CUMBRIAN mountain rescue teams (MRT) have been dealing with numerous incidents across the county over the past few days.

Six teams have been deployed to incidents primarily in the central and eastern parts of the county. 

Mountain rescue is working closely with Cumbria Constabulary through its strategic incident command structure to deal with the 999 calls and providing support to the ambulance service where it has been impossible to get their own vehicles to patients requiring urgent treatment or medication.

During February 27 there was two incidents but this increased to seven on February 28 and 17 yesterday (March 1). Many of these were multi-incident deployments so the workload for the teams has been significantly higher.

The teams have been tasked with rescuing people in stranded vehicles, delivering essential medication to patients in remote areas and attending 999 calls where the police, fire and rescue and ambulances cannot get to and patient transfers across and outside the county. There have also been sledging incidents and callouts for incidents on the mountain.

Penrith MRT and Kirkby Stephen MRT have been the busiest in the east of the county. 

Penrith dealt with eleven incidents yesterday (March 1) including a patient with heart issues where the team had to dig through snowdrifts for the last ¼ mile to get there, a stranded train at Brampton, numerous stranded motorists and assistance to care patients requiring urgent medication. 

The longest rescue was eight hours trying to reach a stranded foreign lorry driver who had already spent 24hrs in his vehicle. They were driven back by three metre high snow drifts. 

The team finished at 4am this morning (March 2) and will attempt to get to the still stranded lorry driver today. 

Penrith was assisted yesterday by Cockermouth and Patterdale MRTs.  Kirkby Stephen MRT is being assisted by Kendal and Duddon and Furness MRTs.

A spokesperson for the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association said: "The teams would urge drivers to avoid venturing out into those areas affected by the snow as directed by the police, the council and highways authority. 

"It is also important not to blindly follow their sat navs where main roads are closed as the back roads are in a worse condition. 

"Drivers need to be aware that when they have to abandon their cars they create blockages for the emergency services and indeed the snow ploughs and gritters that are doing their best to keep the roads clear.   

"In addition to supporting the county on the roads there have been a number of mountain related incidents including sledging accidents so unless you know what you are doing, know the risks and your limits, have the right winter equipment and you are experienced using it we would strongly advise people not to venture on the high fells. 

"Temperatures on the tops with wind chill will be minus 20 to minus 30 and at these temperatures exposed skin will be at risk of frostbite."