Fundraising team member Ann Childs, one of the driving forces behind the calendar commented: “A huge
part of this success is because our Supporters purchased a calendar via the Team’s on-line shop, sometimes buying several copies. Some new followers were gained as Catstycam The Outdoor Shop in Glenridding sold a significant number to locals and visitors alike. Thank you very much to all who contributed and helped promote and sell the 2022 Calendar; without you it could not have been such a great success. We hope you find the calendar useful and derive great pleasure from looking at the images.”
Visit the Patterdale Mountain Rescue web site at www.mountainrescue.org.uk for latest call outs
A Probationer’s Perspective Probationary Team member, Steve Dixon, reflects on his first year with PMRT.
Early in Spring 2021, I emailed Team secretary, Nigel Harling, enquiring how I could go about joining Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team. Much of the year before had been spent roaming the fells, and I felt I was in reasonable nick for someone in their early sixties. After an interview, I joined as a probationary Team member. The probationary period lasts for 18 months before a final assessment of one’s ability to become a full Team member, but following an intensive first 6 months of training and familiarisation, my
first outing was last autumn and since then I have attended 24 call-outs. On call-outs, anonymous faces crystallise into individuals we can relate to on a personal level, something I hadn’t really thought about beforehand. The people we are called on to help tell us about themselves. They may be scared, upset, apologetic, but they are all very grateful when a mountain rescue team turns up. We are well trained and equipped to deal with the medical needs of casualties, however, just as important, are those less tangible skills that make up our ‘bed-side manner’. This is perhaps one of the under-played skills - to be able to say what’s needed, to reassure, comfort and occasionally cajole. One day it’s light-hearted banter with a mildly embarrassed lost walker, the next could be comforting a family member in a life-threatening situation. This is perhaps the most surprising aspect of the role. The camaraderie of Team membership, the application of varied skills learnt and the challenge of overcoming difficult tasks are not unexpected benefits, but the experience of meeting an individual and being part of a system that provides genuine help in their moment of need is, on balance, a beneficial experience. At my interview, I was asked why I wanted to join the Team. I no doubt gave practical reasons – I live locally and spend a lot of time in the fells, and I will also have said that I want to give something back. But after a year I think I can be more specific – helping people in need is a good thing, obviously for them, but I think for us too.
Education, Education, Education
Mountain rescue isn’t just about rescuing people in need. A recent request was made to visit Shap primary school to talk about the work of the Team. Pupils take part in outdoor education several times a month and had been practicing some first-aid skills outdoors so finding out about mountain rescue was a good fit. Team members Dave Gracie and Tony Recchia visited with a Team Landrover where they laid kit
out in the school playground so pupils could walk round and ask questions. Dave Gracie explained: “We talked about some specific pieces of equipment, including the stretcher, and the ABC (Airway, Breathing and Circulation) and Treatment Sacs, and got the children to compare them to the first aid kits they had been using. Tony introduced the vehicle - the blue lights and siren caused quite a bit of fuss.” Tony
was very impressed that one of the pupils could name all the parts of the Landrover he was pointing to – including the ‘snorkel’ (and knew what it was for!!). Dave and Tony met four year groups; pupils were attentive, genuinely interested in the kit and had obviously spent some time researching as was evident in their structured questioning. A successful visit and (potentially) some future volunteers!
An inspiring story from behind the scenes By the nature of the work that is done at PMRT, we are familiar with both emotional highs and lows and the emergence of heroes from all walks of life. A key member of the Team, our long time cleaner Jayne Hutchinson tells a story that encompasses all of these elements. Jayne and her identical twin sister Anne inherited a genetic condition from their mother, resulting in 2 years of life limiting dialysis. Eventually they were both fortunate enough to get matches for kidney transplantation, Anne in January 2017 and Jayne in May 2017. Heartbreakingly Anne passed away from an unrelated condition less than a year after her transplant. After receiving her own new kidney Jayne always held a dream to meet the family of her donor, to thank them for their incredible gift. She finally set the official wheels in motion in June 2019 with her transplant co-ordination team. Despite the pandemic delaying the process, Jayne met Kari Robert the mother of Ben Dodson, her donor, in March 2022. In what can only be described as an incredibly emotional meeting between the two women, Kari proudly presented Jayne with a book of photographs of her beloved son, a gift that Jayne will always treasure.
Easter Sunday Open Day Spring 2022 saw a welcome return to ‘normality’ for fundraising activities.
The fundraising team dusted down the exhibition trailer and set up in Glenridding on Easter Sunday. Team members and Supporters came together to promote the work of the Team, engage with visitors and catch up with local tourist information staff and shop owners who are incredibly supportive of the Team.
Ben died in a motorbike accident in Edinburgh. Kari explained that on that unbelievably tragic night, as the family walked through the deserted hospital, they realised that someone, somewhere was picking up the phone and hearing the best news of their life. Ben had carried a donor card since the age of 7 and had always shown a definite desire to help others in the event of his death. Kari shared wonderful memories with Jayne, describing a young man who loved and lived life, who instantly lit up a room with his cheeky laughter and spontaneous nature. His hard working, loyal, resilient and intrepid spirit shone through as Jayne and Kari shared their special and unique story. Ben’s donations did not just help Jayne and despite the mind numbing tragedy of losing her son, Kari gained strength from the knowledge that Ben had changed the course of 5 lives in an incredible and special way. The dedication of the scientists and clinicians in advancing transplant treatment and the positive choice of individuals to volunteer as donors in the event of their death, allows the lives of people like Jayne to be totally transformed. A huge thank you to Jayne and Kari for allowing us to share this very personal story. Photo courtesy of Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
To discover information on Organ Donation please go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk
The weather was good and the village was buzzing with visitors – perfect conditions for fundraising and handing out informative mountain rescue literature. The day also saw the launch of the 2022 raffle with lots of great prizes,
to be drawn in October. These can be purchased on line by visiting our web site shop page. Look out for news of open days at the Rescue Centre and local events the Team will be attending this year.
Come in Patrick Scotty ‘Patrick Scotty’ the Team’s Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) has served the Team well for the past 15 years - for training and rescues, perhaps most notably the flooding events in Cumbria in recent years. Whilst still serviceable, succession planning for a new Patrick Scotty is well underway.
The primary function of the RIB is to transport Team members from one side of the lake to the less accessible side and return the casualty and family members back and also, on occasion, to assist anyone on the lake in distress. In addition to fulfilling this basic requirement in a new boat, the Team recognised an opportunity to serve casualties better and keep the Team safer in the process. A boat working party came together to research options and draw up a specification. They consulted several people, most notably: the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency); ex Team member Russ Craig who has been an active member of the RNLI delivering training for them and
The Team’s boat will have 8 seats, the console will be further forward and, of course, the PMRT boat will be orange.
manning a station in Cornwall; and Bob Elliot, power boat Coach, Yacht Master Instructor and advisor to some of the RIB building companies. The boat chosen is the RibCraft 6.8 m Pro, which gives an extra 40 cm in length and an increase in width, giving much more space for a stretcher and small team of medics to manage a casualty. It has twin 115 horsepower engines with two separate power supplies and two fuel tanks, so if one engine were to fail, there’s backup. New recommendations are for all crew to be seated whilst in transit, so the new boat features seats that can be locked in place to a rail that will be set into the deck of the boat, then removed to accommodate the stretcher. Extra features to help support rescues and recovery include side scanning sonar and the possibility of a camera on the underside of the hull with GPS to mark specific locations. It is anticipated the boat will arrive in around 12 months time. The Team are very grateful for the donations and hard work of all the people that are making this happen.
Journalist visit Daily Express reporter, Jan Disley, keen to delve into the impact this influx has had on rescue teams, spent a day with Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
The recent trend to ‘staycation’ has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers in the Lake District, with many visitors venturing into the fells and dales for the first time.
Jan joined a typical training exercise from call-out to completion, taking on the role of “casualty” which provided an insight into the skills, expertise and equipment needed on a rescue.
Team members discussed their motivations for joining the Team as well as some memorable rescues they had been involved in. But what about extra pressures brought about by increased visitor numbers? The key message is to
enjoy the countryside safely by being prepared and knowing how to stay safe in the mountains – a good start point is to follow the advice of the www.adventuresmart.uk scheme.
on to Eelco Docter DTL who Dave Freeborn passes radios Radio Officer. has taken responsibility as new
Articles for Relay We are always looking for interesting articles or letters from supporters. Please write c/o Patrick Relay Editor, Ogilvie House, Patterdale, Cumbria CA11 0PJ The Patterdale Mountain Rescue Association Ltd. is a registered charity No1063329 and is affiliated to Mountain Rescue England and Wales.