Today early this morning at 07.00hrs, Team Call Out List members, David Crawford and David Cook (Our Equipment Officer – Water) journeyed in our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicle ‘Bolton Mobile 3’ to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s HQ and Training School at Sadler Road, Winsford, to take part in an Incident Safety Assessment and Control (ISAC) course, organised and facilitated by ATACC (Anaesthesia Trauma and Critical Care) and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

This is the ninth time Bolton MRT team members have participated in this excellent course, the first being 19th November 2009, when our Team Doctor at the time, Clare Whitney and current SARDA (Wales) Dog Handler Steve Nelson attended, with the second being on 22nd April 2010, when our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Team Call Out list member (and Regional MR Water Officer at the time) Fred Taylor attended, the third when very experienced Team Call Out list member Chris Tennant and at that time, Trainee Team member Nick Berry attended on 15th July 2010, the fourth when our Training Officer at the time, Elaine Gilliland, and team Call Out list members John Fletcher and Paul Brain attended on 25th November 2010 and the fifth on 12th May 2011, when Trainee Team members at the time, John Dickinson, Paul Copley and Paul Chisholm all attended. On 23rd February 2012, four team members participated for our sixth course, Michael O’Brien, Steve O’Hara, Neil Warburton and Dave Marsh (A former SARDA Dog Handler, and current trainee DVSD Handler), our seventh course was on 20th September 2012, attended by our Treasurer Martin Banks and Samantha McKay. the last course attended, our eighth was attended by current trainee air scenting dog handler Jess Ellsmore, Team Doctor at the time Mark Jeffrey, Chris Weatherhead and Michael Wakerley.

Bolton MRT Team Call Out list member Alistair Greenough, who in full time employment is an Accident and Emergency Nurse at Warrington Hospital, is usually an instructor on this excellent recognised course, but could not attend todays course.

Course students alongside the Bolton MRT ‘two,’ included some members from our colleagues at Cheshire Search and Rescue Team.

The ISAC course concentrates on incident scene safety, the safety of the emergency responders, increasing incident scene awareness and multi agency working, with both classroom based sessions and outdoor practical exercises and incident scenarios.

Our two attendees today, would like to thank all the lecturers and helpers, and also their fellow emergency services and health care colleagues on the course for welcoming them so openly.

Thanks also to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service for providing such excellent facilities.

Both David’s stated they found it a very enjoyable and highly informative day.

A special thanks to Bolton MRT Team member Alistair Greenough for continuing to arrange placements for Bolton MRT members on this excellent course.

Please also see website ‘news’ reports, dated 19th November 2009, 22nd April 2010, 15th July 2010, 25th November 2010, 12th May 2011, 23rd February 2012, 20th September 2012 and Thursday 20th June 2013.