Call Outs & Training
After an exceptionally busy June and July for the team, which saw a 129% uplift on the same period in 2023 (as detailed in the July issue of Focus), activity levelled off in August, with just three call outs in the first three weeks of the month.
The month started with a late night call out to Pen y Gadiar Fawr where fifteen team members went to assist two campers in need of help. One of the casualties was suffering from heat exhaustion coupled with severe vomiting. After nearly three hours, the team brought the pair off the hill where they were handed over to the Welsh Ambulance Service.
This was followed with a team call out made in response to a request from Gwent Police to assist a casualty on the Blorenge. A local man had managed to fall and sustain a lower leg injury on his Saturday morning hike and needed assistance getting off the hill and on to Nevill Hall for treatment. We wish him a speedy recovery from what our medical team suspected was a broken ankle.
A very similar incident occurred on the Sugar Loaf later in the month, where once again Gwent Police asked LMRT to go to the assistance of a walker with an ankle injury.
Amongst all this has been the regular team training sessions. Our monthly full-day session focussed on how to set up for a crag rescue, a practical skill that is a minimum requirement of all team members. From a medical aspect, an evening session was held to brush up knowledge on drug formulary, something that is crucial for our casualty carers dealing with medical incidents.
Advice for walkers
As we head into September we continue to expect many visitors to the area such as those heading to Abergavenny for the Food Festival. Away from the the food and drink on offer, many will want to explore the wonderful hills and valleys of the eastern Brecons, so we thought it would be worthwhile sharing some advice from Mountain Rescue England & Wales (MREW), who are asking people to be ‘Adventure Smart’ before they set out:
Their Adventure Smart campaign asks three questions:
1. Do I have the skills?
Whether it’s hiking up a mountain, climbing or mountain biking, people should consider if they have the skills for what they’re doing.
2. Do I know what the weather will be like?
The weather has the potential to make or spoil your day. This doesn’t have to mean that a spot of drizzle or even a howling gale has to stop us in our tracks but the key is to prepare accordingly and accept that you may have to adapt your plans.
3. Do I have the right gear?
Clothing and footwear are obviously a major consideration but what else should you consider? Smart phones, apps and smart technology have, for many, overtaken maps and compasses, but remember that phone batteries can drain very rapidly, so have a back up plan and at the very least take a power bank.
Whichever way you plan to enjoy the mountains, be #adventuresmart
Longtown Mountain Rescue
