 At last - a suitable technology for permanently "waymarking" those difficult scrables in the lakes District, or perhaps warning walkers not to go too near the edge of Stanage. Strips could be easily manufactured to fit particularly difficult sections of rock scrambles, identifying where the best "jugs" can be grabbed in an emergency on night descents. EL will revolutionise the sport, and make enforced bivouacs a thing of the past.
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 Well while they're doing that they might as well put VF cables and ladders in all routes so the unskilled can venture into the hills.
El Could revolutionise the sport and utterly ruin it!
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We'll probably have to start employing teams of porters to carry all the batteries we need to power our light (excuse the pun) weight jackets.
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 And the police will insist yet again that search teams ditch their nearly-new hi-viz jackets for the latest hi-tech design, and the insurance companies will refuse to renew our policy if we don't.
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 Hmmmm strange one that Alison, don't see many artic lorries thundering along at 70mph plus on the fells?????
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 We could all look like Buzz Lightyear. ' To infinity and beyoooonnnd!'
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In lowland search Tony, we have to search woods and fields, which often cross roads, and some of our searches are in rban areas. Police health and safety regs require us to wear hi-viz jackets on roads, and they must not be obscured by rucksacks or webbing. Now we have been told that we are probably going to have to ditch all our current hi-viz jackets for the next level up (with sleeves). As a volunteer unit with very limited funds this is a pain because all members have to have one.
Which team are you in Tony ?
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I would make some discrete enquiries with the health & safety executive. As you know, I am an Ambulance Officer and we are subject to the same regs as the Police.
The standard of high viz markings on vehicles and clothing etc is subject to conditions of the roads served.
For example, the infamous "battenburgh" markings on vehicles are only a requirement on vehicles that have to stop on high speed roads such as motorways, dual carriageways etc. (Where normal vehicles are not allowed to stop) Hence the "hobbyists" (meant in a kind context) such as the voluntary ambulance services, together with private ones do not need theses markings. (But they would not have so much fun without them eh???)
Having said that, any vehicles that do adopt them have to then comply to STRICT specs.
It is a similar situation with high viz. You will notice all the Motorway organisations including the Emergency Services, breakdown & motorway maintainance personell have to comply with the higher specs required for their environment. But have a look at the average Council employee, or the utility workers and you will see some still wearing sleeveless vests which were "outlawed" for us some years ago.
I fail to see why the Police are insisting on you using hard earned funds to update to the latest "fashion," other than perhaps they wish to use you on motorways etc ??? in which case surely the onus would be on them to assist you???
I was a member of the now defunct Gwent Ambulance Search & Rescue team and did all my training with Morlais MRT. (Now Central Brecon)
I now restrict my skills to the Gwent Cave rescue team, where there are DEFINATELY no artic lorries thundering by, hence, no Hi viz!!!
:-))))
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We're definitely not allowed to search on motorways; safety of team members is regarded as paramount. The hi viz jackets are required for searching unpaved and unlit lanes at night. It's still under discussion at the moment, and sometimes the police do help with funds, so maybe they will this time. I just hope the Marmot jackets do not set off a new trend.
I have done a bit of training with the Morlais team It was a long time ago; Bremex used to have an annual MR weekend, and for several years this was very kindly hosted by the Morlais team. They were a fantastic bunch, and made us very welcome. Some of their members struck up a friendy banter with ours which they referred to when they wrote regarding our last booking. Unfortunately our leader; who was in his eighties and not very tuned in, sent a sniffy reply and we were never invited again. We all felt really bad about that so if you ar still in touch with them, please relay my very belated apologies.
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 Damn, beaten to it again...
For cycling use, I hasten to add...
-----Original Message-----
From: captain paranoia
Sent: 13 June 2000 18:31
To: Mike Wright (E-mail)
Subject: more ideas..
I saw an idea I liked in an outdoor catalogue. VauDe (German company) sell rucksacks with reflective fibres woven into the fabric. By day, it looks normal, but at night reflects brightly.
I thought of going one step further, and weaving in an electroluminescent material, which can then be illuminated. This assumes that the el material can be made safely waterproof.
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 Unlucky CP!
Next time you have an idea patent it quick!
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Alison,
I do sometimes have contact with the new Central Beacons team and a number of them are Ambulance staff.
I spent most of my time with them in the mid to late 80s.
About the only two I still sometimes see from those days are Peter Howells and Huw Jones, chairman and team leader respectively.
Did you know either of them? If so I will certainly pass on your belated apologies!!
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80's would be right. I don't remember any names now. You could ask if they remember Bremex.
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