Well-Prepared: Mountain Rescue Through the Ages
An alarm sounds at the Air Zermatt base: a rescue helicopter takes off, carrying a pilot, a paramedic, and a doctor. Since the emergency call comes from challenging mountainous terrain, an experienced rescue specialist also joins the crew. Three key elements are essential for the success of many missions: teamwork, trust, and continuous training.
Triangulaire
When Air Zermatt is called to a rescue mission in extreme terrain, a rescue specialist always strengthens the crew. In Zermatt, these specialists are also mountain guides who know the terrain and the region’s challenges inside out. For many years, they have worked hand in hand with Air Zermatt—every movement is precise, and words are barely needed. The level of trust within the team is extraordinary.
But despite the well-practiced collaboration, the team constantly asks themselves: what can we improve next time? This self-reflection leads to the continuous development of rescue methods over the years.
The majority of alpine rescues take place within Air Zermatt’s operational areas, the Aosta region, and around Chamonix. For this reason, Air Zermatt, together with former rescue chief Bruno Jelk, initiated the tri-country event – the Triangulaire. Once a year, rescue teams from Zermatt, Chamonix, and Aosta come together to exchange experiences and present newly developed rescue techniques and equipment. Particularly valuable innovations have emerged from this collaboration. The most recent meeting took place in mid-September in Chamonix.
Climate Change as a Challenge
An increasingly important factor for mountain rescue is the impact of climate change. The mountain environment is changing rapidly, and rescuers must adapt to new challenges. Rising temperatures lead to more unstable conditions in the mountains, directly affecting the work of the rescue teams.
Rescuers are more frequently confronted with landslides, rockfalls, and fragile glaciers. This adds extra risks for both the victims and the rescue crews. People are more often trapped or buried in unstable terrain, requiring precise and swift rescues. Yet traditional methods are often no longer sufficient—new techniques and tools must be learned and practiced in realistic scenarios.
Specialised tools require specific training
An example of this is the use of airbags or hydraulic presses to safely free trapped individuals. Handling these specialized tools requires specific training to be prepared for emergency situations.
At the most recent Triangulaire, rescuers trained in a realistic glacier scenario above Chamonix. In a 1:1 training exercise, the rescuers had to work in difficult, unstable terrain and apply new techniques to safely recover those buried. These practical exercises are crucial for preparing for the changing conditions in the mountains due to climate change.
The exchange between the various rescue organizations from Zermatt, Chamonix, and Aosta is invaluable. Through shared learning and the passing on of experiences, new solutions to the growing challenges are developed.
