Guardia Civil’s Mountain Rescue Service safety campaign

THE Guardia Civil’s Mountain Rescue Service has launched a safety campaign after revealing that it was involved in 974 rescue missions last year. 

In total they recovered 103 bodies, rescued 588 injured people and led to safety 782 unharmed people who needed help. 

Not all their missions were from mountainous areas, with some 87 in places that were difficult to access or where it was necessary to use their specialised skills. 

Hiking was the activity with most call-outs (454), followed by climbing and other activities in steep terrain (113). Next came canyoning with 104 interventions, mountain skiing with 40 and mountain bike accidents with 24. 

Twenty-two per cent of those assisted lived abroad. Aragon was the autonomous community in which the Guardia Civil carried out the most interventions with 432, followed by Andalucia with 128, the Balearic Islands with 124 and Castile and Leon with 108. 

In 21.77 per cent of call outs, the aided person was carrying out the activity alone and in 92.51 per cent without a professional guide. 

Now the service is giving five basic tips to people heading into difficult and isolated terrain: 

1.- Prepare your itinerary 

2.- Equip yourself properly 

3.- Review the weather forecast 

5.- Tell someone where you are going. 

In addition, make sure you carry a mobile phone with a fully charged battery, with a spare powerpack if possible. Carry a high visibility vest, a flashlight, preferably a headlamp, and a whistle. They do not weigh much and can be of great help in attracting attention if needed.