Mountain rescue is one of the emergency services that most people would think about, but many people do not know exactly what it is. The term can be used to describe search and rescue activities which take place in an extremely mountainous environment, but the actual term mountain rescue is often used to describe search and rescue throughout all wilderness environments. Search and rescue can take many forms, ranging from searches for missing hikers and travellers to searches for people who become injured in the mountains. Search and rescue vehicles will be highly visible and fitted with Chapter 8 Chevrons. Find out more at Vehicle Chevrons
Mountain rescue is one of the most effective ways to provide timely help when attempting to locate lost people. Search and rescue teams are usually composed of highly trained members who have extensive experience in locating people in difficult or hazardous situations. Mountain rescue teams will first attempt to establish a presence within the immediate geographical area in which the person is thought to be missing, but they also have the expertise to conduct a more wide-reaching search based search, which involves looking to areas that could potentially be reached by other rescue teams or law enforcement agencies.
Search and rescue teams will often use a variety of methods and techniques in searching for people in the mountains, including the use of ground searchers, tracking dogs, aerial and boat searches, and searches using an extensive search database. Depending on the type of search being conducted, members of the search team may also utilize specialized equipment, such as infrared detectors and GPS tracking devices.