Member of Parliament for High Peak, Andrew Bingham, joined members of Kinder Mountain Rescue Team today for one of their frequent training exercises, coupled with the Team also providing safety cover for today’s Kinder Trog Fell Race.

Andrew was assigned to join a hill party, transporting all the ‘heavy’ equipment up the long stretch from Coldwell Clough to Edale Cross. He was able to experience first-hand the work done by the team.

One of the main purposes of the day was a detailed communications exercise, following on from last Wednesdays formal session. Newer members were encouraged to take up the microphone and we had two probationary members, assisted by a full member, running the ‘link’ station from their blustery perch atop Mount Famine. Some 181 runners started the fell race, with very few retiring early and everyone being accounted for. Two runners were treated for minor injuries back at the Scout Hut in Hayfield by team member Mike Chetham.

A very successful day all round (including our ‘sheepish’ Team Leader getting a “Kinder Kiss” from one local hill resident, whose only comment afterwards was “Bahhhhhh”).

Paul Mann
Base Manager, KMRT

Typically the weather was looking set to cancel our scheduled helicopter training. This time, we had a mixture of experience, new and probationary members going to RAF Leconfield (as the last 5 or more attempts have been cancelled due to RAF Search and Rescue operations or extreme weather). As we got nearer to Leconfield, the rain was pouring down. The groans of disappointment were beginning to resonate in the minibus.

Luckily, after our aircraft familiarisation/safety briefing the weather had changed for the better, and it was looking good for some flying and winching practice.

The helicopters rotors were turning, the first stick was edging closer to the door, helmets on ready to get out onto the pad when right on cue, the OP’s room radio and crash phone kicked into life. It was a possible shout for Rescue 128.

With the inevitable cancellation now on the cards, it seemed like a good time to quietly mention to the operations officer that we were suitably equipped and available for immediate deployment if necessary.

Winching!

As luck would have it, the aircrew asked for two experienced members to assist as spotters. At the same time, OPs were trying to negotiate another airlift (from the Royal Navy) for the remaining team members to be deployed in the search area.

While en-route to the search area, the missing person was located and our training exercise could resume.

It proved to be one of the best training sessions I’ve been on with the RAF. KMRT were made to feel part of RAF team receiving a good mixture of instruction, experience of winching in & out of the helicopter, use of the high line, and on board communications with the crew. We finished the session with a talk through of the onboard medical kits that the winchman/paramedic uses. Not to dissimilar to the scaled down version that we carry, but with a lot more up to date trauma kit – all I can say about this equipment is: pity we didn’t bring our CAS Care & Equipment Officers along – we want what they have!

Finally a big thank you to the crew and staff from RAF Leconfield. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, and been allowed to get involved with the shout a bonus.

Phil Ridley

Training Officer

On Sunday 1st May 2011, Kinder Mountain Rescue Team will officially reach it’s 40th Birthday.

Team records indicate this was the date that KMRT was created from the Sett Valley Mountain Rescue Team and the Goyt Search and Rescue Team. To find out more about the history of the team click here

In the best traditions of the team, a birthday pint was had by those at the  Team Meeting on Friday 29th April.

Howard Taylor, Deputy Team Leader

If you go into the woods today

Mist, drizzle and low cloud rolled over Windgather Rocks as I approached the remote RV (rendez-vous point) for today’s exercise. Not quite the weather I had ordered (thick fog, torrential rain) but it would be sufficient to set the mood for the day.

The scenario for today’s exercise was a straight forward MISPER (missing person) search. But as I’m not one for making it easy I threw in dense forest with lashings of steep hilly terrain for added interest.

As the team arrived and search parties formed, the exercise story unfolded. A local middle aged female suffering stress and depression with a history of drug and alcohol use had gone missing some 36 hrs earlier. Other teams had been out searching prior to Kinder’s deployment. The area Kinder had been tasked to search would prove tough going for the limited resources available, but hopefully we’d be successful.

Deputy Leader Howard was quickly organising search parties and areas to be covered. There were three sections deployed: K1, K2 and K3. It wasn’t a large area; however it was a densely forested area with several steep sided gullies and boggy terrain. (I got the feeling I wasn’t going to be Mr Popular again!)

As one of the exercise organisers, I had a rough idea where the casualty was (but I didn’t know the exact location – Steve and Lynn kept this a secret even from me) so it allowed me to be deployed as part of K1. Our first area consisted of a combination of open moor and dense forest. Ideal for line searching. After several sweep searches (each member attracting thousands of flies especially in the thick of the forest) we eventually cleared the area and returned to the RV point to be re assigned another area.

As it transpired, K2 and K3 weren’t fairing any better. K2 split into two smaller parties to cover the perimeter of their search area and tried to penetrate as far into the densely felled forest as possible. Going was tough, and all sections were lucky if they actually covered 40% of the area. If this was a ‘for real’ incident, then we’d be returning to the area, either in greater numbers or hopefully with the aid of SARDA (search dog association).

K1’s second area was more demanding than the first. Déjà-vu set in as we followed the same route out of RV to the next search area. The steep sided gullies covered in yet more dense trees and thick mud made progress slow. Eventually we came across a small man made ‘pond’ and metal road not indicated on the map. Luckily Pete’s GPS/Map gave us a good indication of where we were and allowed us to maintain a good search formation. Shortly after arriving at this location we were re-tasked to concentrate on the river area running through the forest. Similarly the other Kinder parties had been re-directed to search specific areas following additional information which had come to light about a possible ‘exercise casualty’ sighting.

Eventually some discarded clothing was located, which resulted in a concentrated search around a specific location, but to no avail. Continuing our search pattern, it was evident that several members were hearing definite shouts for help. A further reorganising and rendezvous with the other sections allowed yet another targeted search. This time with a positive result. The semi-conscious casualty was located and casualty care/first aid administered by Ryan and Adi. Lynn proved to be an excellent casualty and very capable of playing the role of a disorientated confused misper.

I’d planned to end the exercise once diagnosis and treatment had been carried out. However, casualty evacuation planning was in full swing with Darren and Colin having already been dispatched with stretcher and extra equipment – it seemed a shame to call it day just yet (well, I was getting enough stick for such a horrendous search area I though I may as well let things carry on a bit further). With the swift arrival of the extra gear everyone was put out of their misery. Job well done. Let’s hope we don’t have to cover this terrain at night in winter (now there’s a thought for next time).

Phil Ridley, KMRT Training Officer