Mountain Rescue of Hillwalking

Today mountain rescue teams are highly organized, well trained and efficient. The civilian teams also have the backup, when necessary, of the RAF mountain rescue teams and their helicopters. This does not mean that people can blithely wander off into the mountains unprepared, expecting the rescue teams to help them if they get into any sort of difficulty, however minor. Unfortunately some people do think like this.

Being a competent hill walker means being self-reliant and able to deal with all but the most serious incidents. Self-help can get you out of many situations yet people have sat on a hillside in the mist for days awaiting rescue because they were not sure where they were, when a sweep of the surrounding area would have quickly located a good footpath leading down to the valley.

When someone is immobilized by illness or injury it will almost certainly be necessary to call out a mountain rescue team. Moving an injured person any distance over rough terrain without a proper stretcher is not feasible and attempting it could make the injury worse.

What you do in an emergency depends on the number of people in the group and whether there are any others around who could help. Whatever the numbers involved, if an accident has happened making sure there is no danger of a second accident is the first priority. This may mean moving to a safe area to avoid further rock fall or avalanche risk or to get away from an exposed situation. However, an injured person should not be moved unless absolutely essential. Making sure everyone is safe also means ensuring people do not get cold, so you and they must put on extra clothing.

Checking the casualty comes next, though if there are enough people others could be going for help at the same time. Ideally at least one experienced person should remain with the casualty while two, at least one of them experienced, go for help. The casualty should not be left alone so if there are two others only one should go for help while if there is only one person they should stay with the casualty and try to attract the attention of others by blowing their whistle (six long blasts, pause, repeat) or flashing their torch (six long flashes, pause, repeat). If it is necessary to leave a casualty alone leave a note with them explaining what has happened and the time you left in case anyone else happens upon them. You should also leave the casualty as well protected from the weather as possible and with a torch and whistle for signaling and some food and drink, if you have any. The place should be marked with cairns or spare brightly colored clothing or orange bivvy bag. Obvious landmarks like large boulders, crags or streams should be noted and compass bearings should be taken so the casualty can be easily located.

Whoever goes for help should get to a telephone by the quickest safe route then dial 911 and ask for the police who will then contact the mountain rescue team leader. They will require the precise location of the accident with the grid reference if possible and any relevant compass bearings, a description of any features - with map names if any -that might help find the place, the time the accident occurred, the number of casualties and their names if known, an outline of what happened, the nature of any injuries and any treatment given and details of the weather at the accident site. If this is written down before someone goes for help none of it will be forgotten.

The person who has gone for help may then be asked to wait by the telephone for the rescue team. If they have noted the route they took down and can retrace it they could speed up the rescue by leading the team back to the casualty. Once the team is there the team leader is in charge and you should do what they say.

Those left with the casualty should make sure they stay warm and also that they are as visible as possible so they can be found quickly. Watch out for the rescue team and let them know where you are as soon as you spot them.

If you are on your own and you have an accident do all you can to get down by yourself, especially if in a remote area. It could be days or even weeks before anyone comes by. This is why leaving details of your route and when you are expecting to be back is important. As long as you are on the planned route a search should find you. Your whistle and torch can be used to help them.

Helicopters are often used in mountain rescue when serious injury is involved. If a helicopter is expected or appears you should make sure that all loose equipment is weighed down with rocks to prevent it blowing away. To signal to a helicopter that you are the party sought raise your arms in a V. If you see a helicopter and you are not in trouble never wave or raise your arms as this could be taken as a call for help and divert the helicopter from the party really in need.

Finally it should be appreciated that in some conditions rescue may be impossible and team leaders may call in or even not send out teams on foot if it is considered too dangerous to do so. The better equipped you are to sit and wait the more likely you are to survive.