The weekend of 12-14th June saw around 40 members of cave rescue teams across the UK descend on the Mendips for a medical conference hosted by Mendip Cave Rescue. This event runs biannually, between the wider BCRC Rescon meetings. As 2026 is the 90th anniversary of MCR, making it the second oldest cave rescue organisation in the world, it seemed appropriate to hold it in the beautiful Somerset countryside.
The event was run out of Priddy, which sits above Swildons Hole, a classic British cave, and site of much early cave diving activity. The Friday evening featured a guest speaker, Dr Phil Cowburn MBE, Emergency Medicine consultant, co-founder of Great Western Air Ambulance and developer of the Ten Second Triage Tool, who talked about management of complex incidents.
Saturday was occupied with a round robin of scenarios in the entrance series of Swildons, covering topics as varied as chest pain, crush injury, diving problems and paediatric suspension syndrome. The weather was glorious, and after the exercises were completed there was a lot of discussion and reflection while kit was cleaned and dried. Dinner was followed by a selection of historic rescue films, featuring a combination of news reports and team footage, as well as an opportunity to catch up with friends.
Sunday morning saw a series of lectures, including developments of the RRMT (Remote Rescue Medical Technician) course, upcoming governance changes, the effects of aging on cavers, new equipment, and diving-related medical conditions. After a group session discussing the challenges of prolonged incidents, the delegates departed home, fuelled by yet more of the excellent catering that had accompanied the whole weekend.
Congratulations to Mendip Cave Rescue for an informative and enjoyable weekend.
Dr Brendan Sloan
Medical Officer for the British Cave Rescue Council