DURING a brief and very fortunate window of clement weather, a joint exercise took place on Bodmin Moor involving teams from the South Western Ambulance Service and Cornwall Search and Rescue services on October 11.

The event was organised by the Bude-based North Coast Prehospital Emergency Medicine training group (NCPHEM) and supported by doctors and clinicians from the British Association of Immediate Care (BASICS) and Cornwall and Devon air ambulances.

Dr Angus Macdonald, a BASICS Doctor from Bude said: “The evening was a great success: we ran a series of casualties over the moor and working conditions were deliberately difficult. The teams had to manage patients presenting with head, chest and limb injuries, confusion, hypothermia and blood loss. We had about 50 people out there: It was an excellent opportunity to learn and exchange expertise.

“Doctors and paramedics from BASICS Cornwall, BASICS Devon and the air ambulance were on scene and we are exceptionally grateful to the casualty actors and to FLEET (The Frontline Emergency Equipment Trust) for laying on equipment. We finished off the evening with some well-earned chips and sandwiches in the Jamaica Inn.”

Cathy Fairman, medical officer of the east section for the Cornwall Search and Rescue team, said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for us to undertake joint training with our prehospital clinical colleagues. All present gained a greater understanding of each other’s capabilities and as a team we have learned a great deal. This will undoubtedly improve the service we provide. I would like to extend a big thank you to the NCPHEM team for organising this event.”

NCPHEM is a voluntary local educational group created three years ago from local donations in Bude and Holsworthy. Members work closely with the South Western Ambulance Trust and emergency volunteer BASICS doctors and it has expanded to cover local areas in North Devon and Cornwall.  NCPHEM is unfunded and provides a valuable educational service for emergency clinicians. If you would like to help fund their work, search for ‘@NCPHEM’ and click their Facebook entry. 

The East Cornwall Search and Rescue Team is also a fully voluntary organisation. They provide 24-hour cover and support to all the emergency services and to the people living and visiting Cornwall. 

For more information, visit their website at www.cornwallsar.org.uk