By Chris Story

Last updated at 13:12, Tuesday, 21 April 2009

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team’s volunteers responded to 90 emergencies last year.

The number of callouts to the lifesaving team matched those of 2007 – which had been the team’s busiest-ever year.

And on top of the 90 full-team alerts, rescuers responded to a further 24 calls for help from police, which did not need a complete response but still tied-up volunteers.

Of the emergencies dealt with by Keswick – one of the Lake District’s busiest rescue units – six involved fatalities.

Details of the callouts were revealed in the group’s annual report.

Its highest-profile emergency was as part of the response to the trouble-hit Original Mountain Marathon in October where 11 people were evacuated from the fells in extreme weather conditions.

Keswick leader Mark Hodgson said: “All incidents dealt with by the team are dealt with to professional levels of medical and technical care and sympathy to all our casualties.

“Our casualties, almost without exception, comment on the amazing levels of care received and the good humour of the team.

“This level of care doesn’t just happen. We work hard to attain and continue to push forward the standards to which we work and those which we aspire.”

As well as responding to emergencies, Keswick’s 40-plus members also train weekly and at weekend.

Included in the emergencies were 19 medical call-outs, 17 searches, 22 involving leg injuries and four animal rescues.

Military helicopters were dispatched to help the team on 17 occasions while air ambulances attended a further 18 incidents.

Mr Hodgson believed many of the alerts dealt with – especially searches – could have been avoided through better planning, equipment, experience and less reliance on mobile phones.

He said people should enjoy the fells, but added: “Go carefully, be aware and take notice of weather forecasts and go prepared – be willing to push your experience boundaries at times, but have a back-up plan in place.”

The leader also highlighted the importance of fundraising for the organisation – which receives no public cash – and the potential impact that the current financial crisis could have on donations to voluntary groups.

Earlier this month, Lake District Mountain Rescue Association reported that teams of volunteers were scrambled to the scene of emergencies 464 times during 2008 to help 577 people – 31 of whom died.

The number of callouts rose by 10 per cent with more than 23,000 man hours spent responding to call-outs.

Cumbria’s Chief Constable, Craig Mackey, also paid tribute to the work of mountain rescue teams.

First published at 11:22, Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk