Wednesday 13 November 2000
As more and more people take to the Scottish mountains each year, Scotland’s mountain rescue teams are gathering this weekend at sportscotland’s National Centre Glenmore Lodge to take part in a special training weekend to help them prepare for the busy season ahead.
This annual event, which gives the voluntary members of the Scottish Mountains' '4th emergency service' the opportunity to learn vital new skills and update themselves with the latest rescue technology, is being supported for a 16th year by Shell Expro.
Ronnie Robb of Shell Expro, who will present a cheque for £5,000 to Mick Tighe, training officer at the Mountain Rescue Council of Scotland, on Saturday 18th November, commented: "Shell UK Expro are delighted to further demonstrate their commitment to the work of the mountain rescue teams in Scotland.
"Shell UK have financially supported mountain rescue training for well over a decade and mountain rescue team members have benefited enormously from these learning events, helping them to carry out their essential role."
With over 60,000 people taking to the Scottish mountains each weekend in the high season, the role of Scotland’s 26 mountain rescue teams has is becoming increasingly important. Last year teams were called out over 300 times to incidents on the Scottish mountains with over 200 casualties and 30 fatalities recorded. The teams, which are made up wholly of volunteers, rely almost entirely on donations from businesses and private individuals.
Tim Walker, Principal of Glenmore Lodge, said: "The Mountain Rescue Network in Scotland is a magnificent example of the 'voluntary principal' in practice, mountaineers helping fellow mountaineers in difficulty.
"The benefits of levels of continuous financial support such as that provided by Shell Expro cannot be emphasised enough. Our mountain rescue teams are heavily dependent on support from Scottish business in carrying out their essential roles and I would strongly urge the public and business interests alike to follow Shell Expro's excellent example in supporting Scottish mountain rescue teams."
- Shell Exploration and Production (Shell Expro) is the operator in the UK sector of the North Sea on behalf of Shell, Esso and other co-venturers.
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise estimates that hillwalking and mountaineering are worth about £300 million each year to the Scottish economy.
- sportscotland runs Glenmore Lodge, outside Aviemore, the internationally renowned centre for the training of instructors in outdoor sports including mountaineering, skiing and canoeing. Glenmore Lodge also runs courses in Mountain skills and safety for those participating in mountaineering.
- Over the course of this weekend’s training seminar mountain rescue team members will cover topics such as hypothermia treatment techniques, stretcher bearing, cliff rescue, and the latest developments in radio and satellite navigation technology.