New Base Update

The internal walls of the meeting/training room have now been plastered. Between callouts, team members have sized and painted them. Kitchen units have been assembled and the plumbing and fitting of a kitchen sink is underway.

Callouts

In mid-July an urgent response was initiated for a toddler, near Duns, who had been missing for two hours. The team leader immediately contacted Tweedvalley MRT, and Search and Rescue Dogs to get as many resources as quickly as possible. A helicopter was also used by the police. Thankfully the toddler was located shortly after deployment.

Two days later the team had a callout for a walker doing the Pennine Way from Byrness to Kirk Yetholm as he had got himself hopelessly lost. Using, with his consent, the facility of pinging his phone, the team were able to get his possible position and set off to help him. Once located, and rehydrated he was escorted back to a team vehicle which then took him to his own vehicle at Bryness.

On the warm, sunny Sunday of the 11th August the team was called out to a father and son who, due to heat exhaustion, had become unwell near the Schil in the Cheviots. A hasty party deployed from Sourhope, and a team member was transported to the Schil in an ATV by the Cocklawfoot farmer. Northumberland MRT approached via the College Valley. After assessment and treatment, the two were transported off the hill in one of the two team vehicles which had made it to near their position. Then on the 13th of August the team had another call out to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service at Traprain Law, East Lothian. A father had fallen while climbing with his son, had been knocked unconscious and sustained other injuries. Team members more local to the area provided assistance in the movement of the casualty.

Activities

A July exercise was held at Church Wood, Humbie, and before the exercise team members had a refresher on the protocols for the use of Entonox, a medical gas used to relieve pain. Self-administered it can only be given to conscious casualties after all contra-indications have been checked.

Team members have provided support at several events; Duns Rideouts, The Floors Castle 10k run, Cornhill Village Fair, the North Berwick Law Race, Roxburgh Rocks concert at Floors Castle, and the Coldstream Rideouts, culminating in the Flodden Rideout.