Rescuers learn to be cool in a crisis
12:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in News
IT MIGHT be the middle of summer, but that has not stopped determined members of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team from training in the snow.
After spending 40 years rescuing people stuck in tough terrain, the group knows that training in real life conditions is vital.
That is why the members of the 38-strong rescue team descended on the chilly conditions provided by Manchester’s indoor Chill Factor-e.
Team leader Garry Rhodes, who has been involved with the group for 28 years, said: “A lot of our training takes place on the moorlands and in the quarries north of Bolton due to the nature of the terrain we cover, and to be able to practise in real snow conditions is a real bonus.
“Some of our volunteers use Chill Factor-e anyway to practise their skiiing ahead of winter rescues we may have to undertake but it was great to come along as a group and participate in a more formal session.”
The team — which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year — provides a voluntary search and rescue service for the West Pennine Moors.
Members search for missing or injured hill walkers and people involved in mountain biking and climbing accidents. They also help the police in missing person searches and paramedics with difficult to reach patients.
Alan James, who has been a member of the team since its inception, said: “When the rescue team started out it was not unusual to get less than 10 call-outs a year but, with hiking and mountain biking growing in popularity, we are increasingly busy and have responded to 53 incidents already in 2009.
“It is vital that our team of volunteers have the best training to ensure we are fit for whatever conditions we have to face.”
It costs £26,000 per year, or £72 per day, to maintain the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
Call-outs over the past 40 years include a crashed aircraft, hang gliders, hot air balloons and snow sledging accidents.
The busiest year in the team’s history was in 2007, when members dealt with 206 incidents.
For more details about Bolton Mountain Rescue go to its website: www.boltonmrt.org.uk.
