Today we were invited to visit the two classes of Year 5 at Eagley Junior  School ( 5LC and 5B) Chapeltown Road, Turton, Bolton.

The team was once again represented by our Team President Bob Hutchinson and the youthful but nonetheless long serving team member Matt Hailwood. Travelling in our Land Rover Defender Mountain Rescue Ambulance call sign Bolton Mobile 3, the pair were greeted by class Teacher Sarah Coles and taken to the staff room for a drink prior to school recommencing at 1.30pm for the afternoon session. Whilst there introductions were made to the other class teacher Sophie Coles and teaching assistants Ayesha Patel and Chloe Caswell.

After introductions Bob asked the  two classes ( now all congregated in one classroom) to consider the dangers that might affect safety outdoors in the hills and mountains and how this might apply in our moorland areas. Bob described a sad incident from 1962 that led to  the formation of MR teams in Lancashire. Matt then showed 2 short DVD’s on mountain rescue in the British Isles and on Bolton MRT in particular and asked the children some questions on what they had seen. They answered all and had obviously been very attentive. This was followed by a question and answer session in which so many questions were asked that it ran right up to the break. After break we went outside where  Matt demonstrated the use of vacuum splints, the trauma sack and drugs kit, and of course the BIG favourite….the blues and twos.

It was time to thank the children for their attention and they in turn voiced their thanks for our visit. We look forward to the possibility of visiting the next year 5 if we are asked to do so.