MP joins mountain rescue exercise

MP for Macclesfield, David Rutley, braved a cold November evening to act as a casualty for a training exercise run by Buxton Mountain Rescue (BMR) in Macclesfield Forest.

The training exercise centred on a scenario in which David, as the casualty, became stranded in the forest, after walking and slipping down a steep mountain bike trail. The exercise, which lasted from 7.00pm till 10.00pm, gave 22 members of the rescue team the opportunity to hone their first aid skills, and work on how to respond quickly to a real emergency. Team members worked hard during the exercise, to quickly locate David and treat him as they would any real casualty; even though they had already been on two rescue missions that day. In total, BMR volunteers have been out on 85 call outs this year so far.

This is not the first time that David, Vice-Chair of the APPG for Mountain Rescue and Co-Chair of the APPG on Mountaineering, has worked with Mountain Rescue teams from the local area. In 2012, David accompanied Kinder Mountain Rescue on a search and rescue training exercise, and in the same year met with the Buxton Mountain Rescue Team, although this was David’s first time as a volunteer casualty. On both occasions, David expressed his strong support for the important work of mountain rescue teams, work that is especially important at this time of year. With the clocks going back in recent weeks, it is easy for hill walkers to forget that the evenings have drawn in, leading some to find themselves stranded in upland areas and in need of rescue.

Buxton Mountain Rescue is one of seven voluntary teams responsible for the recovery of lost or injured people in the Peak District. The team, of around 55 volunteers, meets every Thursday for training, with 8 additional daytime training exercises throughout the year. As well as callouts and training, the team spends a great deal of time fundraising. Mountain Rescue in England and Wales does not receive any Government funding, so the £25,000 per year it takes to keep the team running is raised by the team. This year, the team is looking to raise an additional £45,000 to bring a new vehicle into operation.

Following the exercise, Peter Parker, a Team Member at BMR said: “The team were pleased that David was able to spend time with us, which allowed the team to demonstrate the work of mountain rescue volunteers. This was a plausible training scenario of an incident that can happen to anyone at any time, and it is typical for the majority of our call outs. The team would like to stress that, as the days get shorter and the weather grows colder, anyone venturing into the outdoors should take some basic precautions and be prepared just in case that slip results in a debilitating injury.  Always carry a spare layer of clothing, a torch and a whistle.”

David added: “The work of mountain rescue teams like Buxton Mountain Rescue is vital, especially as the nights begin to draw in making it more likely that some people may find themselves in need of rescue. The training exercise was well attended, even after the team’s busy day, and I know first-hand that when they are needed they carry out their work with speed and professionalism. I will continue to support their efforts in the future, and I would encourage others to do so via their website http://www.buxtonmountainrescue.org.uk/”