HOMEPAGE PERSONAL PROFILE HISTORICAL REVIEW HOWEBRIDGE MRS BOOTHSTOWN MRS PURPOSE OF A MRS MOBILE WINDING ENGINE AMPUTATION KIT OFFICERS AND STAFF SELECTION OF RESCUEMEN BREATHING APP PRIME FEATURES OF BA GENERAL CONDUCT OXYGEN RESUSCITATORS HEAT AND HUMIDITY RESCUE COMMS CANARIES AND LAMPS SELF RESCUERS SEFA BREATHING APPARATUS PROTO BREATHING APPARATUS AERORLOX BREATHING APPARATUS SALVUS BREATHING APPARATUS SAVOX BREATHING APPARATUS MINOX BREATHING APPARATUS ANTIPOYS TUBE APPARATUS

The Lancashire Mines Rescue Service SELECTION OF RESCUE WORKERS. The photographs above show the Certificate and lapel badge (replica) which were issued to rescue trainees on successfully completing the Initial Rescue Training Course, from 1932 until 1947. This wooden shield is a replica of the lapel badge and was painted by Arthur Cunliffe (Permanent Corps) in 1932. It was positioned over the Board Room fireplace at Boothstown Rescue Station when operations were transferred in 1933. It remained in this location until the Station closed in 1994. The actual lapel badge was just over 1 inch diameter and the replica shield was 12 inches diameter. The certificate measured 16 inches by 12 inches. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SELECTION OF RESCUE WORKERS. The Rescue Regulations require the Manager of every mine employing 100 or more men underground, to select men for mines rescue training. There was a minimum number specified, that increased proportionately with the numbers employed below ground. Some Colliery Managers would have a list of volunteers to choose from but he had a duty to select only those, whom he considered to have a general aptitude for the work and those who were both, mentally and physically capable. In addition, the selected men had to be currently working underground and they must have done so for at least 2 years before selection. They had to be free from illness and all organic disease and weaknesses. They also had to be the holder of a current First Aid Certificate approved by an appropriate body. Before starting the Initial Training Course at the Rescue Station, the potential rescue worker had to be certified fit, after a vigorous medical and physical examination by a Doctor. The Initial Training Course consisted of 16 attendances and were divided into practical wearing sessions with breathing apparatus in the training galleries and a series of rescue related lectures. It was necessary for the Station Superintendent, at the end of the Training Course to certify that the trainee was both competent and confident to undertake rescue work with breathing apparatus. In every 12 monthly period, all full-time and part-time rescue workers had to be medically examined and certified by a Doctor that they were fit to continue in mines rescue work. In the early 1950’s an Exercise Tolerance Test was introduced in the form of the “Harvard Pack Test”. This was a very strenuous exercise and some men were seriously fatigued at the end of the test. It consisted of the man stepping on and off a box, 16 inches high, at a rate of 30 times per minute for a duration of 5 minutes, whilst carrying a back pack equal to one third of his body weight. On completion, the sum of a series of pulse counts, provided a 'Fitness Index'. In the early 1980’s the N.C.B. Medical Department devised a sub-maximal exercise by the introduction of a treadmill. This accurately determined fitness levels without pushing an individual towards his physical limits. The treadmill was set at an incline of 1 in 12 to the horizontal and at a fixed speed of 4 mph. Throughout the test, the men were fully monitored by being wired up to an electrocardiograph. The man's lung function was measured seperately by means of a spirometer. The work rate was constant in every case and an accurate 'Fitness Index' was obtained from the graph that was produced. It is appropriate at this point to acknowledge the vital role of the part-time colliery rescue workers, who were absolutely indispensable. They were volunteers who undoubtedly provided the “Back Bone” of the Mines Rescue Service. Without them, the Organisation could not have functioned. With the 'Brigade System', it was entirely down to the 'part-timers' and with the Permament Corps System, the members of the Permanent Corps could normally, only deal with the initial stages of an incident and therefore, completely relied on the part time rescue men to continue with the operations until the incident was under control. The 'part-timers' were paid an annual retaining fee and received extra payment when called upon for emergency work underground. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------