The Austrian Mountain Rescue Service reports a three percent increase in its operations to over 2023 for 9.600. At a network symposium in cooperation with the KFV and the ÖKAS, measures to optimize and reduce the frequency of operations were discussed.
The "Mountain RESCUE" symposium brought together various Alpine safety stakeholders to discuss new trends and risks. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner emphasized the importance of strong networking and praised the indispensable work of the approximately 12.800 volunteer mountain rescuers who carry out over 9.600 missions every year.
Stefan Hochstaffl, President of the Austrian Mountain Rescue Service, is pleased with the increase in volunteer members and the increased number of missions. In 2023, a total of 9.658 missions were registered, in which unfortunately 273 people could only be recovered dead.
In addition to communication strategies, the discussions at Semmering also covered the topic of peer stress and the need for professional support for emergency services after stressful events. Ing. Martin Gurdet, MSc, Federal Director of the Mountain Rescue Service, underlines the ongoing implementation of such measures.
Dr. Johanna Trauner-Karner from the KFV points out that there is a high number of unreported mountain accidents that are not reported to the police. She stresses the importance of targeted prevention work to avoid accidents. According to estimates, around 47.000 people in Austria suffer serious injuries every year while skiing, snowboarding, hiking and doing other mountain sports.
Peter Paal, President of the Austrian Alpine Safety Board, urges caution in the mountains and underlines the importance of preventive measures. The symposium was supported by a number of organizations, including cave rescue, air rescue, fire service and the Alpine Association, which are committed to safety in the Alpine region.
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