When hiking or mountain biking in the mountains, an accident can easily happen. Then help is needed. But what if you’re stuck in a dead zone? This is also a big problem for mountain rescue teams.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of dead spots in the Harz Mountains, reports Matthes Kirmann. He is the public relations officer for the DRK mountain rescue service in Saxony-Anhalt. He cites the Brocken and the Bodetal as examples. “But that doesn’t just affect the mobile network, but also the radio network of our digital radios,” says Kirmann.
For several kilometers there is no reception in places. “This can mean that we are called late” – in emergencies, this can endanger people, says Kirmann. It is a big problem for the rescue workers when their digital radio devices have no reception, for example when the mountain rescuers are far apart when searching for a person in order to be able to search a larger area. Constant radio reception would therefore be desirable for a safe operation.
Emergency button can help
Anyone who breaks a leg while hiking or has slipped off-road naturally wants to be able to call for help via smartphone from anywhere. However, a dead spot sometimes only exists for certain mobile networks. That is why Andreas Höninger from the Bergspechte Alpine School advises:
The cell phone should be switched off completely and switched on again and then press the emergency call button instead of the personal PIN. As a result, the mobile phone first searches for any network that may be weak to dial into.
If the location of injured persons is made more difficult by a lack of radio reception, the rescuers’ extensive local knowledge is doubly required. “For everyone involved in the various aid organizations, each operation means a small search. Because the location of the operation is only clear in a few cases. This causes delays before the patient arrives,” says Matthes Kirmann from the DRK mountain rescue service from experience.
This is also confirmed by the state manager of the DRK mountain rescue service in Saxony-Anhalt, Arne Peters: “In the entire Harz region, telephone contact, which is helpful in finding an injured person, is made more difficult by cell phone dead spots.”
Problem areas in the Palatinate
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Palatinate Forest, the Binger Forest and the Vordereifel, the Enderttal and all Moselle valleys are among the problem areas for the mobile phone network. “For us rescue workers, this is very detrimental,” complains Thomas Meffert from the DRK mountain rescue service there.
Since the corona pandemic, the number of operations in his area has increased. To make matters worse, according to Meffert, the operations have become more complex: “Because there are more groups out hiking or cycling. And if one group member is injured or has an accident, the others often also have to be looked after and cared for (pastorally).”
Mountain rescue operations are increasing
The growing trend towards outdoor sports such as hiking, mountain biking, trail running, cross-country skiing and ski tours is also clearly noticeable in the Black Forest. “Last year we experienced a new record with almost 1,600 missions,” reports Matthias Schübel from the mountain rescue service there. While people used to be out in nature mainly on weekends, the rush is now also large on weekdays, in summer and winter. This is an increasing burden for the volunteers in the mountain rescue services, because they have to leave their jobs and sacrifice their free time for an assignment. Unless the employer releases them for it.
calls for help by satellite connections
After all, there is nationwide network reception in the Black Forest with a few exceptions. “If you really want to make an emergency call in one of these dead spots, it often helps to simply walk a little further, if possible,” Schübel recommends. In such cases, it is of course good if you are not alone on a hiking or cycling tour, so that the companions can get help.
In the future, it should also be possible to call for help via satellite connections via your own smartphone. The latest iPhone generation already offers the option of sending emergency messages to an Apple headquarters. “But then the second step is necessary, that the emergency call message is transmitted from this center to the responsible control center,” explains Roland Ampenberger from the Bavarian Mountain Rescue Service. However, the more points there are in the rescue chain, the more information can be lost or delay the rescue.
The outdoor outfitter Garmin also offers communication via satellite. InReach is the name of a small device that can be used to send and receive messages worldwide without a mobile network. To do this, you have to purchase the device and complete a monthly subscription including fees.
Europe-wide emergency number 112
For example, if you are traveling in the Bavarian border area, an emergency call from your cell phone may end up either in the Austrian control center in Innsbruck or in Weilheim in Upper Bavaria. That depends on which mobile network the smartphone is dialed into. Emergency call apps are also often country-specific. “For example, an app that works in Switzerland is not compatible in Austria. That’s why the Europe-wide emergency call 112 is the best solution if you don’t want to deal with it in detail,” recommends Ampenberger from the Bavarian mountain rescue service. Of course, this only works if you are not stuck in a dead zone. That’s why: If nothing works, only alpine emergency signals remain.
A whistle belongs in the luggage
An acoustic signal should be emitted six times within one minute, each with a ten-second break in between, and repeat the whole thing after a one-minute break, several times as long as there is a chance of being noticed. A whistle, for example, which is integrated in some backpacks, is well suited for this. Otherwise, it is a must in your luggage. Because whistling is much more energy-saving than having to call for help for a long time.
The response to the emergency signal is given with three characters per minute and is also repeated after a one-minute break. This can confirm to the person making the alarm that the distress signal has been received.
A new visual distress signal for the mountains is scheduled to go on sale in the fall. Two Swiss offer a flying breakdown triangle called Airmarker. This is a glowing signal balloon with a trigger unit. He can climb 45 meters on a leash. It should be visible from afar both during the day and at night.