Mountain rescue team reaches for peak efficiency

Reducing risks

If a person is rescued or injured in an unsafe outdoor environment, they are usually lectured by police on the risks as a way to deter any future harm or danger.

"Most of the time, it's simply verbal persuasion, saying that climbing an off-limits mountain is illegal. But the hikers face no further penalties," Wang said.

Educating outdoor enthusiasts and promoting legislation related to mountain entry are appropriate ways to reduce risks, said Zhang Hongquan, deputy director of the Beijing Mountaineering Association.

Zhang, an outdoor enthusiast himself, learned outdoor rescue skills, such as rope-tying and emergency medical care, on his own. In the early 2000s, he established a civilian mountain rescue team in Beijing, which has more than 40 volunteers.

Learning survival knowledge and wilderness skills are essential for outdoor enthusiasts to remain safe, he said.

"If someone knows that drinking lightly salted water is beneficial, but is unaware that it can help save strength over a period of strenuous longtime exercise, they might be missing a helpful strategy," Zhang said.

Lectures on safety tips by experienced outdoor enthusiasts, as well as social media influencers, could be effective in raising awareness about the issue, he said.

"But to better prevent a group of people from serious injuries when they enter a mountain area, the development of an early warning system could be more effective," he said.

"Prior to entering a mountain, people could register through a program that tracks their location if they do not exit within a specified time period.

"The system will automatically sound an alarm and contact the person directly," he said. "It is a rescue method that saves time in locating people in need of help and reduces cost."

Zhang said implementing such a system will need a legal basis as well as coordination and cooperation between multiple government departments.

xinwen@chinadaily.com.cn