Every three years those holders of the MREW Mountain Rescue Casualty Care Course, have to renew their certificate, which commences with a BLS assessment and concludes with a stringent written examination and medical and trauma casualty care practical exercise scenarios.
A very comprehensive training programme has to be followed by all taking these examinations, and this year Bolton MRT (or rather our Instructor team) decided to do such over three separate weekends, with a different group of team members present at each.
Commencing at 19.00hrs on Friday 26th February, until 22.00hrs, and throughout Saturday and Sunday, 27th / 28th February, 09.00hrs until 17.00hrs, this Sunday evening saw the successful conclusion of our first weekend course.
Thirteen team operational members attended as ‘students,’ some renewing their previously held certificates, and some for the first time.
Instructors included our Training Officer Alistair Greenough, a full time Accident and Emergency Nurse, very experienced lay casualty care trainer Mark Scott, Nigel Booth (our Equipment Officer – Ropes and Stretchers) Doctor John Pilling of Rossendale and Pendle MRT and Dave McClure, a Senior Anaesthetic Practioner, formerly of Cheshire SART (where he held the post of Deputy Team Leader)
Jo, Steve and Chantelle, all three members of Rossendale and Pendle MRT also attended as ‘students.’
Our dear friends, the Buckley family from Little Hulton, Dad Howard, his sons Stephen and Andrew and daughter Elizabeth, along with Sheena Davies, all kindly put their trust in all present when they acted the role of ‘exercise casualties’ in the many practical scenarios throughout the weekend.
The weekend was very intense, with advised pre course learning having taken place, alongside post course learning, for the examinations dates which have yet to be determined.
All present commented on the success of this weekend in the end of course ‘comments debrief,’ and for the record our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE is still trying to get the theatrical blood off his clothing after a direct hit was scored on him whilst attempting to stem a severe arterial bleed in one of the practical scenarios!
Also for the record a certain Bolton MRT member who shall remain nameless but deals with sharp scissors in his day job as a barber, when told to be careful with a sharp object on one of the practical sessions – well the rest as they say is history!
