Essential Tools for a Mountain Rescue Team

Having the right mountain rescue equipment is essential to be able to perform these tasks with confidence for a safe rescue despite high-risk conditions. From tactical tools like navigation and rope descenders to medical and personal care, here are some of the essentials to help ensure your team is always prepared.

Navigation

Navigation in the mountains is challenging. It's easy to lose your bearings, especially so in white-out snow conditions. To assist, every mountain rescuer should have a hard-copy map, navigation wands or flags, a compass, an altimeter, and a GPS device. Wands can be placed in the ground or snow in regular intervals as you make your way to your target, providing a low-tech means of way finding for your return. Likewise, record both compass and altimeter bearings as you make your way to the rescue site to help find your return path. Finally, use your GPS for real time navigation but keep in mind that cold temperatures can reduce the life of batteries, so be sure your device is fully charged and bring back up batteries as well.

Communication

Communication with both your team and the outside world is critical for a successful rescue. Every mountain rescue equipment checklist should include two-way radios, mobile phones, and personal locator beacons (PLBs) or satellite messengers. Again, be sure all these devices are fully charged and pack extra batteries as well.

Technical Rescue Kit for Descending/Ascending

Reaching unconscious or disabled people can be a major challenge and hazard in any environment. In the mountains, a rescue may mean accessing cliff faces, steep slopes, or mechanisms and structures such as cable cars, ski lifts, or towers while ensuring the secure ascent and decent of both the rescue team and the people they are helping. These situations and tasks require specialized equipment.

This equipment includes rescue harnesses, karabiners, prusik cords, ropes, rope descenders and ascenders, wire hoist kits, and tubular webbing. Used properly, these devices ensure the safety of rescuers and casualty by providing active fall protection, and by preventing the rate of descent from becoming too fast, which can risk serious injury or death, even without a fall. Keep in mind that some rope descenders are designed to descend only, while you may need a rope descent device that provides both controlled ascents and descents. Models of descent devices that include a hand-powered winch are capable of both controlling the speed of a descent and lifting a rescuer and casualty. A rope descent device can be purchased on its own, but these devices are also available as a system or kit that's designed to work together.

Medical & First Aid

Mountain rescue teams need to be prepared to give a full spectrum of medical aid both to their rescue target as well as themselves. This is especially true if their casualty is hurt and they anticipate that it might be a while before they can access standard medical treatment. Medical equipment should include:

• Specialized mountain rescue stretchers
• AED/Defibrillator
• Cervical collars
• Splints
• Oxygen
• Analgesics/pain relievers
• Wound dressings

Shelter

Many rescues involve harsh weather; having the right shelter is vital in these conditions – especially if the rescue takes more than a day. Tents, tarps, and emergency blankets are a must for both the rescue team and their rescuees.

General Tools

Every mountain rescue equipment list must also include essential tools to assist in a variety of circumstances. They should consist of:

• A pocketknife or multi-tool, which can come in handy for a variety of functions
• A snow shovel to assist in digging out after snowfall or avalanche
• Avalanche probes to find people that have buried in the snow
• A bolt cropper/cutter
• Waterproof fire starter or matches
• A generator
• Duct tape
• Flashlights

Nutrition & Hydration

Pack enough non-perishable foods (like granola, jerky, and dried fruits), along with water (and perhaps a water filter or water purification tablets) for both the team and their rescuees. Water may be best stored in a hydration bladder versus canteen or bottle for easier storage.

Personal Gear

Each member of the team will also need to ensure their personal well-being by being prepared with the following:

• Well-fitting, weather-appropriate clothing (including hats and gloves, rain gear, cold weather clothing, etc.)
• Helmet
• Crampons
• Sunglasses
• Sunblock
• Headlamp

Consult Mountain Rescue Equipment Experts

Mountain rescue operations aren't for the faint of heart. Mountain rescuers persevere through some of the most dangerous conditions you can find. Your rescue team needs to be able to count on their equipment so they can focus on the challenge at hand. This is especially true for technical ascent and descent gear - and why it's a good idea to enlist the help of a qualified safety expert when choosing your next harness, hoist, or rope descent device.

If you’re concerned about choosing the right safety gear for your mountain rescue team, contact the specialists at Tractel® to discuss your options. We will be happy to assist you in finding the mountain rescue equipment you need so your team can focus on what's truly important—saving lives.

You can also visit our dedicated wire rope hoist page to learn more about our lifting and handling solutions for rescue teams.