The Magazine of
SCOTTISH
MOUNTAIN RESCUE
Supported by the Order of St.John
www.mountainrescuescotland.org/
Issue 30 FEBRUARY 2013
The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland
®
All enquiries regarding letters, photographs and features for publication should be submitted to the Editorial staff Design Editor Any queries regarding artwork, design and layout etc should be forwarded to the Editor Dave Cawthorn, Tel:- 01750 32342 Mobile:- 07702 162913 email :- cawthers@btinternet.com ALL ENQUIRIES REGARDING ADVERTISING SALES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO Lesley Bryce Advertising Coordinator lesleybryce2002@googlemail.com Articles published in CASBAG do not necessary reflect the views of the Editor or the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland. We are very grateful to all contributors and Advertisers. It is not always possible to include submitted features in the current issue. Those omitted are always kept for future use. MRCofS Executive Committee CHAIRMAN Jonathon Hart
PROJECT MANAGER Andy Rockall VICE CHAIR Steve Penny SECRETARY Scott Douglas
jhart41579@aol.com jonathan.hart@northern.pnn.police.uk
projectmanager@mountainrescuescotland.org
p60sjp@hotmail.co.uk Secretary@MRCofS.org
TREASURER Moira Weatherstone
moiraweatherstone@yahoo.co.uk
MEDICAL OFFICER Brian Tregaskis
briantregaskis@me.com b.tregaskis@nhs.net
TRAINING OFFICER Stuart Johnston
sj@climbmts.co.uk
EQUIPMENT OFFICER Vacant STATISTICIAN Jim Sudd ACPOS MR Manager Andrew Todd ARCCK Tom Taylor
jdcmillforge@aol.com
Andrew.Todd@grampian.pnn.police.uk tom.taylor.arcc@mosstowie.demon.co.uk
Co-opted Members LEGAL ADVISOR Roddy Cormack roddy.cormack@btinternet.com RADIO / COMMS James Coles james.coles@webpresentations.co.uk UKSAROPS (CWG) James Coles j ames.coles@webpresentations.co.uk MLTS Graham McDonald egmcd@btinternet.com MRC Alfie Ingram alfoy.ingram@btinternet.com MC of S Alfie Ingram alfoy.ingram@btinternet.com SMSF Vacant MAGAZINE EDITOR Dave Cawthorn cawthers@btinternet.com Front Cover: Conference Hypothermia Workshop. Photo Ken Keith. The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland (MRCofS) is a Registered Scottish Charity – Number SC015257
editorial Editorial I was absolutely delighted at the response and engagement from team members right across Scotland in regard to the Scottish Mountain Rescue Conference at Glenmore Lodge in November 2012. The subsequent feedback has been exceptionally good and the format of being workshop based but active, skills based and delivered outside (as opposed to indoor slide presentations) seems to have gone down very well with all those attending. The overall theme of the event was ‘preparation for winter conditions’ and it seems timely that we had the event themed along these lines as conditions since Christmas and in particular in the last few weeks have been fabulous for climbing and skiing right across the country. Sadly however there have been a number of tragic incidents this year that have once again provided a reminder for us all that whilst the mountains are beautiful and intoxicating in their winter splendour , the need to have constant respect for the Scottish Winter environment and to be properly prepared are as important today as they have ever been. The response to these dreadful incidents from Scottish Mountain Rescue teams has been simply outstanding and it’s a privilege for me to be the Chair of the MRCofS and to lead this representative organisation that quite simply reflects all that is good in humanity. In particular the response to the Glen Coe , Cairngorm and Loch Einich avalanches, the long searches (often overnight and in difficult conditions) for missing persons right across the country but in particular in the Cairngorms, and the way we work with all our multi agency colleagues has simply been incredible and I remain in awe at the dedication and commitment of you the volunteer team member. Throughout the 2012/13 winter season Stuart Johnson (MRCofS Training Officer) and the growing number of Scottish MR team members actively delivering the National training courses have also done an outstanding job. The fact that we now have National avalanche, winter rigging and search management courses has meant that we are without doubt improving the quality of our service and , most importantly, increasing the personal skills of our volunteers and crucially , improving the survivability of those whom we go to rescue. Please continue to support the development of these important National training programmes and provide feedback to Stu and his team so that they may continue to improve them and provide you a service that you require. Finally the climbing conditions here on the West Coast , as I write this editorial, are fantastic and I hope you all have a great winter season whether it be climbing, skiing or mountaineering and simply enjoy all that is so wonderful about winter in Scotland. Cheers
The Magazine of
SCOTTISH
MOUNTAIN RESCUE
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
Jon
The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland
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Training and Injury Avoidance. Dry Tooling. Avalanche Transceivers. Scottish Ca Avalanche Hazard Evaluation. Fixed Lines and Short Roping Casualties. Winter
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Scottish Mountain Rescue
Any Hour, Any Day, Any Weather
What a fabulous w
ere w s p sho k r o . l w u f t h g The si n i d n a t brillian
...thanks to you and your assistants for organising and hosting a great conference last weekend.
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
Good weekend, very enjoyable.
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as Care. SARLOC. Hypothermia. Train the Trainers – Winter Skills. Rescue on Skis. Navigation and GPS. 4 x 4 Winter Vehicle Recovery. Winter Belays and Rigging.
Supported by St.John
CONFERENCE December 2012
way to end the year!
Supported by the Order of St.John
...I thought i t was an excellent oc casion.
...a truly superb weekend.
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
Best yet! It’s not often these events exceed expectations. Brilliant job.
5
...the passion and energy of the exec team came through in droves
...congratulations on a fantastic weekend! It was well organised, well thought out and great fun.
We all agreed on the bus back that the meal and Di’s talk were highlights
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
I just wanted to thank you for organising an excellent weekend.
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...thanks and well done for an extraordinary effort.
“
...thanks for a fantastic weekend, really enjoyed it!
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
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SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE November 2012
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esreveR Polarity in Compasses
Nigel Williams Glenmore Lodge
Reverse polarity is where the magnetism in the needle in the compass housing reverses so the red end of the needle points south instead of north. Working in the outdoor industry for 35 years, I had never come across a reversed polarity compass until about 4 years ago. Since then I have personally seen at least a dozen and heard of about 20 more cases, two of which ended in a mountain rescue call out. This problem is unlikely to be caused by proximity to ordinary metal, a penknife for instance (how would the military survive with all their armoured vehicles?). I have a box of about 20 assorted compasses all mixed together, they are strongly affected by each others magnetic needle yet once separated they have never reversed as their magnetism is actually quite weak. So what is going on?
Could it be batteries? Many of us will have repeatedly had AA or AAA batteries in a head torch or GPS for instance adjacent
MR folk carry radios with a speaker which again has a very strong influence on the needle. I
have recently come across a few manufacturers producing clothing items with magnets in. Fingerless gloves but with a flap that can be pulled over the finger ends that turns them into mittens, when not required the flap is held in place on the back of the hand with a magnet! Potentially a worrying thought if you are compass in hand trying to follow a bearing. However if these mitts are stuffed into the rucsac lid or pocket with a compass you have another potential to reverse polarity. Also came across a belt on a mountain trouser that has a magnet in the plastic buckle to help secure it together. We need to make a much more conscious effort to keep our compass isolated from modern devices, from phones to digital cameras, GPS, radios, avalanche tranceivers and SPOT devices. Try experimenting with all your devices near your compass so that you are aware of the ones that have a significant affect and keep them apart whether using them or storing them. A reverse polarity compass could have a life threatening consequence; I treat mine as a scientific instrument.
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
After a little research it appears that the guilty culprit maybe the smartphone, iphone, Blackberry generation of mobile phones and in some cases - those with a leather pouch that have a small magnet in that puts the phone into a hibernate mode. An experiment of stroking one of these devices on a compass reversed the polarity after just a minute or so. It is not hard to envisage this happening quite by accident with a phone and compass lying together in the lid of a rucsac or jacket pocket on a days walk. The needle can be reversed back by again repeatedly stroking a magnet along the needle. This just illustrates the power of a magnet on a compass needle. (However I worry as to the strength of the re-magnetised needle and how easily it might reverse again). The compass manufacturers would not support you sorting this problem yourself. They do warn against leaving compasses near metal objects in the instruction leaflet so they may not feel obliged to offer a replacement.
to our compass in the rucsac over many years without effect. Pass your head torch or GPS by your compass, it hardly affects the needle, in fact less effect than another compass would. So that does not explain the sudden increase of incidents. Mobile batteries are different being rechargeable, but remove it from your phone and put it by your compass - little or no effect, now try the mobile phone without the battery - it has a strong effect, I suspect from a magnet in the speaker system. This also illustrates that whether the phone is switched on or off is irrelevant.
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Â
Scottish Mountain Rescue Memorandum of Agreement THE BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY Northern Scotland and THE MOUNTAIN RESCUE COMMITTEE OF SCOTLAND AGREEMENT To establish the detail of partnership working between the British Red Cross and the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland regarding the operation of SARCOM in responding to search and rescue incidents across Scotland AGREEMENT This Memorandum of Agreement is made on the 1st October 2010 BETWEEN:
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
British Red Cross in Northern Scotland: A body incorporated by Royal Charter and a charity registered in England & Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738) whose Area office is at Forbes House, 36 Huntly Street, Inverness IV3 5PR.
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And The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland: A Charity registered in Scotland (SC015257) 1). OBJECTIVES OF AGREEMENT To define and detail the provision of
SARCOM in support to the Police and members of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland at search and rescue incident in the provision of SARCOM (The Search and Rescue Communications Unit) owned and operated by the British Red Cross shall be: a) As a priority to provide direct assistance to any Police Force in Scotland at their request and via them any Civilian Mountain Rescue Team who, in the management of any search and rescue incident, require communications support. b To provide a response to any search and rescue incident at the request of any Police Force in Scotland not directly involving any Civilian Mountain Rescue Team. c) To provide essential communications support at any major incident as declared by any Cat 1 responder in Scotland. 2). SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT The agreement covers the period from 1st February 2013 until 31st January 2014 There will be a initial period of 12 months after which the agreement will be reviewed by both parties, who must then both agree that the agreement has operated successfully. The Operations Director of the British Red Cross (Northern Scotland) and the Chairman of Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland will meet during December to review the operation
of the agreement and to make any revisions which may be required. 3). THE BRITISH RED CROSS It is a priority for the British Red Cross to be able to respond to emergencies and to build the capacity of people and communities to withstand and recover from such events. The British Red Cross is incorporated by Royal Charter and recognised by governments as a voluntary aid society, auxiliary to the public authorities and particularly to the medical services of the armed forces in accordance with the Geneva Conventions for the protection of War Victims. The British Red Cross, as an autonomous auxiliary to the public authorities, responds to emergencies in support of the Category 1 and selected Category 2 responders, as requested by them.
4). THE MOUNTAIN RESCUE COMMITTEE of SCOTLAND
recognise that the participation of both organisations in providing assistance to the Police is entirely voluntary. On all occasions the operational commanders, after taking into account all pertinent factors, will decide if it is reasonable to respond to any request for assistance. 6). CALL OUT PROCEDURES Any request for assistance will come directly from the Police or any other Cat 1 responder as so defined by the Civil Contingencies Act. Any Civilian Mountain Rescue Team leader who requires communications support in the planning and management of any search and rescue incident can make such a request for assistance directly via the Police. We the undersigned, accept the terms contained in this Memorandum of Agreement and undertake to meet our obligations contained therein. Signatories
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
The Mountain Rescue Committee of Operations Director Scotland (MRC of S) is the representative British Red Cross and co-ordinating body for mountain (Northern Scotland) rescue in Scotland. It liaises with all departments, authorities and providers of Chairman Mountain Rescue Committee of search and rescue services in mountainous Scotland terrain. 5). VOLUNTARY SERVICE Both British Red Cross and the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland
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GETTING OUT OF A HOLE – UK Cave Rescue Conference 2012
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
By Alan L. Jeffreys
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The specific nature of outdoor pursuits rather dictates that when accidents occur, it is practitioners of that pursuit who will be best suited to effect rescues. This is certainly true of cave and mountain rescues. It is also almost inevitable that these practitioners will be voluntary. Naturally there is always room for improvement and training, and a vital element in all this is bringing teams together in conference whereby good practice and innovation can be broadcast and shared. Typically, it is the experienced volunteers who are most qualified to undertake these teaching roles, a fact admirably demonstrated in October during the British Cave Rescue Council’s Conference at Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales. Delegates from teams as far apart as Scotland and Cornwall attended along with representatives from European cave rescue organisations, all accommodated in Ingleborough Hall, a local authority Outdoor Pursuits Centre. Proximity to some of the best cave systems in the UK, and the oldest and largest cave rescue depot in Britain, provided a bonus for a busy and very informative weekend, where emphasis on input from all teams allowed for discussion on the best way to tackle individual problems.
Dam building on Leck Fell. Photo. Ivan Young (SCRO) efficient method of retrieving a casualty from a shaft without disturbing the walls. Tested before supply with a 400 kg weight, its safe working load, the frame can be tilted over the shaft, a position held until the casualty arrives at the top, at which point the whole assembly swings back away from the shaft edge, allowing the subject to be removed from the hauling system in complete safety. Underground to surface communications were dealt with in the entrance series of Lost John’s Cavern. Inductor phone radios were used, the old pattern Heyphone versus the new Nicola Mk III prototype. These new sets, currently in development, will be compatible with the older Heyphone and can optionally support blue-tooth headsets, a key pad for text messaging and a facility to record radio traffic. They also have capacitive aerials, removing the need for complicated setups required by Heyphones. Demonstrations were excellent and the new sets will hopefully be available in the spring of 2013.
Rigging the 2:1 rope rescue system in Gavel Pot. (author 2nd from left). Photo: Joe Mellor (Upper Wharefedale Fell Rescue)
A novel session on shoring and damming was held utilising a small surface stream. Recent flooding events, and the need for sufficient depth of water for Fire Service pumps to operate effectively, have called for efficient techniques to pond and deviate water flow. With use of scaffolding, wooden boards and plastic sheeting, delegates constructed a dam in a short space of time which dramatically reduced flow and allowed the team to create an efficient diversion channel. The topic of shoring, perhaps in cases of passage collapse, was touched on, but current practice would be to refer such matters to those who are already experienced cave diggers, accustomed to shoring as a matter of course. Vertical hauling using a Larkin Frame was undertaken at the entrance to Cupcake Pot. This ingenious device is capable of full or half size operation – in this case the latter – and provides a stable, safe and
The Larkin Frame being employed half size at Cupcake Pot, Leck Fell. Photo: Filip Filipović (Croatia) mines, where gas has been encountered.
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
The two days were parcelled into concurrent exercises/events, offering a choice of topics for delegates. On Saturday, everyone was transported by mini-bus to Leck Fell ( housing a number of classic British cave systems) and given an opportunity to participate in three of a selection of practical sessions, all overseen by highly experienced operatives from Yorkshire’s CRO. Within the huge entrance complex of Gavel Pot, two pitch rigging systems were installed, a 2:1 assist for an injured caver attached to a single rope, and a 1:1 haul of a loaded, rigid, Neil Robertson stretcher up a 12 metre drop which required a long deviation to clear an awkward crux near the top. Some very useful comparisons of different team methods proved instructive.
Back at Ingleborough Hall, a stone lined access tunnel in the grounds proved to be just the place to attempt foul air extraction. The tunnel and ice house were filled with a dense orange smoke and attempts made to extract it with portable battery operated air moving equipment. Although bad air is not a serious problem in cave rescue, there have been incidents, particularly associated with abandoned
Saturday was rounded off with the customary light hearted cave rescue race down Clapham Beck, an evening meal at the Hall and
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entertainment from local band ‘The Swarm’ (and of course the bar). Sunday consisted of several concurrent events. In the CRO depot there was a table top exercise, highlighting the operational priorities of a Cave Rescue Controller. Held in real time, it envisaged an overdue solo caver who, it transpired, was injured down a very large cave system. Emphasis was placed on managing and acting on information supplied, thinking ahead, and co-ordinating response from a multiplicity of emergency services. There was a very effective session on pain relief, where pieces of pig carcass were subjected to bone breaking violence to show how much force was required to cause fractures and subsequently how these injuries damage surrounding tissue. Thereafter, careful packaging and handling of casualties were identified as significant factors in contributing to a successful rescue. Various drugs were discussed and discussion held on the desirability of members being able to gain the Casualty Care for Mountain Rescue qualification. One of the Polish delegates commented that, like many other continental teams, his ordinary team members are not allowed to administer any drugs. A doctor has to be present even for paracetamol. The audience included cavers who had been casualties and they agreed that intra nasal muscular morphine was slow to act in a cold casualty – and cave casualties are always cold. Several folk had used nasal morphine and promoted it as being much faster acting though it sounded more complex to administer. Following this rather gruesome topic was a comparison of the various stretcher patterns available for cave rescue, their merits and demerits. Included in this was a demonstration of Z-rig mechanics. Finally, a test rig was used to reveal the strength of tape slings in various states of repair from brand new to partially cut or abraded. These latter failed at a low breaking strain and underlined the need for vigilance in checking and renewing stock at regular intervals. Cutting a sling across half its width reduced its strength by 50%, but a few minutes of abrasion with a file reduced the breaking load by more than 60%. That sling looked only mildly furry and might well pass an inspection, while a tape with a small cut would be instantly rejected though it would, in fact, be stronger. The day was wound up with a plenary session when a local coroner addressed the conference. He gave some excellent advice on how to present evidence to a fatal accident inquiry, emphasising that generally speaking, it is desirable that as complete a record of the rescue operation as possible should be preserved, particularly operational decisions. Photographs are also very useful. Evidence should be presented in simple, easy to understand terms, and should include only that of which the witness has direct knowledge. This informative conference was hosted and organised by members of the Cave Rescue Organisation giving voluntarily of their time and
Demonstrating cave rescue stretcher at Ingleborough Hall. Photo: Steve Finch (Yorkshire CRO) expertise. Obviously there were overheads – the hire of Ingleborough Hall, accommodation, meals and transport, which were covered by the attendance fee of £47 (for two nights including all meals), but delegates who only turned up for the various workshops were
Coroner Geoff Fell about to address the conference. Photo: Alan Jeffreys (SCRO)
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
admitted free. Best of all, beer was only £2 per pint for everyone! All
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Orange smoke filling ice house tunnel prior to extraction attempt. Photo. Ivan Young (SCRO)
Tea break on Leck Fell during the practical exercises. Photo: Ivan Young (SCRO)
SARDA: How it all started Bob Sharp & Bill Jennison
Cath & Hamish Catherine MacInnes, Hamish MacInnes and Rangi – (© Sandy Seabrook)
Introduction This article is an edited version of the history of search dogs, and SARDA in particular, taken from our new book - ‘Search and Rescue Dogs: The Remarkable Story of Search and Rescue Dogs from the Mountains to the Shore’. There is little information on this subject in the public domain although snippets can be found on various SARDA websites and a particularly good account is given by Ernest Dudley in his 1970 story of ‘Rangi: Highland rescue dog’. However, this book has been out of print for many years.
Readers may find the tenor of our notes in places slightly patronising or trite. Please bear with us and consider that our book was written for the general population and not just experts in mountain rescue. What we’ve done in this feature is expand on how SARDA came about. We will leave the rather lengthy and somewhat convoluted picture about how SARDA has changed and developed over the past 45 years to another time.
‘A man’s best friend is his dog’. So they say and over the years, they’ve helped us hunt and track, guard and haul, entertain and search. They’ve helped us heal and they are capable of affection, love and friendship in abundance. But dogs are remarkably good at the practical stuff, which has made them a valuable asset in the world of search and rescue. There are early references in literature to tracking techniques, and to dogs using airborne smells to chase their quarry. Bloodhounds – originally bred to hunt deer and wild boar – were often used to track people including, legend has it, Robert the Bruce and William Wallace, as far back as the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. In the sixteenth century, they were used to track thieves and poachers, and runaway slaves. Historically, the breed most popularly associated with dogs helping those in distress is the St Bernard. Their story centres on the Great St Bernard Pass which links Italy and Switzerland and rises to a height of over 2,400 metres. The monastery at the summit was founded in 1049 by Saint Bernard of Menthon and served as a refuge for travellers. It is estimated that around 20,000 travellers used the pass every year and the monks were often called to assist those who were lost or avalanched. Around 300 years ago, ‘St Bernards’ began to accompany the monks on their rescue missions as their ability to negotiate deep snow, and their worth as guides in bad weather conditions, were invaluable traits. The dogs are credited with saving the lives of many lost travellers and even avalanche victims. But, whilst they were probably the first dogs used in mountain rescue, they were not an influencing factor in the formation of the search and rescue dog organisations of today. During the Second World War, the successful use of dogs to locate avalanche victims buried deep in the snow led to the Swiss Army adopting Alsatians (German Shepherds) for operational work. Back here in the UK, dogs were used with great success in the London Blitz to locate people buried in buildings, again by the use of airborne scent. After the war, the Swiss Alpine Club reviewed the existing method of probing for finding the victims of avalanches. As readers will know, this system is still used in Scotland but it is very slow and, whilst thorough, gives a limited chance of finding victims alive. The Swiss Alpine Club considered the previous use of dogs in rescue work, focusing especially on the dog’s natural scenting ability to find people buried under debris, and decided to train dogs for avalanche work, to assist their own rescue netw This proved highly successful and, significantly, was the inspiration for the formal training of mountain search and rescue dogs in the UK. But it was the determination and drive of one man in particular that brought that inspiration home to these shores. Hamish MacInnes takes the initiative “Without encouragement she is off into the corrie we have come to search. Orna’s tail is high. She’s having a ball. It is then, just as the first rays of sun creep over the ridge to our east, it occurs to me that if I had a tail I would be wagging it too because there isn’t anything in the world I would rather be doing. And it was all Hamish MacInnes’ fault.”
Hamish MacInnes (© Hamish MacInnes)
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
In writing the book, one of the key aims was to write a definitive account of the contribution made by Hamish MacInnes. We also felt it was vital to show how SARDA has developed and changed across the years. The former was relatively easy and the great man himself has authenticated the notes we have written about his involvement at the start. The latter was more complicated. Some associations don’t appear to maintain good records and changes in personnel and extent of operation make for a complicated and fragmented picture. There was also a ‘political minefield’ that proved difficult to avoid and we had to tread very carefully on a number of occasions. We failed to come away totally unscathed!
In the beginning
Tom Gilchrist
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calls for help (around 50 each year in 1960) never went unanswered. Police officers and local people, shepherds, gamekeepers, farmers and foresters (with little or no proper training, and often ill equipped with no searchlights, ice axes or crampons, or even climbing ropes) were called out to assist people in distress, sometimes at risk to their own lives. Early search parties were largely dependent on people with local knowledge, gained through their work on the hills. Their only equipment was perhaps a stick or crook and a telescope, their only means of communicating with each other a shout, whistle, or wave of a handkerchief.
1st course Kenny MacKenzie and Fran, Sandy Seabrook and Rory, Willie Elliot and Corrie, Catherine MacInnes and Tiki & Rangi (© Hamish MacInnes) Hamish MacInnes was born in Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway in 1930. He moved to Glencoe in 1959 where he has lived ever since. It is no exaggeration to say he has been a mountaineering legend for well over half a century. He has a prodigious record of achievements as a mountaineer, rescuer, author and consultant and is widely recognised as one of the great British mountaineers. Many readers will know that his contribution to mountain rescue is without parallel.
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
In 1948 he was required to complete a two-year spell in National Service. Up until the end of 1960, all men in the UK aged between 18 and 41 years were required by law to spend two years in military service. Following the Second World War, National Service was undertaken in peacetime situations but national servicemen were often used in full military operations. Many were stationed abroad for a period of time. Hamish completed his National Service from 1948 to 1950 and it was fortuitous that he spent most of his time in the Austrian Tyrol, where he became friends with mountain guide Hans Spielman. Hans owned two dogs that had been used to search for people caught in avalanches. By all accounts, his dogs weren’t specially trained for rescue work and searches were somewhat haphazard affairs, but the seeds of an idea were sown.
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On completion of his National Service, and return to Scotland, Hamish pursued his new-found interest in using dogs to locate people lost in the mountains. He was aware of reports that dogs had been used to help find climbers lost or avalanched in the Highlands but they had been mainly shepherds’ dogs – because they were the only ones in the locality, and they possessed an aptitude for finding lost sheep. The years following Hamish’s return to Scotland marked significant changes in society. The austerity of the war years was beginning to decline and a new sense of mobility and freedom saw many people taking advantage of the outdoors for leisure pursuits. The Cairngorms and Glencoe were opened up for skiing and the long winter season meant people could ski and climb from the end of November through to mid May. Inevitably, as winter sports increased in popularity, there were an increasing number of incidents, with people caught in sudden blizzards, bad weather and avalanches. Civilian mountain rescue had yet to be fully established but
Hamish was convinced this situation could be improved. He felt sure that if dogs were used, trained along the lines Hans Spielman had demonstrated, they would be capable of covering search areas in much less time than a man. In this way, rescue operations could be executed more quickly so the whole process of searching for missing people could be carried out with greater success. Ever the innovator, Hamish began to train his own dog, Tiki. Early in 1960 he had been given Tiki, a seven months’ old Alsatian, by some friends in Glasgow. She proved to be affectionate, obedient and a first class watchdog but, more important, she was intelligent and showed a natural willingness to learn. She seemed to have all the potential to become a first rate search and rescue dog. However, a few months after taking ownership, Tiki fell ill with cancer. Hamish and his wife Catherine were devastated. It looked as if, not only were they about to lose a loved companion, but Hamish’s ambitions to train her as a search and rescue dog would never be realised. The prognosis looked bleak, but Hamish convinced Catherine they should get another dog and train it as they had trained Tiki over the past year. Unknown to Hamish and Catherine, an advertisement to sell a young Alsatian had been placed in the Greenock Advertiser. The puppy had been bought as a pet for the owner’s children, but they soon learned they’d made a mistake. The children lost interest, there was nowhere for the dog to run, it was given little exercise and received no obedience training. The advertisement attracted no attention so the owners decided to have the dog put down. However, the veterinary surgeon convinced them that, as the dog was so good looking and physically very strong, he should be given a reprieve. So a second advertisement was placed in the local press.
Rip Rip was a stray dog who had a canny knack of searching for and locating people trapped under rubble and debris following air raid in London. It was partly due to Rip’s outstanding skills that local authorities later decided to train dogs to trace missing persons. (© Imperial War Museum)
Glencoe 1974 1974 course in Glencoe. Kenny MacKenzie can be seen on the far left – (© Roger Smith) Again, fortune was to play a part in Hamish’s involvement with search and rescue dogs. His sister, who lived in Greenock, noticed the advertisement and, knowing her brother was looking for a dog, contacted him with the news. His response was to call his wife, who was working as a locum GP in nearby Dunoon. Catherine decided to pop in and see the dog on her way back home to Glencoe. She was impressed by the dog’s appearance. Its coat was black and silver instead of the normal black and tan and it seemed in good physical condition, but it was quite apathetic, having had no exercise for many weeks. Catherine was concerned the dog’s living conditions might have had a serious psychological effect: would it ever learn to be a useful search dog? Nevertheless, she agreed to take it and, following a fraught journey during which the dog was constantly sick, she reached Glencoe and home.
expedition. One of his climbing colleagues, George Ritchie, agreed with Hamish that there was merit in establishing some kind of search and rescue dog team. Hamish had mixed feelings, as an initial attempt by him to use dogs for searching proved unsuccessful. On this occasion he had acquired a pair of Tibetan Mastiffs to help him track down the famed Yeti on his Abominable Snowman Expedition. George Ritchie encouraged him that he was likely to be more successful with Tiki and Rangi. So, on his return, Hamish set about devising a structured method for training his dogs. His technique started with simple retrieval skills where he would throw an object for the dog to retrieve. He made a point of always shouting ‘Search!’ as the command for the dog to retrieve. He varied the direction of throw and, in time, increased both the search area and difficulty of the terrain. He also used different objects and always threw them out of the dog’s sight. Hamish’s ideas about the usefulness of a search and rescue dog team were picked up by a number of influential and interested people. In October 1963, two people paid him a visit: a mountain rescue expert from Norway and Jack Arthur, who was chairman of the Scottish branch of the British Red Cross. They watched Hamish’s dogs in action and the Norwegian visitor asked Hamish what ‘grade’ were his dogs. Somewhat taken aback, Hamish admitted he hadn’t understood the question. The visitor said he was referring to the gradings given to dogs that had undertaken training for avalanche rescue work. Hamish didn’t know things were so well established abroad and wondered if he could become involved in some way. Taken with Hamish’s enthusiasm and commitment, Jack Arthur managed to secure funding from the British Red Cross for Hamish to attend an avalanche dog training course at Thrubsee, Engelberg in Switzerland, later that year. Funding also came from the cigarette manufacturer Player’s, as well as the Swiss Rescue Service. Hamish was the first British person to attend such a course and, although he couldn’t take his own dogs, owing to quarantine regulations, he joined people from a number of other European
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
Almost immediately, Hamish began to train his new dog, which they called Rangi. Obedience training was high on the list of priorities and he found it helped to Wagon work Tiki and his new dog together. The SARDA Scotland getting ready change in Rangi’s for an exercise in Assynt in environment from 1974. Note the old Bedford the cramped flat in lorry liveried up as SARDA Greenock to the fresh (Scotland). (© Roger Smith) open space of Glencoe If space you could add the had an immediate and significant effect. His following notes penned by strength and fitness Kenny MacKenzie - “This grew daily and he soon photograph was taken in The vehicle learned to outpace early 1970s. Tiki. He was a slower was purchased from learner than Tiki and old MOD stock. It was a teaching him to sit, communications vehicle but lie down, retrieve and was re-classified by SARDA stay took many weeks (Scotland) as an ambulance. Most of the casualties carried in it were suffering from self-inflicted illness! of training, but he had a physical quality The vehicle was based in Fort William and used regularly by Lochaber MRT for incidents on Ben Nevis. One that endeared him to of the team members – Alex Howie – was the usual driver and he was also responsible for its maintenance. Hamish. Steep, rough Alex also drove to the scenes for any SARDA operations where it served not only as a search management terrain and long days base but also a bunkhouse for overnight incidents. Its use on rescues was also a good advertisement for on the hill in bad SARDA. AS the vehicle aged, SARDA arranged for its disposal and it was never replaced.” weather had little effect on his energy or enthusiasm. Hamish was sure he could count on Rangi to keep countries with whom he worked in a variety of new and different going long after he himself was exhausted. training situations. The group included police officers, ski instructors, In the summer of 1961, Hamish left Scotland to climb in the mountain guides, hotel workers, bar staff and others from a wide Caucasus Mountains as a member of a Scottish-Russian climbing variety of occupational backgrounds. All of these, like Hamish, were
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volunteers who shared a common interest in helping save people caught in avalanches. Throughout the course, emphasis was placed on using dogs to find people buried under the snow. ‘Victims’ were buried at varying depths and then required to wait for the dog to find them. Hamish was surprised how quickly dogs found buried people, even when the dog had no prior training, and when the search area was extended to several hundred square metres. He noted how, in many cases, the dog went straight to the victim’s location without undertaking a broad search to begin with. Little did he know that many of the search and rescue ideas used by the Swiss had been borrowed from the British, who had used dogs to locate people buried in bombed-out buildings during World War Two. It became clear to Hamish that training a dog is as much about training the handler. To work the dog to best advantage, the handler had to be fully conversant with the nature of snow and avalanche formation, weather conditions and general rescue procedures, as well as understanding the conditions under which a dog can be used most effectively. Great store was placed on the ‘understanding’ between handler and dog. The handler should always have confidence in their dog’s ability to pick up a scent, even if their own hunches differ. Hamish was also introduced to the importance of assessment and the classification system used to grade dogs at different levels of expertise.
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
Following the course, Hamish continued to train his dogs in difficult and challenging mountain terrain. Several others learned of his efforts and came to visit him, intrigued to know whether their own dog could also be trained. One of these was Sandy Seabrook. Sandy was an army sergeant stationed on Dartmoor. He was interested in rescue work and had already established the Devon Cave Rescue Organisation with a friend (and was later to establish the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team in Scotland). Early in 1964, Sandy and his friend had driven to Glencoe for a weekend’s climbing. They decided to camp on the hills and, during the first night out, Sandy’s dog Judy, an Alsatian, went missing. The two men searched for two days to no avail, eventually returning to barracks without the dog. Before their departure, they told local shepherds and the police about the dog but, after two weeks without news,
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they heard a ‘ghostly howl’. They went to investigate and found Sandy’s dog, looking somewhat sorry for itself having not eaten for almost two weeks. Overjoyed with the find, Sandy drove up to Glencoe immediately to collect his dog from Hamish and it was at this meeting that Sandy raised the idea of a training course using dogs for rescue work. Later that year, Kenny Mackenzie, who was the police officer in Kinlochleven, took the opportunity to watch Hamish training Rangi and Tiki. He was fascinated by the way the three worked together and wondered if his own dog Fran, also an Alsatian, could be trained. Kenny explained that his dog was very self-willed, but energetic and intelligent. Hamish was sure the dog could be trained, as long as it was done in the right manner – with patience, know-how and affection. Hamish’s neighbours Walter and Willie Elliot, who were shepherds living further down the glen, questioned whether their two Border Collies might become good search and rescue dogs. The Elliot brothers and their father were not unaccustomed to rescue work in Glencoe, having been involved in searching and rescuing climbers and walkers for many years. Hamish thought the Collies might be trainable but was concerned about their long coats, which would ‘ball up’ quickly as they ran through snow. Unlike Alsatians, which have thick, shorthaired coats, the ballingup problem with Collies would not only impede their progress but also reduce body temperature. However, he felt Collies would be fine in conditions when the weather was more favourable and the ground not covered in snow. Others expressing a keen interest in Hamish’s work included Mike Hammond, who ran a climbing school in Ballachulish, and Tom Mackenzie, a forester from Aviemore. Mike had a longhaired Pyrenean puppy, which he had begun to train, and Tom had an Alsatian bitch. Tom paid a visit to Hamish and was so enthused by what he saw that he started to train his own dog immediately he returned home. The first training course As 1964 progressed, Hamish became more and more certain the time was right to bring together the growing interests of the many people who were training their dogs for search and rescue, and to formalise all he had learned about training dogs and handlers. So, with strong support from his wife Catherine and his friends, he decided to build on his Engelberg experience and run a bespoke course in Glencoe.
The start date was 14th December and the course was planned to run for five days. It was advertised far and wide and attracted local people as well as others from further away, including the Chief Constable of Argyll Constabulary. Handlers on the course included people from Scotland, England and Wales. In addition, and with one eye on publicity, Hamish invited members of the media, including BBC and newspaper reporters. Each day of the programme included both daytime and evening sessions and, as with the Swiss course, each dog was assessed and graded as they were in Switzerland. Successful dogs were graded into one of three categories. Grade Hamish House A was for novice dogs that would be permitted This is Hamish MacInnes’s former cottage in the middle of the Glen where the meeting to take part in daytime searches. Grade B was for to establish SARDA took place in May 1965. (© Bob Sharp) more experienced dogs and, if the handler was a competent all-year round mountaineer, the letter M was appended. Grade C was for qualified dogs and they gave up hope. Then Sandy received a phone call from Hamish handlers who had actually made a find during a call-out and had MacInnes. He and a party had been camping in the same area as also attended a course in Glencoe to demonstrate their ability to Sandy two weeks earlier and, as they huddled around a campfire, locate in snow conditions. Hamish felt that assessment was a critical
part of the training regime: it not only demonstrated the intense and progressive nature of training, but also gave it credibility and official recognition. A key feature of assessment, established right from the start, was its ongoing nature. Dogs and their handlers would be assessed but would need to be reassessed on a regular basis as a way of maintaining exacting standards. Hamish was aware that, whilst some of the aspects he had borrowed from the Swiss experience were highly relevant to Scottish conditions, there were also differences. Search and rescue dogs in Switzerland were trained primarily to locate people caught in avalanches. Whilst there was an avalanche risk in Scotland, Hamish felt dogs could also be put to great use to locate walkers and climbers lost in poor weather. In this regard dogs would need to be trained in all weather conditions – not just when the ground was snow-covered – and trained to search large areas of terrain, both open and mountainside. Search dogs and their handlers should, therefore, be much more versatile in the kinds of assignment they were required to undertake. The first course proved popular and was highly successful.
to include his wife Catherine, Kenny Mackenzie, Walter and Willie Elliot. By the meeting’s end they had agreed to set up a dedicated organisation, its two prime aims to further the development of search and rescue dogs in Britain, and to raise funds to help pay for the cost of training and rescue work. It would be entirely voluntary, raising funds through its own efforts. The intention was to develop a national association, and arrange an annual course, based in Scotland, to help train and reassess dogs that had been working during the year. Membership was open, not only to climbers, but to anyone with an interest in training dogs for search and rescue. Anyone who lived and worked in the mountains – gamekeepers, police officers, military personnel, foresters, and shepherds – who was a competent mountaineer could apply. Hamish invited a number of well-known people to serve as patrons. Sir Vivian Fuchs, a well-known explorer and climber at the time, agreed to be the honorary president and others, including Lord Hunt, agreed to be patrons of the association. Hamish himself took on the role of secretary; Catherine was the medical adviser and Willie Elliot the treasurer. SARDA – the Search and Rescue Dog Association – had finally come into being. “Occasionally, people ask why I’m still involved 25 years on. The answer is simple and I saw it plainly that night the two men went missing. It was written in the faces of the relatives as they looked out to sea. As we moved away to begin the search, they each turned and looked at us. There was trust and expectation in their eyes. They knew we were their last and only hope of seeing their loved ones.”
Joy Grindrod Postcard Front/Postcard Rear Front and rear covers of an early fundraising idea of SARDA Postscript If any reader wishes to look in more detail, there are a number of current sources available, viz., Bradshaw, J. (2011). In defence of dogs: Why dogs need our understanding. London: Allen Lane.
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Coren, S. (2006). The intelligence of dogs. London: Simon & Schuster UK Ltd.
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Guy, M. & Nicolson, I. (2010). Search and Rescue Dog Association. MREW website - http://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/assets/files/ The%20Oracle/Other%20agencies/SARDA.pdf.
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Powell, N. (2011). Search dogs and me. Belfast: Blackstaff Press.
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Sharp, R. H. & Jennison, B. (2012). Search and rescue dogs: The remarkable story of search and rescue dogs from the mountains to the shore. Kirkby Stephen: Hayloft Publishing Ltd.
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Syrotuck, W. G. (2000). Scent and the scenting dog. Pennsylvania: Barkleigh Productions, Inc.
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Wilhide, E. (2011). Publishing.
Extraordinary dogs.
London: Quadrille
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Only a small number of people were involved including Catherine MacInnes, Walter Elliot, Kenny Mackenzie and Sandy Seabrook. Sandy was the only person from outside Scotland to attend the pilot course and, at the subsequent formal course a year later, he and his dog Rory became the first ever team in England to become qualified with SARDA. The course convinced everyone there that dogs could be used effectively to locate people missing or buried in snow. It also showed, particularly to the police authorities, that dogs are an additional and unique resource to support the existing emergency services in the search for missing persons. But the course revealed something else: that, if the training and assessment of dogs was to continue and develop, it needed suitable coordination. It seemed logical that a formal organisation should be created to oversee the work.
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And so, in May 1965, Hamish called a meeting at his house,
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New Support Officer at Scottish Mountain Rescue Andy Rockall has joined Scottish Mountain Rescue on a one year contract providing support services to the Scottish mountain rescue community. Based at the National Outdoor Training Centre, Glenmore Lodge Andy will deal with public and media enquiries administer national training events and support the work of the Executive. Jonathan Hart Chairman of Scottish Mountain Rescue said “We are delighted to welcome Andy to the role. A time of change is coming to Mountain Rescue in Scotland and the support that Andy will provide allows the Executive to focus on the strategic issues that face us.”
Andy who is an active member of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team and lives in Aviemore said “Individual rescue teams do a marvellous job, it is vital that there is a strong organisation representing and supporting them at the national level. After about 8 years involvement in 2 mountain rescue teams I’m really pleased to get an opportunity to support the work at national level.” Shaun Roberts who has returned to Glenmore Lodge as Head and Safety and Rescue after his secondment to Scottish Mountain Rescue said “I really enjoyed my time. It was very different to my role as a full-time instructor and I learnt a lot. Andy is in for a busy time and I wish him well with the work.” Andy is working in this role 24 hours a week and can be contacted on 01479 861370 or emailed at projectmanager@
mountainrescuescotland.org Editors Notes: Further information on Scottish Mountain Rescue, please go to www. mountainrescuescotland.org The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland is the voluntary organisation that represents the 33 Mountain and Cave Rescue Teams within Scotland. It consists of a voluntary Executive that is currently supported by a full time Project Manager. St John Scotland improves the safety, health and quality of life of people in need in Scotland and overseas. It has donated nearly £3m to Scottish Mountain Rescue for vehicles, bases and other requirements since 1998. It is part of the same organisation as St John Ambulance. Find out more on www.stjohnscotland.
National Award Goes To Mountain Rescue First Aider
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
At the inaugural Scottish First Aid Awards, last night (29/11/12), Philip Glennie, from Ballater in Royal Desside, was named Workplace First Aider of the year.
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Working for Braemar Mountaincraft, Philip received the award for individuals or organisations in the private sector that champion first aid training to their staff, the public and their customers Organised by St Andrew’s First Aid as the culmination of Scottish First Aid Week, the Awards are held to find champions of first aid in Scotland and raise awareness that these skills can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved - in the workplace, at school, or in the community
Judges were impressed by Phil’s enthusiasm for delivering quality first aid. As well as running various levels of courses Phil regularly assists voluntary groups such as Girl Guiding UK, the Scouting Movement and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. A member of Scottish Mountain Rescue for 25 years, his contribution in terms of First Aid training and practical on the hill delivery has been invaluable. Stuart Callison, CEO of St Andrew’s First Aid, said, “Congratulations to Phil for leading the way and helping Scotland become more first aid aware. I hope their actions and story will encourage others to take up the challenge and learn vital first aid techniques.” Phil received the honour during the Scottish First Aid Awards evening held in Glasgow City Chambers. Over 250 attended to acknowledge Phil as well as the other winners and nominees. Britain’s Got Talent winner, Jai McDowall joined pupils from Kirkintillloch High School to perform an outstanding rendition of Proud before going on to sing three solo songs whilst broadcaster Scott Wilson hosted the evening.
The awards evening raised over £13,000 to support St Andrew’s First Aid volunteers and awareness raising campaigns across Scotland. For more information about the awards, Scottish First Aid Week, volunteering for St Andrew’s First Aid or to download free advice and guides visit www.firstaid.org.uk. For more information please contact Joe Walton at Real PR on 07968022684 or email joe@real-pr.
Killin MRT Six Members of Killin Mountain Rescue Team received a commendation from The Chief Constable of Central Scotland Police at a ceremony held at Police Headquarters Stirling recently. Called to Ben Ledi on the evening of 2nd January 2012 Killin Mountain Rescue Team went to the aid of a solo hillwalker, lightly equipped, stranded on the summit due to the sudden onslaught of blizzards and storm force winds.
‘A grand read Gromit!’ Heather Morning Search and Rescue Dogs The remarkable story of search and rescue dogs – from the mountains to the shore Authors: Bob Sharp & Bill Jennison Hayloft Publishing Ltd 2012 ISBN: 1-904524-75-3 Cover price £25 Search and Rescue Dogs is a ‘cracking’ read for anyone who enjoys dogs and /or the mountains of Scotland. It is a well-researched; informative and entertaining look at a remarkably designed piece of equipment for mountain rescue - the dog - one day a dog might save your life!
Interspersed with entertaining stories, clear diagrams and stunning photography, the reader will not fail to be inspired and educated about our versatile friend and work mate. Copies can be obtained direct from the Publisher at www.hayloft.eu or signed copies from the authors (contact Bob Sharp at lomondbob@gmail.com)
6 Killin Mountain Rescue Team members reached the casualty on the summit, battling waist deep powder snow and wind speeds gusting 50 mph.They assisted him down the summit ridge, where they were joined by the rest of the search party and led safely down the hill to his wife who was waiting at the foot of the hill. Had he not been located he may well have perished as the storm continued overnight and throughout the following day, and would have seriously hampered any search of the hill. The 6 Killin MRT members who reached the hillwalker on the summit, and received the commendation are shown in the picture along with the senior Police Officers of Central Scotland Police who made the presentation.,
Chief Constables Commendation contained the following statement: Presented for his considerable bravery and laudable actions On the 2nd January 2012 name along with 5 other members of the Killin Mountain Rescue Team displayed outstanding bravery and dedication to duty in effectiing the successful rescue of a person who had become lost in severe winter weather whilst walking on Ben Ledi. The Killin Mountain Rescue Team was alerted to the dire predicament of a walker on Ben Ledi who had been caught in severe winter weather and white out conditions. Fearing for his life, the walker managed to contact his wife and subsequently the Killin Mountain Rescue team were mustered. At great personal risk, the Team utilised their mountain rescue winter navigation skills and extensive experience to locate the stranded walker and effected his successful rescue in extremely challenging conditions signed Chief Constable Bill Rose Secretary Killin MRT
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
The dog is unique; every other piece of mountain rescue equipment is a man-made inanimate object. This book is our opportunity to understand that unique piece of kit and how mountain rescue dogs support the work of our mountain rescue teams. There is a lovely sentence in the book ‘The senses are our window to the world’ this could not be better illustrated than with a dog’s remarkable sense of smell. The dog’s ability in challenging weather, terrain and poor visibility to use this masterful ‘tool’ for the advantage of mountain rescue teams should never be underestimated.
Unable to see or make any headway in waist deep powder snow. the hillwalker called for help on his mobile phone and was told to shelter and remain near the Ben Ledi summit cross until help arrived.
Picture left to right Chief Inspector Findlater, Callander, Killin MRT members, Rob Scott, David Luti, Calum Menzies, Central Scotland Chief Constable Derek Penman, Killin MRT members Mike Kreis, Andrew Leishman, Mark Nicols.
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Scottish Mountain Rescue
Red Cross Radios To Aid Mountain Rescuers The British Red Cross is donating more than 50 radio sets to help Scotland’s mountain rescuers save lives. The equipment is being handed over by the humanitarian organisation’s emergency response teams in Northern Scotland. It follows a national upgrade of Red Cross emergency communications systems, which means the 40 multi-channel VHF hand held sets and 12 vehicle radios are no longer needed. The handover will take place at a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Advisory Board Scotland Voluntary Group (RABS VS) meeting on Tuesday 29 January. The sets will be passed to a representative of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland. Nigel Stafford, Red Cross senior service manager for emergency response and resilience in Northern Scotland, said: “Like the Red Cross, Scotland’s mountain rescue teams are dedicated to helping people in times of crisis. Giving them the radio equipment we no longer need ensures it will continue to Source: be putRoss-shire to theJournal best possible use, saving lives. {Main} Edition: Country: Date: Page: Area: Circulation: BRAD info: Phone:
UK Friday 15, February 2013
“The Red Cross is an emergency 5376 response organisation with vast experience of dealing with a wide variety of crises. Good, effective and sq. cm ABC 8121 Weekly rate £2,585.00, scc rate reliable communication is a vital page component of£6.11 emergency response, allowing the best placement and use of resources. 01349 863 248 Keyword: British rescue Red Cross - Scotland, Ireland & Isle of Man “The ethos of the Scottish mountain teamsNorthern is very similar to that of the Red Cross in that we both deploy to preserve life and prevent suffering. We see this as an excellent opportunity for both charities to further develop joint working and support each other in our mutual aim of saving lives.”
SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE February 2013
Alastair Rose, Chair of Scottish Mountain Rescue Resource Group, Said “ The radios gifted to us by the British Red Cross will provide our Scottish Mountain Rescue volunteers with a vital means of maintaining communications during our search and rescue activities. Good communications , particularly in the busy winter months, are essential in our ability improve the voluntary Mountain Rescue service we provide to the members of the public and the communities whom we serve. These radios will enable this to happen and will provide additional resilience to our existing supply of radio equipment.
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In addition the supply of this equipment will mean that our Scottish Mountain Rescue volunteers will continue to have access to a communication system that is also there for their safety as well as the casualties’. We are delighted that the British Red Cross wish to share resources with us. Working together and having strong links for the future, will allow both services to continue to serve the people of Scotland with a world class volunteer response service in emergency situations”. Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs said: “Both the British Red Cross and Scottish Mountain Rescue have incredibly dedicated volunteers who put themselves on the line to help others, often in extremely challenging circumstances. I am delighted both organisations have such strong links in place. This sharing of resources is an excellent initiative that benefits both organisations and helps improve the safety of the men and women who use our natural spaces.”
For further information Contact Derek Masterton 0141 891 4016 or 07818 457589 Produced by Durrants under licence from the NLA (newspapers), CLA (magazines) or other copyright owner. No further copying (including printing of digital cuttings), digital reproduction/forwarding of the cutting is permitted except under licence from the copyright owner. A13055-1 240164695 - MIKSOT
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