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Diary - March 2009

Tuesday 3rd March 19:30hrs - Casualty Care Training

Phil (Training Officer):

Tonight’s session was with Dr Ian. This is one of two sessions throughout the year that Dr Ian attends as ‘guest lecturer’. The evening was the usual blend of technical medical information, mixed with the odd anecdote here and there. Ian keeps his medical information relevant to our Casualty Care syllabus.

Half way through the session the dreaded gremlin struck the projector. Luckily a strange man in a suit appeared and managed to get it working for a short while before it packed up again. Sorry it wasn’t a stranger, it was Alan sporting some sort of new all weather garment. Watch out (for the longer serving members), if we’re not careful Bernie could resurrect that ‘dickie bow tie’ for the next meeting (although he’s still found of that Russian hat at the moment).

Saturday 8th March 10:00hrs - Callout

Darren (Team Leader):

All the fell runners I know seem to make out that either they are injured or have not been able to do any training, setting up an excuse for a slow race, before sprinting off the start line (clearly having been in training) leaving me wheezing up the first ascent . I on the other hand claim to be too busy at work or with mountain rescue meetings.

In an attempt to do a bit of crafty training for the downfall race I went for a run round the route on Saturday morning, a time when the plateau is often quiet, while people are busy shopping or assembling Ikea furniture. However the Watershed race (42miles overnight) was in progress and there were runners everywhere, blowing my cover story about lack of practice. When I reached the downfall I bumped into a friend from my student days who was leading a “blind” runner, which at first I took to be some sort of charity stunt. It turned out however that his sight had gone during the event and could not see enough to walk without assistance. The offer of a lift from Edale Cross was gratefully accepted and the snatch callout procedure swung into action as we guided him along the edge path.

When I am out with the team it is great, I have a radio, lots of kit and the backup of the team & base support. Out running my kit was pretty much limited to half a mars bar, a pair of tights and my mobile phone – but sadly not enough signal to have a proper conversation with our base. Text messages don’t need as much signal to get through and I had managed to start the callout process while I moved to a location where I could call base.

As we reached Edale Cross we were met by Mike & Pete. The runners who were OK carried on their race and our “blind” runner took a seat in the landrover for the slow decent down the rocky Edale Cross track back to Hayfield. As we reached the lower section of the route we met the team’s second Landrover waiting in case any of the rest of the group had needed a lift back.

Once in the vehicle the runner’s sight started to improve and continued to do so back at the hut. Bernie then drove him back round to Edale to be united with his fellow runners.

Wednesday 11th March

Phil (Training Officer):

Tonight’s session was the ‘theory’ part of our Water Hazard Awareness curriculum. This is one two Water Hazard Awareness sessions that we class as compulsory. All team members must attend these sessions at least once over a two year period. The second session is one of our annual exercises and involves practicing all the ‘practical’ stuff.

Neale went through all the ‘do’s and don’ts’, using power point presentation and the odd team volunteer to help demonstrate the kit used.

Next year, the format for this particular session may change as Neale could be replaced by a DVD. This will be as a result of the regional programme being revised and new teaching aides (DVD) introduced to all teams. At least our DVD played will probably be more reliable than the slide projector which ‘conked out’ for the second week in succession. Luckily Chris brought a replacement (or did he sabotage the team one?)