Since November 2nd, the Austrian Armed Forces have had up to 330 alpine soldiers, mountain experts and four helicopters on standby for avalanche missions. These forces, which are specially equipped and trained for the high mountains, are available for avalanche operations until at least April 29, 2022 – if they are requested for an assistance mission.
“You can rely on the Austrian Armed Forces. With their many years of experience and expertise, our soldiers can help professionally and quickly wherever they are needed in disaster operations, missions in rough terrain and in all weather conditions,” says Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. With a total of 16 avalanche platoons and groups and four helicopters in Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg, the Armed Forces can support civilian emergency services when they need help.
An avalanche rescue platoon consists of around 30 professional soldiers with special alpine training; an avalanche rescue team consists of eight soldiers. With mountain-specific equipment, such as alpine rescue equipment or disaster equipment, the alpine specialists can rescue people who have had accidents in avalanches. The teams also include specially trained emergency paramedics. They specialize in searching for buried victims and providing first aid after avalanche accidents. The soldiers in the avalanche rescue teams constantly review and improve their knowledge and skills in operational exercises. The helicopters kept on standby by the Austrian Armed Forces are equipped with cable winches, which – especially for rescues in difficult-to-access terrain – can lower air rescuers to an accident victim and take them both into the helicopter.
