Mountain Rescue Team dispatched to Lancaster floods

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team four-wheel-drive ambulance

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team were contacted by the North West Ambulance Service for an immediate call to Lancaster on Sunday (6 December).

The Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team who usually cover this area had already been drafted in to help the Lake District teams with the flooding in Cumbria and were fully utilised.

All four 4x4 ambulances were dispatched to the rendezvous in Lancaster for the night. As the flooding developed, the ambulances were struggling to reach some patients. The calls increased as the electricity supplies failed resulting in more falls and injuries.

The team worked through until 10:00pm carrying out missions that included:

• Attending and transporting patients to hospitals.
• Taking medical professionals to patients.
• Patient transfers (both emergency transfers and for routine medical treatment).
• Taking vital medical supplies to patients who administer their own medicine at home, many of whom were impacted by the lack of electricity

Team Leader, Pete Goble, says: “All the mountain rescue teams were working together in order to ensure the safety of the public.

"The area we were working in had nothing to do with mountains but our well trained 4x4 drivers and medical volunteers worked tirelessly to help the local communities during their time of need.

"We will travel to other team’s areas when the need arises as all teams are trained to a standard and are equipped to carry out search and rescue duties in all weathers, terrains and locations.

"Everything we do, and train to do, is for the benefit of the casualties and local communities, who in return help us to fundraise to continue these services.”

It costs approximately £30,000 per year to run the team before the major expenditure of new ambulances, base renovations and the like are considered.

If you are interested in learning more about the team  visit the website www.rpmrt.org.uk.

If you would like to donate text RPMR11 £2 to 70070.