Before You Need Help: The Basics

Most days on the fells and around upland tarns pass without incident. But the combination of remote ground, changeable weather and cold water means that when something goes wrong, it can go wrong quickly. Before you set out, know how to call for help. In the UK, dial 999 or 112. Ask for the police, then ask for mountain rescue. In Scotland, Police Scotland will coordinate the response. If you have a mobile phone, keep it charged and stored somewhere warm and dry. Carry a paper map and compass as well, because batteries die and screens crack. A whistle and a torch are tiny, light and invaluable. If you often walk or swim in areas with patchy signal, register for emergency SMS before you leave home; that lets you send a text to 999 when a call will not connect. Tell someone your route, your expected return time and what you are wearing.

When to Call for Mountain Rescue

Call for help when someone is injured, ill, lost, stuck or benighted, or when you are unsure whether you can get them to safety without help. Do not wait for a situation to become desperate. A twisted ankle beside a remote tarn, a swimmer who cannot stop shivering, a walker who has lost the path in cloud — any of these can escalate. Cold water shock, hypothermia and exhaustion are serious. If a wild swimmer is struggling, get them out of the water if it is safe to do so; if not, call for help immediately. If you are lost, stop, shelter, and call. Moving on in poor visibility often makes matters worse. If you have any doubt, call and ask. Mountain rescue teams would far rather turn out for a false alarm than arrive too late.

Giving a Grid Reference That Actually Helps

Location is the most important thing you can give. A grid reference is precise and understood by rescue teams. On a paper map, find the two letters for the 100 km square, then read the easting along the bottom and the northing up the side. Give six figures, such as NY 123 456. On a GPS or phone app, switch to the British National Grid format if you can. If you have a three-word location app, read out the three words. If you have nothing else, give latitude and longitude, or describe exactly what you can see: the name of the tarn, the path you are on, the crag above you, the colour of your tent or rucksack. Read the reference back slowly. Stay put if you possibly can. If you must move, leave a note and tell the operator where you are going.

Making the Call: What to Say

When the call connects, speak slowly and clearly. The operator will ask questions. Be ready to give:

• Your name and mobile number.
• Your exact location, with a grid reference or three-word address.
• What has happened and how many people are involved.
• Injuries or illnesses, and whether the casualty is conscious and breathing.
• The weather, visibility and how you are dressed.
• Any medical conditions, allergies or medications you know about.

Do not hang up until you are told to. The team may call you back for more information. Keep your phone on, but turn down the brightness and close unnecessary apps to save battery. If you have no signal, try texting 999 if you are registered for emergency SMS. Otherwise, move to higher ground, or send a fit member of the party for help while others stay with the casualty. A whistle blast repeated six times, or a torch flashed six times, is the international distress signal.

Staying with the Casualty

Unless there is immediate danger, do not move the casualty. Stay with them. Insulate them from the ground, shelter them from wind and rain, and add warm layers, a sleeping bag or a survival bag. If they are hypothermic, handle them gently, remove wet clothing, and warm them gradually. Do not rub their limbs, give alcohol or make them walk. If they are a wild swimmer, get them dry and out of the wind as soon as possible. If they are not breathing, start CPR and continue until help arrives. Keep talking to them, keep them calm, and note any changes in their condition. Send other members of your group to pack up kit or make a shelter, so no one stands around getting cold.

After the Call: Helping the Team Find You

Once help is on its way, make yourself easy to find. Put on bright clothing, use a torch or headtorch, and wave or blow a whistle when you hear or see the team. If it is safe, send someone to a nearby path or track to meet them, but never leave the casualty alone. Keep your phone on and answer calls. Do not keep ringing the emergency services unless your situation changes. Expect a delay: mountain rescue volunteers have to gather, travel and walk in to you, often in poor weather. If you are lost and have called for help, stay where you are unless you are in danger. If you must move, leave a clear note and keep to a safe, obvious route. Finally, remember that prevention is better than a callout: check the forecast, carry the right kit, tell someone your plan, and turn back early if the weather or the water turns. The fells and tarns are wonderful places. A little preparation means you can enjoy them and come home safely.