Another Overstated Mendip Cave Rescue

[alastairgott]

So, for clarity all regional cave rescues are pretty much the same.

[person needing to call out]
|
[calls 999 for police local to rescue, and asks for cave rescue]
|
[passes details onto call handler of the situation (or is put through to cave rescue)]
|
**[Call handler relays details to the current rescue controller using the follow me number]
|
[rescue controller then uses Sarcall to mobilise the team]


The only part of this that may need refining is **, the link between the call handler and the controllers. But as I said before I don't know how to solve this conundrum.

 

[JJ]

**[Call handler relays details to the current rescue controller using the follow me number]
|
[rescue controller then uses Sarcall to mobilise the team]

Sorry alastairgott but this is not correct for a large proportion of the UK. Now the Police or Ambulance call out the MRT or CRO using Sarcall. This sends an SMS and email to the controllers of the relevant team as well as auto creating a log with details of the incident.

What you describe often happened 5-10 years ago but largely things have moved on.

Some teams also use another aspect of Sarcall for callout of their members but this is a separate issue.

 

[Duncan Price]

For a large proportion of the UK callouts to Mountain and Cave rescue are now handled by the Sarcall system after a 999 call. In no way can I speak for the Mendip region, but in northern UK it is used by all Police Forces, Ambulance Services, Helimeds etc. along with all MRT's and CRO's. I think it is fair to say that it has led to far earlier situational awareness of incidents and the better tasking of appropriate resources.

Mendip Cave Rescue also uses Sarcall.  Though I believe that this only works if locally instigated calls go through to the Avon & Somerset call handlers at their H&Q at Portishead.  Callouts to the Bath stone mines often end up at the Wiltshire call centre which does not use Sarcall.  It's anyone's guess what would happen if you left a call out time with someone outside of the area - say a family member at your home in xxx and they dialled 999.

There have been cases of people dialling 999 and asking to be put through to (Avon & Somerset) Police to instigate a cave rescue callout and being told that the Fire Service do that.  The problem is that when a Fire or Ambulance crew is told to turn out, they have to obey so it's not their fault but the way the response is handled.  It's an ongoing process of education not helped by the turnover of call handlers exceeding the frequency of call outs.

 

[Cave_Troll]

Sorry alastairgott but this is not correct for a large proportion of the UK. Now the Police or Ambulance call out the MRT or CRO using Sarcall. This sends an SMS and email to the controllers of the relevant team as well as auto creating a log with details of the incident.

Its what happens for most MR and CR jobs in the Peak District.
Rather than sending an SMS to the duty leaders of the team they thinks it responsible and hoping someone calls them back for details, the police talk to a person.

I think Sarcall was developed for areas who didn't have an area controller system where a single number contacts a human who can go "ok you've got a incident called in. thats on the border of two teams. I know team A are on another job so i'll send team B"

If you don't have a controller system then it saves the police calling 3 different teams to try and work out who's area it's in.