Trossachs SAR, Trossachs SAR Rescue Post, 5 Geisher Road, Callander (2026)

14/07/2026

Search dog Bowie has reached the final of the BBC Scotland Make A Difference Awards, shortlisted in the Animal Award category.

Bowie started life as a rescue dog. He went on to qualify as an operational search dog with Trossachs Search and Rescue, helping to find missing people across the area. He has also volunteered as a therapy and dementia dog, supporting people in the community.

None of this happens by accident. Behind every operational search dog are years of dedication, and countless hours of training in all weathers. That commitment from handler Amanda is what has taken Bowie from rescue dog to the final of a national award.

You can hear Bowie's story today. Amanda and Bowie will be on BBC Radio Scotland at 2.30pm this afternoon, and the interview will be available on BBC Sounds afterwards.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at BBC Pacific Quay in Glasgow on Sunday 13 September.

The whole team is proud of Amanda and Bowie, and everyone will have their paws crossed.

Tune in at 2.30pm today on 92-95 FM, DAB or BBC Sounds.

07/07/2026

It is Defib Tuesday, and this week the team is at 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹.

The defibrillator is mounted on the outside of the building, so it can be reached in an emergency. A school sits at the centre of its community and is used well beyond the school day, which makes it a valuable location to have one accessible.

In a cardiac arrest, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹. Knowing where your nearest one is before you ever need it saves time you cannot get back.

The what3words address is 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁.𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲.𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆

If you are new to what3words, it is a free app that divides the world into three metre squares, each with its own unique three word name. Rather than describing where you are, you read out the three words and the emergency services can pinpoint that exact location. It is faster and more precise than a street name, particularly anywhere without a clear address. It is available to download free from the App Store or Google Play.

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 so you have it to hand, and follow the series each Tuesday as we build a picture of where defibrillators are located across our communities.

𝗜𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝟵𝟵𝟵 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁.

📍Location: Dunblane Primary School

what3words: invest.populate.valley

30/06/2026

It is Defib Tuesday, and this week the team is in Lochearnhead.

This one is housed in a converted red telephone box at the Scout Station, with the AED mounted inside. Old phone boxes like this one are given a new lease of life across rural Scotland as defib points, and they are easy to spot from a distance.
In a cardiac arrest, every minute without a defib drops the chance of survival.

Knowing where your nearest one is before you ever need it saves time you cannot get back.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝟑𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥.𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥

If you are new to what3words, it is a free app that splits the whole world into three metre squares, each with its own unique three word name. Instead of describing where you are, you read out the three words and the emergency services can pinpoint that exact spot. It is far faster and more precise than a street name, especially out this way where addresses can be sparse. Download it free from the App Store or Google Play.

Save this post so you have it to hand, and follow along each Tuesday as we build a picture of where the defibs are across our communities.

In an emergency always dial 𝟗𝟗𝟗 first.

📍𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

what3words: 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥.𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥

27/06/2026

Earlier this week, Amanda, Mark and Martin visited , bringing search dog Bowie along for the visit.

The team delivered a session on CPR and how to use a defibrillator, giving STEP Stirling the knowledge and confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.

Knowing how to use a defib and perform CPR can be the difference between life and death in those critical first minutes before an ambulance arrives. The more people who have that knowledge, the better.

If you'd like the team to come and show your group or organisation how to use a defibrillator, get in touch.

25/06/2026

Several members of the Trossachs SAR team have been keeping their skills sharp, completing their outdoor first aid refresher training with Helensburgh First Aid.

Keeping our first aid qualifications up to date is an important part of what we do.

The ability to deliver effective first aid can make a real difference while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Well done to all the team members who took part.

23/06/2026

It is Defib Tuesday, and this week we are at the Kippen Reading Rooms .

The defibrillator is mounted on the outside of the building, so it can be reached in an emergency. Right in the heart of the village, it is a handy one for the local community to know about.

In a cardiac arrest, every minute without a defib drops the chance of survival. Knowing where your nearest one is before you ever need it saves time you cannot get back.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝟑𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭.𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

If you are new to what3words, it is a free app that splits the whole world into three metre squares, each with its own unique three word name. Instead of describing where you are, you read out the three words and the emergency services can pinpoint that exact spot. It is far faster and more precise than a street name, especially anywhere without a clear address. Download it free from the App Store or Google Play.

Save this post so you have it to hand, and follow along each Tuesday as we build a picture of where the defibs are across our communities.

In an emergency always dial 999 first.

📍𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬, 𝐊𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧

𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝟑𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭.𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Kippen Reading Rooms

18/06/2026

Have you met Bean?

Bean is one of our trainee search dogs, currently in training with handler Gayle. Gayle is an experienced search and rescue handler, and Bean is learning the ropes under her guidance.

Training a search dog takes time, patience, and a lot of repetition, but it's great to see Bean's progress so far. Watch this space as Bean continues to develop.

17/06/2026

Last week Martin and Leanne from Trossachs Search and Rescue visited Doune Primary School as part of the school's Health Week.

Martin and Leanne gave a talk on the work of Trossachs SAR, and along with Kieran from delivered a comprehensive session on water safety and what to do in an emergency.

The session included a practical demo on assessing water depth, and how the team use poles and throw lines to reach people in trouble in the water. The "drowning man" target made another appearance, showing pupils just how hard it can be to reach someone in difficulty in the water.

Great to see water safety being taught to the next generation. If your school is interested in a similar session, get in touch.

16/06/2026

It is Defib Tuesday, and this week we are at Loch Venachar Sailing Club. ⛵

The defibrillator is mounted on the outside of the clubhouse, so it can be reached in an emergency. With the loch, the water sports and the walking routes nearby, it is a good spot to have one within easy reach.

In a cardiac arrest, every minute without a defib drops the chance of survival. Knowing where your nearest one is before you ever need it saves time you cannot get back.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝟑𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠.𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝.𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐱

If you are new to what3words, it is a free app that splits the whole world into three metre squares, each with its own unique three word name. Instead of describing where you are, you read out the three words and the emergency services can pinpoint that exact spot. It is far faster and more precise than a street name, especially out by the loch or anywhere without a clear address. Download it free from the App Store or Google Play.

Save this post so you have it to hand, and follow along each Tuesday as we build a picture of where the defibs are across our communities.

𝐈𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟗𝟗𝟗 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.

📍𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Loch Venachar Sailing Club
𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝟑𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: surviving.surprised.gearbox

09/06/2026

Defib Tuesday starts here.

Every Tuesday the team will be spotlighting a publicly accessible defibrillator somewhere in our communities. Over the year that builds into a local map of where to find one when it matters most.

First up is the . The defib is mounted on the outside of the cafe, so it can be reached in an emergency.

In a cardiac arrest, every minute without a defib drops the chance of survival. Knowing where your nearest one is before you ever need it saves time you cannot get back.

The what3words address is riverside.reeling.scouts

If you have not used what3words before, it is a free app that splits the whole world into three metre squares, each with its own unique three word name. Instead of describing where you are, you read out the three words and the emergency services can pinpoint that exact spot. It is far faster and more precise than a street name, especially on the hills or anywhere without a clear address. Download it free from the App Store or Google Play.

Save this post so you have it to hand, and follow along each Tuesday to build your own picture of where the defibs are.

In an emergency always dial 999 first.

Location: Tincan Cafe, Dunblane
what3words: riverside.reeling.scouts

Trossachs SAR

14/07/2026

07/07/2026

30/06/2026

27/06/2026

25/06/2026

23/06/2026

18/06/2026

17/06/2026

16/06/2026

09/06/2026

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