When team members visited The Bishop Pursglove Primary School at Tideswell they were prepared for a barrage of questions about how mountain rescue operates and what sort of equipment the team uses.  However, they may not have been as prepared as they thought because it’s always the unexpected question that catches you out!

The rescue team was invited to the school’s holiday club to explain to a small group of children, aged between five and eleven, what mountain rescue teams do.  Simple they thought and four team members proudly went along on Tuesday afternoon eagerly wanting to demonstrate their knowledge and show off their latest bits of expensive technology.

But first the question and answer session!

“Why is there a mountain rescue team in Buxton; there aren’t any mountains in Buxton?”   Ok, so the first question deflated the ego a little but press on regardless.   Time to explain that rescue team members drop everything when their call-out pagers sound off.   There was a sharp intake of breath.  Then a pause followed by, “What, everything?”   “Don’t you have to tidy up before you can go out?”

Time to retreat to the sports field for some practical work.   Thomas was to be our mock casualty but at just over one metre tall he was all but lost in the casualty-bag.  However, having made sure he could still breath, the team’s tallest member led the U.K’s. smallest rescue team for a stretcher carry around the field.

It was a brilliant afternoon enjoyed by everyone although Thomas looked a little seasick by the end.  The Holiday Club were a really bright and intelligent group of children and it was a pleasure to spend time with them.

So children, we’ve just got time for one last question before have to go; — a hand shoots up — “Why is a stretcher called a stretcher?”

Well, as my old teacher used to say when stumped by a question; “Look it up when you get home and tell me all about it tomorrow.”  Answers on a postcard please to ………………………