IF AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS ...
People enter the mountain world with different purposes and goals. Unfortunately, many times it doesn’t work out according to our plans. Lack of experience, random web of circumstances, recklessness … and misfortune is here. Since we can also take part in it ourselves, or we are the first to happen to the victim, let’s repeat how we act in such a case:
- stay calm, sober, reassure other participants;
- assess the situation, protect yourself and the victim;
- offer first aid within our knowledge and skills;
- call 112 and report the accident to the information center;. We can call for help with a mobile phone or a VHF radio station (located in mountain huts).
The Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia and the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia ask all visitors to the Mountain world to follow the instructions of rescuers in the event of a rescue intervention.
WHEN HELP ARRIVES ...
- If you come across an accident and rescuers are already with the injured, stay away from the rescue area, even if it means waiting at a safe spot until the rescue is over before continuing with your tour.
- Don’t start climbing if an accident has occurred on your route (stay away from nearby routes as well). The wind from the helicopter could throw you off balance and there is considerable danger of falling rocks.
- Stop climbing immediately if you are already on the route and wait for rescuers’ instructions. Climbing above an accident site is extremely dangerous for the injured and the rescuers due to falling rock, which could damage the helicopter.
- Do not use ground-to-air hand signals for helicopter rescue if you’re not sure what they mean.
- Don’t move when a helicopter is nearby; duck and stay still. Keep your gear in your backpack, attached to your harness, or hold it firmly down to the ground.
- Follow the instructions and don’t enter restricted areas.
- Posting photos of the injured on social media, blogs, and websites is unethical.
During the rescue mission, spectating is undesirable:
- an unauthorized person is an additional burden for mountain rescuers because they need to be looked after, in addition unauthorized person is endangering everyone involved in the rescue;
- due to ignorance, a helicopter rescue may result in a fatal accident or it may prevent rescue operation and consequently endanger the life of the victim.
- a pair of protective gloves
- first bandage
- larger and smaller stretch bandage (crepe bandage)
- some patches
- sterile gauze
- tape
- triangular route
- scissors or a knife
- whistle
- painkiller
- astro foil or black bag
- WHO’S CALLING
- WHAT and WHERE happened
- WHEN did it happen
- HOW MANY VICTIMS ARE
- WHAT ARE THE INJURIES
- WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT (important in the case of helicopter rescue)
- WHAT help do you need?
Use only if there are no rescuers near the accident!
In Slovenia, the high costs of rescue in the mountains are covered by the HIIS and the state, and in the case of negligence by the individual. Rescue is carried out by the Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia, which covers the entire territory of Slovenia with seventeen stations.