In 2023, we exceeded the record number from the year before last, responding to 687 interventions (2022: 667), not including mountain rescue interventions during the catastrophic floods. We rescued tourists in 293 interventions, and in 322 interventions, the rescued individuals were uninjured. The most accidents occurred in the GRS Bohinj area (90) and GRS Tolmin (84). Accidents mostly happened due to slips (164) and lack of terrain knowledge (146). Helicopters participated in 295 interventions (43%). In 2023, there were 28 fatal accidents (2022: 38). The largest number (139, i.e., 20%) of those involved were in the 20-29 age group. Outstanding interventions in 2023 included rescues during the August floods, rescue below Triglavska škrbina (GRS Bohinj), rescue operation on Kokrška Kočna (GRS Kranj), rescue in the Jerebica wall (GRS Bovec), and a special challenge was rescuing a bull (GRS Škofja Loka).
At the beginning of the year, the Alpine Rescue Association of Slovenia (GRZS) conducts an analysis of mountain rescuers' interventions for the previous year. Maintaining statistics is highly important for comparing trends over the years and gaining insights into field needs. The data show that the number of interventions and accidents in the mountains is increasing, mainly due to increased mountain visits. Over the last 10 years, the number of interventions has risen from 392 (2013) to nearly 700 (687 in 2023). Last year, with 20 more interventions compared to the previous year, indicates that many visitors to Slovenian mountains still do not follow basic rules that must be considered even before heading to the mountains. The first rule before going to the mountains is to critically select a tour appropriate to one's abilities and knowledge, prepare well for it, set off early enough, consider and repeatedly check the weather forecast from reliable sources, and take all necessary equipment that one knows how to use. Last year, among the most outstanding and demanding interventions were rescues and evacuations during the August floods. This was one of the largest and longest interventions; in the GRS Koroške area alone, 57 GRZS members were active on the ground. Besides Koroške, the most affected group was GRS Kamnik, which lost its newly built premises. Regarding mountain activities where rescuers had to intervene most frequently, as in 2022, in 2023, hiking on trails (306 interventions), climbing (46), off-trail hiking (45), and air activities (36) stand out. Mountain rescuers responded 20 times to work accidents (forestry accidents). In addition to rescue operations, there were also 56 search operations in 2023. In 295 cases of mountain accidents, meaning 43%, a helicopter from the Slovenian Army or Police participated in the rescue.
We most often rescued uninjured persons (in 322 interventions) and persons with minor injuries (164 interventions), with 28 fatal accidents. Due to last year's catastrophic floods, from early August onward, there were noticeably fewer foreign tourists in Slovenian mountains, so unlike last year, in most accidents, Slovenians were involved (405 interventions), and foreigners in 293 interventions. GRZS proactively collaborates with proposals to address the issue of paid mountain rescue. The state will need to find an appropriate financially sustainable solution to cover the costs of rescue operations, especially helicopter rescues, which have been rapidly increasing lately, also due to the large increase in rescues of foreign nationals. Tourists venturing into Slovenian mountains are often poorly prepared, without proper equipment, and often underestimate the difficulty of Slovenian mountains. To regulate the broader field of mountain rescue, within the Ministry of Defence together with all stakeholders, substantive proposals are being prepared for the adoption of a new Mountain Rescue Act (e.g., firefighters already have their own act). In this, mountain rescuers continue to adhere to their over 110-year tradition of voluntary operation. The mission of the Alpine Rescue Association of Slovenia, located at Bleiweisova cesta 34 in Kranj, is to voluntarily help people in mountain accidents and hard-to-access terrains. GRZS's work also includes prevention and education of members and other mountain visitors. The beginnings of mountain rescue service date back to 1912, and among the first rescuers were all the top alpinists of that time. 800 mountain rescuers in 17 GRS groups across Slovenia operate within the Alpine Rescue Association of Slovenia, which is also a member of the international mountain rescue commission ICAR.
Source:
https://www.grzs.si/aktualno/novice/lani-rekordno-stevilo-nesrec-v-gorah/