PATTERDALE Mountain Rescue Team is the latest beneficiary of donations from Rotary Clubs around the UK following the storms of last winter.

Representatives of Rotary District 1190, covering Cumbria and Lancashire, visited the team's Lake District headquarters and saw the Propaq medical monitoring equipment that their donation of £2,890 has financed. The Propaq is a mobile device that monitors oxygen levels, blood pressure and heart rate as well as other vital signs while a casualty is out on the mountains.

“It can be a real life saver especially if the casualty may be suffering from hypothermia or has suspected heart problems," said Jacquie Freeborn, chair of the trustees of Patterdale MRT. “We tend to use this piece of kit in a whole range of situations so being able to replace the damaged one is invaluable to our work.”

Team members were able to show Charlie Shepherd, president of the Rotary Club of Penrith and Wendy Aldred, assistant governor of Rotary Cumbria and Lancashire, the range of equipment they use on the mountains to ensure that every casualty has the best possible chance of a full recovery.

“This is a team of volunteers that has been at the centre of recovery operations in floods and in other emergencies over the years and Rotary is pleased to give assistance in this way,” said Mr Shepherd.

In all, Rotary Cumbria and Lancashire raised more than £200 000 in donations after Storm Desmond to help groups and communities across Cumbria with money coming into their funds from across the UK.