Visitors can see how lives are saved

A free day of activities and games has been arranged by the Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO) and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) to give visitors a chance to meet the volunteers who helped more than 100 people – mainly walkers – last year.

Catherine Kemp, the YDNPA’s outreach officer, said: “There will be lots of games and activities for children – and for adults it’s an opportunity to see what happens when someone needs help on the hills and in caves.

“Volunteers from the CRO will be on hand to talk about the essential job they do.”

There is no charge for the event but donations towards the work of the Cave Rescue Organisation will be welcome.

Malcolm Petyt, the authority’s member champion for recreation management, said: “We want families to get active and be healthy in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

“However, it’s important that visitors know how to stay safe when they are out walking and cycling on the hills, so we have teamed up with the Cave Rescue Organisation to put on what we hope will be an interesting event.”

The YDNPA has funded ‘Calling for help’ business cards that contain information about staying safe and, in an emergency, the correct way to call a rescue team. The free cards are available from National Park Centres, shops and cafes.

Rae Lonsdale, one of CRO’s duty controllers, said: “We take our work seriously in CRO but that doesn’t mean we take ourselves too seriously.

“We’ll be having a bit of fun with a quiz, some rope-work, a bit of safety education and an exploration of one of the team’s Land Rovers.”

The event will run from 11am to 3pm on June 1, meeting at the Cave Rescue headquarters in Clapham.