Mountain rescue team trains online due to coronavirus crisis

Dundonnell Mountain Rescue team have resorted to video conferencing to maintain the team’s monthly training commitments.

The coronavirus pandemic has prevented the team from training outdoors in the mountain environment as they follow government social distancing guidance.

However, training officers were able to organise an online workshop looking at how they would respond to various scenarios.

It’s the first time Dundonnell MRT have taken part in a training exercise like this but team leader Iain Nesbitt thought it was a good way to keep in touch with his mountain rescue colleagues.

He said: “Like other MRTs, Dundonnell team members undertake at least one monthly training exercise.

“Ordinarily, these would mostly take place outdoors in the mountain environment but obviously we are having to observe current advice regarding social distancing and travel restrictions.

“However, on Sunday our training officers organised our first ever online training session and it was very successful.

“Team members took part in a video conferencing session which took the form of a workshop looking at how we respond to various scenarios of the type that we deal with every year.

“It’s also a good way of keeping team members in touch and we will be using it again as long as current restrictions remain in place.

“Whilst DMRT members remain ready to respond to urgent incidents in the outdoors, I would like to urge the public to follow government advice about physical exercise.

“Take your daily exercise locally; don’t travel to the mountains and by doing so you will help to avoid rescue services being called out.

“Since the current lockdown began, Scottish Mountain Rescue teams have had no call-outs. I would very much like to keep it that way in order that our own volunteers can stay safe at home for the duration of this health crisis.”