Article written by Seymour Haugh for Kelso Life, featuring progress on our new Base and our new stretchers in action.
The internal steel work, underfloor insulation, and heating pipes have been installed and the concrete flooring has been poured and polished. A heat source has still to be organised. Unfortunately, with inflation we learnt that the cost of the materials and installation of the underfloor heating had risen, and this will undoubtedly be the case with other items needed for the internal work.
The roller doors should be installed by the time of this publication. The team needs to fund raise to meet the cost of internal walls and ceiling work and electrical installation.
One of our replacement stretchers, provided by Scottish Mountain Rescue, is a new model, the Titan Titanium Tapered Split Stretcher (photo of it in action). The titanium used in the construction of the frame means it is quite light at around 9Kg when assembled. We do not have a wheel and wheel frame at present so the lightness is welcome as we will have to carry any casualty requiring a stretcher evacuation.
To protect the stretcher when sliding it over snow or rough ground there is a Skid Sheet which can be attached as required. The stretcher came with a new type of headguard. This headguard is a staggering price of £1400 approximately but is essential protection for a casualty being lowered on a cliff face.
The team will purchase a wheel kit for the Titan when finances are available.
Write To: BSARU Secretary, Border Search and Rescue Unit, Carlaw Road, Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate, Kelso, TD5 8AS