Every year, Mountain Rescue teams across the UK are asked to leave their places of work or home to provide free volunteer led services for those walkers, climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, who through no fault of their own, have found themselves in need of help in remote and wilderness locations. Sometimes these people have simply lost their bearings, become benighted or exhausted, but in many other situations they could be the victims of injury ranging from relatively mild skin lacerations or sprains to extensive life threatening polytraumas resulting from falls from height whilst climbing or loosing footing on wet embankments.

 As a result every team member of Buxton Mountain Rescue Team is expected to obtain the minimal level training in first aid and life saving procedures such as CPR, but each year Buxton Mountain Rescue Team members are encouraged to enhance their skills and achieve a higher standard of medical training by participating in the “Casualty Care Course” a national exam set by Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

As the nights are closing in and the temperature is dropping outside in the Peak, the heat is really being turned up for the casualty care candidates! Those participating, on top of the “regular” weekly training, kit and equipment reviews and vehicle checks, commit to revision on the subject matter from textbooks and team resources, extra sessions during evenings and at the weekend honing their practical skills, all resulting in a great deal of additional commitment, all, of course, in their own free time.

The course, delivered by experienced qualified medical personnel, on a weekly basis is a “pleasant” mixture of theoretical knowledge and practical moulages, all culminating in an assessment during December in which the candidates are able to demonstrate they have reached the required standard to achieve to the high national standard.

This year was no different and as a result of the huge commitment by those candidates, and indeed the patience and tolerance of their families and loved ones during the last few months, the Medical Advisory Group is thrilled to announce the successful “graduation” of a new batch of Casualty Carers who, managed to “save the lives” of the 32, albeit sometimes very realistic, actors! It is testament to their dedication that not only was the success rate so high, but the standard was also very high indeed. Outdoor enthusiasts within the Peak District can rest assured that should Buxton Mountain Rescue Team be called upon in their hour of need, the standard of medical response will continue to be of the highest order!

A hugely deserved “well done and congratulations!” from the Medical Advisory Group to all the successful candidates!