May 2008

New Text Rescue System

BDMLR is introducing a new Text Message system to help inform medics of strandings and rescues. The new system is being introduced to try and help improve the speed at which BDMLR responds to emergencies and call-outs, especially where there are large numbers of medics in an area and it can take time trying to find medics available to respond.

BDMLR is asking all medics who have changed their mobile number or who did not give a mobile number on their renewal or course application form to e-mail the office with their mobile number along with their name and registered postcode so the system can be up-dated. If you receive a text about a rescue please follow the instructions on the text if you are available to help out. Not all rescues will need a text message sending out. Some call outs turn out to false alarms so a text is then not necessary and at some locations there are just a small number of medics local to the rescue so a text is not necessary.

Please remember to keep us up-to-date with your mobile so you can be part of this new service.

Many Thanks

Trevor Weeks
National Co-ordinator
BDMLR
trevor@bdmlr.org.uk

Two BDMLR Medics to walk Cornwall Coast Path to raise funds

On the 26th July, Claire Topham and Michelle Robinson start their walk in fancy dress at Porthmeor Beach cafe, Porthmeor, St Ives, heading off at 11.00am. Following the route through to Zennor and Sennan, Claire and Michelle will be going through all the local villages in between hoping to find accommodation in Sennan for their overnight stay.

First thing on the 27th July, they will head off to Penzance, finishing at the Jubilee Pool, on the promenade, hopefully between 1-2pm.

If anyone would like to greet them in Penzance and throw some money in their buckets, that would be fantastic!!

If anyone wishes to sponsor them please contact Michelle on nfo@countrysidehawking.org.uk or 07760 212 947. All monies raised will go to BDMLR.

If volunteers want to help out, by meeting them at a certain point with refreshments and checking that they are ok, especially as Michelle is diabetic, please do get in touch with them. It would be reassuring to have people on standby for any case of injury, etc for either of them.

Please support Claire and Michelle who are planning a tremendous effort for BDMLR. >> Download sponsorship form (Word format)

Seal rescue - Scarborough

27th May

Lesley from Bridlington calling. May I first say I am going to get on my soap box following a rescue I was involved in yesterday.

I was called to a rescue in Cayton Bay nr Scarborough a beach I did not know. On arrival I was met by Phil the guy who had originally contacted the RSPCA to show us were the seal was and Gary Bolton. I had Marlene with me on her first callout after her medic course.

The terrain we had to clamber over was really difficult, large and very slippery rocks, and we had to negotiate a mile of these conditions with the tide coming in (at least it was not raining or blowing a gale!!)

I hoped the seal appreciated what we were trying to do for it and also hoped we did not have to carry it back across these conditions as that would have been dangerous.

When we arrived at the seal (please can seals be taught to choose more accessible parts of the beach to haul out on!!) we saw the strapping around its neck was the type used to bind parcels and boxes and still intact . It was embedded into its neck and blubber but, what was worse was, it was cutting into both front flippers impeding movement so I should imagine fishing would have been really difficult and movement very painful so I dread to think of the inevitable conclusion of not being able to fish or eat, a slow lingering death. [pic by Gary Bolton - click on image to enlarge]

Gary jumped the seal and I put my nurses head on and cut the strapping off and administered first aid and checked the reflex's on the flips both good.

You could feel and see the difference in the seal as soon as the strapping was cut and it wanted to be off into the biggest bowl of antiseptic, salt water ouch!!

Here comes the soap box thing.

On our way back we did a mini beach comb as I have never seen so much rubbish any where on a beach and all potential dangers for our wildlife. In the end we could not carry any more and we had to leave more than we actually collected including strapping similar to the type we had just removed from our seal.

That was a rescue that was a direct result of our throwaway society not anything that could be attributed to "natural causes" and could have resulted in the death of a beautiful creature.

I will get of my soap box now

On a different note, I am looking forward to my first stint as out of hours co-ordinator so, as it is my first time, I ask for your patience and co-operation

Lesley Salisbury - BDMLR Medic

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		May 2008 News
	New Text Rescue System BDMLR is introducing a new Text Message system to help inform medics of strandings and rescues. The new system is being introduced to try and help improve the speed at which BDMLR responds to emergencies and call-outs, especially where there are large numbers of medics in an area and it can take time trying to find medics available to respond. BDMLR is asking all medics who have changed their mobile number or who did not give a mobile number on their renewal or course application form to e-mail the office with their mobile number along with their name and registered postcode so the system can be up-dated. If you receive a text about a rescue please follow the instructions on the text if you are available to help out. Not all rescues will need a text message sending out. Some call outs turn out to false alarms so a text is then not necessary and at some locations there are just a small number of medics local to the rescue so a text is not necessary. Please remember to keep us up-to-date with your mobile so you can be part of this new service. Many Thanks Trevor Weeks National Co-ordinator BDMLR trevor@bdmlr.org.uk Two BDMLR Medics to walk Cornwall Coast Path to raise funds On the 26th July, Claire Topham and Michelle Robinson start their walk in fancy dress at Porthmeor Beach cafe, Porthmeor, St Ives, heading off at 11.00am. Following the route through to Zennor and Sennan, Claire and Michelle will be going through all the local villages in between hoping to find accommodation in Sennan for their overnight stay. First thing on the 27th July, they will head off to Penzance, finishing at the Jubilee Pool, on the promenade, hopefully between 1-2pm. If anyone would like to greet them in Penzance and throw some money in their buckets, that would be fantastic!! If anyone wishes to sponsor them please contact Michelle on nfo@countrysidehawking.org.uk or 07760 212 947. All monies raised will go to BDMLR. If volunteers want to help out, by meeting them at a certain point with refreshments and checking that they are ok, especially as Michelle is diabetic, please do get in touch with them. It would be reassuring to have people on standby for any case of injury, etc for either of them. Please support Claire and Michelle who are planning a tremendous effort for BDMLR. >> Download sponsorship form (Word format) Seal rescue - Scarborough 27th May Lesley from Bridlington calling. May I first say I am going to get on my soap box following a rescue I was involved in yesterday. I was called to a rescue in Cayton Bay nr Scarborough a beach I did not know. On arrival I was met by Phil the guy who had originally contacted the RSPCA to show us were the seal was and Gary Bolton. I had Marlene with me on her first callout after her medic course. The terrain we had to clamber over was really difficult, large and very slippery rocks, and we had to negotiate a mile of these conditions with the tide coming in (at least it was not raining or blowing a gale!!) I hoped the seal appreciated what we were trying to do for it and also hoped we did not have to carry it back across these conditions as that would have been dangerous. When we arrived at the seal (please can seals be taught to choose more accessible parts of the beach to haul out on!!) we saw the strapping around its neck was the type used to bind parcels and boxes and still intact . It was embedded into its neck and blubber but, what was worse was, it was cutting into both front flippers impeding movement so I should imagine fishing would have been really difficult and movement very painful so I dread to think of the inevitable conclusion of not being able to fish or eat, a slow lingering death. [pic by Gary Bolton - click on image to enlarge] Gary jumped the seal and I put my nurses head on and cut the strapping off and administered first aid and checked the reflex's on the flips both good. You could feel and see the difference in the seal as soon as the strapping was cut and it wanted to be off into the biggest bowl of antiseptic, salt water ouch!! Here comes the soap box thing. On our way back we did a mini beach comb as I have never seen so much rubbish any where on a beach and all potential dangers for our wildlife. In the end we could not carry any more and we had to leave more than we actually collected including strapping similar to the type we had just removed from our seal. That was a rescue that was a direct result of our throwaway society not anything that could be attributed to "natural causes" and could have resulted in the death of a beautiful creature. I will get of my soap box now On a different note, I am looking forward to my first stint as out of hours co-ordinator so, as it is my first time, I ask for your patience and co-operation Lesley Salisbury - BDMLR Medic