In a change from regular meetings, members of Lockerbie and District Rotary Club visited the Moffat Mountain Rescue Team base on the Selkirk Road recently.
They were greeted by team leader, James Coles, who gave a run down on its history and right up to date.
Currently there are 22 civilian teams under Scottish Mountain Rescue, responding to police callouts in Scotland. Also three police MRT and one RAF MRT. Other resources such as SARDA, Scottish Cave rescue can be called in and drone rescue is available. At present there are 27 members of MMRT located around the district. Two vehicles are currently based at Moffat and a Land Rover at Dumfries.
MMRT was founded in 1969 and members saw pictures from the early days and marvelled at the hillwalking kit worn then compared to the present-day team, fully kitted out in protective gear worth about £3,000.
Constant training and exercises with other teams, ensures members are up to date with methods utilised on the hills in all conditions. Avalanche training, swift water training and even caving experience are all included. All members have first aid training, are trained in the use of drugs for casualties and the basics of stabilising fractures and getting injured people off the mountain as well as working safely near helicopters.
Communication is a vital part of search and rescue, and the base is fully digitalized. Their custom-built, 4WD control vehicle can be used as a base near any incident the team is called to.
Members were shown the equipment that they must carry to be prepared for all situations and emergencies. Think of the lengths of rope required for some mountain situations, ice axes or buoyancy aids. Backpacks are ready at all times and the medical packs now include a small defibrillator.
It was a real eye-opening experience for everyone and at the end, a thermal imaging camera which had been gifted to the club was presented to team leader James Coles.
Francis Wilbur gave a vote of thanks to MMRT for a most interesting insight into their work. The night concluded with supper at the Annandale Arms Hotel.