Mountain Rescue

[wimp]

Should climbers be made to pay when rescued through insurance like they have to in Europe?I don't think they should have to pay unless they are shown to be neglectful and irresponsible to the point of stupidity and putting rescue teams in danger of their lives where there was no need, if only a bit of common sense was used!I could elaborate on the common sense theme but you see what I mean by the safety of other people ect!

[bookbinder]

I agree with your idea that people who put themselves in danger, and have to be rescued because they have been irresponsible, etc, should have to pay something towards the cost of a rescue. Compulsory insurance is not a bad idea, either, but there is a school of thought (even among rescue teams, I believe) that says that people should not be discouraged from going out on the mountains or moors. That would stifle the spirit of adventure, so it is said.

[DJHawkes]

I married an RAF MR team member in 1978 and for the following 3 years it was a case of training every weekend and he was away in the brecons in all weathers. There were many call outs and he'd be gone for hours, days even, mostly searching for lost or injured SAS trainees but sometimes civies. He wasn't paid any different rate for doing it, RAF personal are paid 23.59 hres a day 7 days a week apparently, so he told me, but his day job was as an airframe technician on vulcans, when he was on a rescue he was slightly more risking his own health and life, the only time he was given any recognistion was when the RSPCA gave him a humanitarian award for rescuing some sheep from a gully.
The civilian MR teams are volunteers, I can't imagine how their families feel when they know they are on a call out looking for holiday makers and ramblers, climbers who have got it wrong.

[wimp]

bookbinder...You are right on the subject of rescue teams not wanting people to pay to be rescued and I agree! It's the ones that don't give a thought about anyone else and go ahead regardless of the consequences!

[woofgang]

Personally I think that the idiots should be left to experience the results of their idiocy but its not up to me to have an opinion as i am not a rescue volunteer. Dot, is your partner a volunteer or was it compulsory and part of his job?