On Thursday 18th September we reported within the ‘news’ section of our website, a visit the team made to Year 7 and 8 at Wellfield High School, Yewlands Drive, Leyland, as part of the schools ‘Team Building Day.’
Attending in our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicle, radio callsign Bolton Mobile 3, were our Equipment Officer – Base / HQ Paul Copley, Team President Bob Hutchinson and Matthew Hailwood.
Long serving Bolton MRT team member Diane Blakeley was already present at Wellfield School to greet her colleagues Paul, Bob and Matthew, as Diane is the Assistant Headteacher Learning and Teaching at Wellfield High School.
The following is a report on the visit by team member Diane Blakeley ;
“My “real” job is as Assistant Headteacher at Wellfield High School in Leyland. One of my roles is to organise SMSC Development Days (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) alongside my colleague Jamie Lewis. We planned a day for our new Year 7 pupils which would also involve our existing Year 8 pupils. As well as the pupils learning about SMSC in general, we wanted in particular for them to develop their skills to work together as team and with people they would not normally work with. To help achieve this I asked some of our Bolton MRT members to help me out for the day.
Paul Copley, Bob Hutchinson and Matthew Hailwood arrived early in our Bolton Mobile 3 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance. On their arrival we visited the canteen to provide them with a drink and sausage sandwiches. I then went to deliver an assembly with the over 100 pupils, explaining to them about SMSC and how teamwork was crucial to lots of jobs but in particular the emergency services.
The pupils then in their groups went out to a variety of activities – orienteering where teamwork and clues helped pupils to improve their understanding of SMSC; a session on bullying and how we should be tolerant of differences; a moral session where teams had to debate and make decisions; a teamwork session with Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service from Leyland Fire Station and of course Bolton MRT.
As each group of 12/13 pupils arrived an exercise casualty was selected before the rest were split into two groups. All pupils were then issued with a red climbing helmet, this currently being a focus for the school for when pupils are riding their bikes to school. One pupil became the Team Leader and they received a white helmet so they would stand out. Paul worked with the “casualty carers” who looked after the exercise casualty including putting a vacuum leg splint on the casualties’ “injured” leg.
Meanwhile Matthew and Bob demonstrated the SAR Alpine Lite Mountain Rescue Stretcher, teaching the pupils how to prepare the stretcher ready for the casualty and how to carry it. These pupils were the “stretcher party”. Once the casualty was ready to go on the stretcher, the stretcher party was requested with pupils then being taught how to lift the casualty onto the stretcher. The pupils then completed a short stretcher carry which included an obstacle where communication was crucial. Once completed Matthew, Paul and Bob used questions to help ensure that pupils understand why communication and teamwork was so important to help the casualty.
It was a busy day with four groups completing the Mountain Rescue session before a quick bacon butty break followed by another four groups meaning that over 100 pupils had a great experience. Before the team members left lunch was provided which gave a good opportunity for the fire crew and our team members to chat together. Turns out they we worked together during the big moorland fires on Anglezarke Moor of Spring 2010.
On behalf of all the staff and pupils at Wellfield I would like to thank Paul, Matthew and Bob. The pupils are still talking to me about the session and have been asking questions to find out more. Thanks for helping to make the pupils’ day a memorable experience.”
