If you need help
Dial 999 and ask for the police, when connected ask them for ‘mountain or cave rescue’
Stay calm and be ready to give a CHALET report:
Casualties – number, names (and, if possible, age); type of injuries, for example, lower leg, head injury, collapse, drowning etc.
Hazards to the rescuers – for example, strong winds, avalanche, rock fall, deep or fast water.
Access – the name of mountain area or valley, and description of the terrain. It may be appropriate to describe the approach and any distinguishing features such as an orange survival bag. Information on the weather conditions at the incident site is useful, particularly if you are in cloud or mist.
Location of the incident – the name of the cave, or on the hill a grid reference and a description is ideal. Don’t forget to give the map sheet number and please say if the grid reference is from a GPS device.
Equipment at the scene – for example, torches, other mobile phones, group shelters, medical personnel.
Type of incident – mountain, cave etc. Be prepared to give a brief description of the time and apparent cause of the incident.
If you are organising a group walk, please note:
- A Rescue Team cannot be alerted to your specific walk or placed on ‘standby’ prior to your walk
- Rescue teams must be called-out using the above procedure which will give the fastest response
- The Police will regard the Rescue Team designated to your area as the appropriate and recognized organisation to manage any Mountain Rescue incidents
- Rescue teams have long standing relationships with landowners in order to access the fells with Land Rovers. Do not strain those relationships by attempting to take any vehicles off-road