The Stress bottle – before counselling?

Most years sadly we assisted many Mountain Rescue Teams with taking fatal casualties of the mountains. I do know it effected me over the years. Yet in these days it was just get on with it. At time’s despite your efforts a Walker climber would die even after huge efforts by teams. In these days we were told it was “part of the job.

Weakness –

Any sign of weakness was rarely accepted and “man up” was the phrase used. You must appreciate this was the 70’s.

The Stress bottle

As a young lad from 18 years old tragedies on the hills or aircraft crashes became a part of my life. As was a long journey home from Lochaber Glencoe, Skye, Kintail and many other places. Often without a shower or a debrief and straight back to work sometimes to Bosses who had no clue some thinking you were on a jolly! That as a young lad was hard to take.

Over the years things improved and the horrors of Lockerbie and the lessons learned were hard fought for. Many in the military took years to appreciate the effects on some of the team.

When I became Team Leader in the late 80’s I did try to change things. I pushed for the team to stay together after a fatality if it involved a long journey home.

We had a “stress bottle s of whisky” kept on the Control wagon and many unwound with a drink after a nasty job.

This was usually after a tragic or difficult incident in these days there was little advice on what to do ? This was our way at that time of dealing with it.

We all deal differently with things and a few were effected badly by what they did and saw and still are.

I was one of them it took me years to admit this to those I love. Families had no clue what was going on in some of our heads!

Alcohol was not the way forward yet at the time it’s all we had ? I am glad things are different now?

Comments welcome !

Al Swadel – Debriefing with your mates who where there, in a quite corner of a pub somewhere (with no “outsiders” eves dropping) over a few pints and letting the pressure slowly release, the questions be asked and even a bit of the “black humour” to flow, when you are in safe and trusted company goes a long way towards avoiding long term problems for individuals, strengthens the bonds between team members and even goes towards doing a “better” job next time

Alan Swadel – I think what was important was not only the drinking but it gave the troops an opportunity to unwind and chat about what we’d just been through. A decompression of some sorts before going home. I always thought it important that the troops stayed somewhere overnight before going home after a big job. Not only to recover physically from the hard work but to get time to mentally digest what we’d all just been through and discuss it with people “who understood”

Steve Grasper – Debriefing with your mates who where there, in a quite corner of a pub somewhere (with no “outsiders” eves dropping) over a few pints and letting the pressure slowly release, the questions be asked and even a bit of the “black humour” to flow, when you are in safe and trusted company goes a long way towards avoiding long term problems for individuals, strengthens the bonds between team members and even goes towards doing a “better” job next time

Angus – excellent article as usual Heavy, yes the Aultguish provided ‘stress relief’ and an opportunity to talk on a few occasions after difficult shouts.