Calling the mountain rescue service: SOS in the Alps – how does that work again?

After all, we all know the drill: dial the EU-wide emergency number 112, give the GPS coordinates from your sat-nav, and help will arrive by helicopter in an emergency. If everything goes to plan, that’s exactly how it works. My colleague Barbara, however, recently had a very different experience. She was out with a large group at a bike park in northern Italy in June. A female cyclist took a serious fall and it was clear: she’d broken a bone and wouldn’t be able to get down the trail under her own steam. So Barbara dialled the 112 emergency number and spoke to an Italian-speaking operator, who first had to organise a translator. The translator, however, wasn’t satisfied with just the GPS location data; he wanted to know the exact trail number in the bike park...

No criticism intended – perhaps the emergency services were understaffed that day – but in any case, the story had a happy ending for the patient. The helicopter was able to locate the scene of the accident thanks to the bike park staff. Nevertheless, this story illustrates that making an emergency call in the Alps is considerably more complicated than in the city. That’s why it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself once again with the emergency procedures in the mountains before setting off on a long bike ride:

1. Download the emergency app onto your mobile phone

The emergency number 112 is valid throughout the EU (including Switzerland and the UK). The system recognises which country and region the call is coming from and automatically forwards it to a local emergency services centre. There should always be someone on duty there who can speak English or has a translator to hand (in some cases, AI translation...). Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to the situation described at the start and cost vital time.

In Austria, the emergency number is 140, and in Switzerland it is 1414. However, unlike 112, these numbers do not work without a mobile network!

To be on the safe side, you should also download the emergency app SOS EU ALP Download it to your mobile for the Alpine region. It automatically transmits your location and allows you to communicate with the control centre without having to speak. You can also use the chat function.

Tip: If you’re riding in a bike park or within a specific area, it’s always best to check with the tourist information office or at the cable car station for the relevant local emergency number (often printed on the back of your lift ticket).

2. The 6 W questions for reporting an emergency in the mountains

If you’re speaking to the control centre on your mobile, you should have the answers to these six important questions to hand:

• WHAT happened?
• HOW MANY people were injured?
• WHERE did the accident happen?
• WHO reports the accident?
• WHEN did the accident happen?
• What are the WEATHER CONDITIONS like at the scene of the accident (wind? Low-hanging clouds?)

3. Common injuries sustained by mountain bikers

Anyone touring the Alps in a group must always be prepared for the possibility of a fall – and it’s certainly been quite a while since they last attended a first-aid course. An online refresher course before setting off on your tour can’t do any harm. Just do a quick Google search to find out what to do as a first-aider in an emergency. These are the most common injuries suffered by mountain bikers:

• Abrasions and lacerations
• Bruise
• Torn ligament (ankle)
• Fractures (particularly of the wrist, arm and collarbone)
• Spinal injury
• Heart attack/Circulatory system

​In such cases, it is important to know how to carry out immediate first aid measures such as applying a pressure bandage, placing the person in the recovery position, performing CPR and managing body temperature in emergency situations.

4. Emergency signals in the mountains

If, for any reason, you are unable to make an emergency call on your mobile phone and you are alone or in a group of two (a seriously injured person should not be left alone), then try using the international distress signal: The person seeking help should give a signal six times per minute (whistling with a whistle attached to a rucksack, waving a red cloth, flashing the torch on a mobile phone, or tapping with a stone). If this results in someone spotting you, they will respond with a signal three times per minute.

5. The helicopter is approaching – what should I do?

Generally speaking, pilots know their way around their local area and are aware of whether and where they can land. If necessary, they will lower the emergency doctor using the winch, weather conditions permitting. However, there are ways in which you can generally assist the helicopter pilot:

Stand with your back to the wind and stretch both arms straight up. This tells the pilot, firstly, which way the wind is blowing at ground level (helicopters always land into the wind) and, secondly, your arms signal: “YES, I need help.’ If, on the other hand, you raise just one arm and leave the other hanging down, you’re forming an N for ‘NO, I don’t need help.’

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