CALLOUT 51 – Call to assist casualty at Clowbridge Reservoir

On Wednesday evening (1/11/2023) the team was at our base in Burnley, completing our weekly training session – this week’s focus was on rope systems, setups, knots, and so on. However, at approximately 21:00 the team got a request from the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) to assist with a casualty at Clowbridge Reservoir with a lower leg injury.

The training was stopped, and vehicles quickly repacked and responded from base within 5 minutes towards the location. The casualty had been out with their partner walking their new rescue dog, who had got a little over-excited and ran into their lower leg, rendering them to be unable to weight bear.

The casualty was located and assessed by team members; by which point understandably getting cold, so wrapped in one of our casualty bags (think oversized large winter sleeping bag) and provided with a heated warming blanket also. Once checks were made, they were provided with pain relief, and then the leg was splinted to minimise movement during transport.

The casualty was then placed into the casualty bag on the Bell stretcher, before being conveyed back to the car park using the wheel. Once there the casualty was handed over to the awaiting ambulance crew and at this time the team stood down and returned to base.