Richard Warren: 'We want to encourage people to enjoy the fells'

Rescuers in the Lake District hope a new leaflet will cut the number of mountain casualties they have to deal with.

The umbrella body for the area’s 12 volunteer mountain rescue teams has printed 80,000 pocket-sized pamphlets which, it hopes, will find a place in fellwalkers’ rucksacks.

The publication is being distributed free across the Lake District and has been produced with the help of outdoor publishing company Cicerone Press, which is based in Cumbria.

The Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association hopes to cut the ever-rising number of callouts to those on the area’s mountains and fells. In 2009, there was a rise of 20 per cent in incidents the teams dealt with – taking the teams’ total to 553 across Cumbria.

The How to Stay Safe and Enjoy the Fells will be available in popular tourist areas. Richard Warren, chair of the LDSAMRA, said: “The leaflet is intended to help people make the right choices before going into the hills.

“It also provides information on what to do in the event of an accident. It will be available in numerous outlets throughout Cumbria and the Lake District and would be a very helpful addition to anyone’s rucksack when they head into the fells.

“We want to encourage people to enjoy the fells,” said Richard, “but to do it safely, understanding the risks and taking the right precautions.”

Cicerone, which produces books familiar to many walkers, is supporting the initiative. Spokeswoman Lesley Williams said: “Supporting charities directly associated with mountain activities is a vital part of our role as responsible guidebook publishers and we are delighted to sponsor this information leaflet.”

The Milnthorpe-based firm is also looking to work with the mountain rescue teams in the future to reduce further the number of casualties.