Boredale Hause, scene of the rescue. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
Rescuers have reminded outdoor enthusiasts of the importance of using the right procedure to call for help when on the hills.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team said it was particularly important to provide accurate details if using emergency roaming on mobile phones, as call handlers are not usually able to route calls back to users of the service.
Emergency roaming enables users to use the 999 service even if their own network is unavailable. The service was introduced throughout the UK in 2009 and enables calls to be made via any available mobile phone provider’s network if there is a signal.
But emergency services and mountain rescuers cannot usually phone the caller back when roaming has been used. The plea followed an incident on Sunday when a woman from north Wales injured her ankle when she fell while walking with her family at Boredale Hause in the Lake District.
Patterdale MRT was called out about 1.55pm and went to the walker’s aid. A team spokesperson said: “On arrival she was given pain relief and then stretchered from the mountain.
“Penrith Mountain Rescue Team assisted with the evacuation. We wish her a speedy recovery. The rescue lasted two hours and involved 13 members.”
The team leader added: “I’d like to remind everyone that the best way to call mountain rescue is to dial 999 or 112 and ask for the police and then mountain rescue.
“If you are calling on an emergency roamer it’s really important to provide exact details of your location as the emergency services are not likely to be able to reconnect you.”
Chris
20 June 2016If you have an iPhone there is an app EHAAT that contacts the emergency services (originally designed for Essex and Herts air ambulance). I assume that this uses a GPS location system.
It has the added strobe function as well - to help locate the injured party.
I have been enquiring about the use of this in other HEMS areas, and the information I have received by word of mouth, is that calls will be seen by the nearest local unit.
Whilst the app is not mountain rescue orientated - cannot a similar app be developed to cover the UK?
Development costs have, much to much, been completed. It is only a filtering system on the app and also a call resolution to the required area of aid.
Biggles
21 June 2016If you spend time in rural areas where the mobile network coverage is typically going to be poor, there is now a mobile network "Pebble" that specialises in ensuring that you always receive the best network coverage https://pebblenetwork.ltd.uk
It combines the signal from all the networks - it effectively connects to any mobile signal coming from any of the major networks be it o2, vodafone, EE etc using national roaming so that whatever the strongest signal available is wherever you are you can use it. This doesn't fall down in the same places emergency roaming does as that only allows 999 calls to be made OUT - this uses full national roaming which allows calls IN and OUT - many of the emergency services already use mobiles with these type of special sim cards for exactly these reasons.
Jeff Carroll
23 June 2016Pay as you go roaming SIM...worth it! Doesn't guarantee full service, but would remove the emergency roaming problem
Jeff Carroll
23 June 2016Link ..http://www.thephonetrader.co.uk/uk-roaming-sim-card/roaming-sim.html