International Women’s Day Profile: Laura
International Women’s Day Profile: Laura
Laura Ene
Moffat MRT
I have been a member of Moffat Mountain Rescue Team since 2020 joining the Callout list in 2021. Prior to this I was a probationary member of a neighbouring MRT however I transferred to the Moffat Team as the area covered was more appropriate for me to manage around my other commitments. I am one of the Remote Rescue Medical Technicians (RRMTs) in the team and as a medical doctor I also take responsibility for the ongoing training of the other RRMTs within the team.
I am a huge outdoor enthusiast with interests including climbing and winter sports (snowboarding, skiing and ice climbing).
“I have always admired the work the rescue teams carried out and as a doctor with interests in extreme rural and event medicine I felt joining the Mountain Rescue was as good way for me to combine my medical skills with my outdoor passion whilst helping others.”
I think the hardest thing about being in the Mountain Rescue is the balance and commitment between work and volunteering. My job is challenging and it is long hours so committing time to attend training, particularly the additional training of casualty care and organising this training as well as callouts can be a lot to manage. As for the skills you learn as a volunteer, with enough time and training confidence grows therefore I wouldn’t say anything we learn as a team is too challenging.
What makes Mountain Rescue so rewarding is overcoming the challenges and obstacles you encounter along the way to get the best results in each task. As a petite female from Romania I am not the typical person people think of when you say ‘Mountain Rescue’ therefore it’s also rewarding to be able to challenge attitudes and show what skills I can bring to a job no-one else can offer. I have gained friendships, experiences and skills I never thought I would have, that helped shape me as a person and I hope I can continue to change the perspective of others to give other minority groups the confidence to join.
It feels amazing when we have a successful outcome at a callout. It’s very satisfying for all involved knowing we have supported that individual to get out of a sticky situation or located a missing person. It also offers members of the team an opportunity to put their skills and training into practice often in harsh and challenging conditions. Working together at callouts also help to bring the team closer together as we all share a common goal.
There is a lot of commitment associated with being a part of a Mountain Rescue Team. You need to have a good level of physical fitness and the ability to maintain that as well as learning and maintaining technical skills. This means attending training regularly and keeping up to date with equipment and evidence as this develops. Any additional roles taken on within the team for example casualty carers also come with additional training however for me, this is where I feel I can make the most difference. It’s not all about training though; members of the team also attend local events, host a charity walking challenge and get together for social events which are all good opportunities for team bonding and meeting the families and friends of other volunteers.
As a team we are lucky to have a lot of community support with a local garage funding our fuel costs and many local people taking part in our charity challenge to raise money for the team. My family and friends all know how important the Mountain Rescue Team is to me and fully support me in my journey within the team.
