Drone Technology Donation Enhances Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team

£1,000 has been donated by Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust to Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team which has allowed them to purchase a drone. The purpose of the drone allows Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team to quickly and thoroughly scan mountainous terrain from up to 100m in the sky to help identify the location of a casualty.

We at Ramble Worldwide want to extend the thank you from Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (CMRT) to our customers. The surplus profit from our customers purchasing walking holidays with us goes towards our Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust, which is then donated to worthy causes such as CMRT – allowing them to purchase this high-tech drone and save lives.

So whether you’re discovering the culture of Classical Andalucia in Spain, or enhancing your knowledge on a Navigational & Hill Skills Course in the Lake District itself at our Hassness Country House, whether you knew before or not, your walking holiday with us helps fund these valuable initiatives. Thank you.

Without the use of drone technology, mountain rescue teams such as Cockermouth would have solely relied on the use of dogs and people to traverse over rocky, unsafe, and difficult terrain to search for a casualty – exposing themselves to a great degree of risk whilst trying to save the life of another person.

CMRT had explained they’ve sometimes been out from 5am till 1am the next day on multiple call outs. The exposure to fatigue is higher in these scenarios, but the total time it now takes to rescue a casualty with the use of their drone is tremendously cut down. Another benefit here is that the level of risk the mountain rescue team volunteers are exposed to is now significantly decreased.

This new collaboration with modern aerial technology gives a tremendous advantage to saving people much more efficiently, especially in time-sensitive scenarios which can quite literally be the difference between life and death.

Danny from our marketing department at Ramble Worldwide had the privilege of being able to sit down and have an insightful conversation with Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team to better understand in depth; how this 4-propeller eye-in-the-sky team member plays a pivotal role in mountain rescue, its limitations, and its future capabilities. Read more below to find out, or give the conversation a listen.

We asked Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team. They responded enthusiastically, with the hope that laws for their particular use of drones can allow them more flexibility in their rescues, however, they have been able to continue rescuing people, whilst abiding by the current limitations. Lifted restrictions of drone usage specifically for mountain rescue teams could mean they can utilise up to 150m in altitude to survey a greater area with the drone which would lead to faster rescue times.

Interestingly, they added “Being able to drop an epi-pen from the drone to allow for a fast-acting self-administered use by a conscious casualty would buy our team more time whilst making our way on foot to administer the rest of any first aid required”.

Other useful items which could be released from a sensible height to a casualty could be an emergency blanket, painkillers, etc. However, again, current laws prevent the maximum effectiveness mountain rescue teams can get out of drone technology, meaning they need to abide by the same laws set out for the general public.

In the meantime, a way forward would be to give a nimble dog of CMRT the responsibility to carry an epi-pen within a bag and move to the location of the casualty spotted and signalled by the drone, from there the conscious casualty could open the dog’s bag to take and self-administer the epi-pen while waiting for the mountain rescue team to arrive on foot.

It isn’t uncommon to hear of a rambler that might have been out enjoying a walk among the fells to then suddenly lose their footing, slip into a gully, and sprain their ankle. The sun may have fallen by the time they manage to get in contact with a mountain rescue team. With drone lights amidst the moonlight and thermal imaging camera capabilities, the one thing an avid walker will need after many hours spent in a muddy ditch is verbal and visual reassurance that help is coming.

There’s a well-orchestrated team effort behind the scenes of a modern-day mountain team search and rescue. Whilst one person is operating the drone, thousands of pictures are taken from multiple angles during the drones pre-established flight path. During this time, drone technology software created by CMRT actively sifts through these images.

The software is designed to spot any outliers, such as a bright blue jacket a casualty may be wearing, which contrasts against the natural landscape.

Any outlier(s) revealed from the drone’s flight path are reviewed by a member of CMRT, and they’re investigated further to determine if it is indeed the casualty or not.

Once the casualty is identified, the drone operator can drop a virtual pinpoint on the location of the casualty, revealing the exact coordinates on their map. From there, the rest of the team on the ground can hastily navigate towards the casualty whilst carrying the essentials; first aid kit, stretcher, climbing gear, etc.

CMRT operate in the Lake District and other areas of Cumbria such as Ennerdale, Lorton and Loweswater valley areas, areas towards the coast of Northwest Cumbria, and Buttermere – where our Hassness House is located.

Daniel from CMRT added "If another team needs our help, in the Lakes or further afield, we will send vehicles and members."

“There is an upward trend of incidents each year. 2023 has seen a record number with almost 100 call-outs.” – CMRT

The rise in incidents implies more people are enjoying the beauty of the Lake District, which is great. However, it also means many, especially new walkers, aren’t mindful enough of the risks they’re exposed to.

Considering the statistic and fact above, to lower your chance of injury when out walking in the Lake District fells you need to:

• Take more frequent rests throughout your walks - especially if you have set off in the morning and have been walking well into the afternoon... this means you should be taking plenty of breaks during the afternoon too!
• When descending, go slowly, and take shorter steps – a shorter stride lowers the likelihood of slipping and spraining your ankle.
• Decide where to step before you take your step – mindful movements. Ask yourself, is there a different route I can take that allows me to step safely with shorter steps as opposed to taking big lunges? Quicker doesn’t always mean safer.
• Stay fuelled to fight fatigue – be sure to consume plenty of calories from trail mixes which include nuts, natural sugars from fruits such as bananas, and if it’s a long-distance walk you’re covering then be sure to stay hydrated and replenish your electrolytes.