Rockclimbing safety in Spain and Mallorca
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The main factor that makes extreme sports not just possible, but comfortable and safe is the availability of social infrastructure and effective rescue and accident prevention services.
This is exactly the factor that is critically lacking in many countries and regions that potentially have opportunities for mountaineering, rockclimbing, ice climbing, etc., but, at the same time, remain outside the civilized world in the field of extreme sports.
Any form of active leisure or extreme sports is subject to many additional risks, it is difficult to deny. And the task of the accompanying infrastructure is not just to make money on tourist traffic, but to make sure that any form of recreation becomes as safe as possible. How it works - I have seen in many countries of the world...
Unfortunately, I also saw how it doesn't work in some places...
Speaking specifically about Spain, it is safe to say that the popularity of rockclimbing and mountaineering in this country has a very close relationship with the high level of development of related structures that ensure safety: rescue services, medicine, personnel certification system - guides, instructors. In this regard, Spain, having neither oil or gas resources, nor any gratuitous sources of income at all, has created a system in which one can engage in almost any kind of sports and active leisure without fear for his life and safety.
Let me tell you about an incident that happened in our group while climbing in Mallorca some years ago. Fortunately, everything went off with a slight fright, but at the beginning there was a panic. This was the first accident in my group in almost ten years of my work in Mallorca in the field of rockclimbing. The causes of the accident are banal - excessive self-confidence and initiative.
Contrary to the instructions of the guide to use an organized top belay, one of the participants went to the route leading, not possessing the appropriate skills, got confused with the chain hoist, fell down from a rock into a bush and damaged the outer shell of his body.
It was not possible to determine the severity of the damage at first glance - it could be anything. The only solution in this situation was to call the rescue service.
I will clarify. The incident occurred in a sector located about 500 meters from the outskirts of a small settlement, in which there was not even a police station.
However, 17 minutes after the call, a police squad arrived at the place. After 25 minutes, paramedics came running with a stretcher. And after 40 minutes, on a narrow rocky “balcony” between the sea and the foot of the cliff, a helicopter landed. The victim was packed into a special stroller, and the helicopter flew away towards Palma. The victim received medical care in a hospital less than an hour after calling the rescue service.
No failures nor inconsistencies in the assistance - everything was done at the best professional level - as if the guys are doing it every day. Perfect coordination of the work of the three emergency services. However, one can admire that only having the opposite experience. And for the Spaniards, in this situation there was nothing surprising - just professionals with good training do their job well - for this, the citizens of the country pay their taxes, and are not surprised when they receive a quality job in return.
In our accident, everything ended up with bruises and scratches, but the lesson was learned. Trouble can happen anywhere - but help may not come everywhere. Or come late. Or not come at all. That is why I am skeptical about the idea of running special programs in the areas where obtaining assistance in an emergency may be difficult or impossible. Therefore, I do my iceclimbing courses in Norway, and not in Ossetia. Therefore I prefer to do rockclimbing in Spain or Germany. Or in Greece at worst.
I will add this at the end. Emergency rescue job in Spain is carried out at the expense of the state. That is, no invoice was issued to the insurance company for the helicopter rescue. The medical services in the hospital - x-rays, examinations, treatment of abrasions and scratches dad the price and were paid by insurance. Well, is it worth mentioning that no questions about the availability of insurance or payment for anything arose before the person received all the necessary medical treatment.
The author of the text and photos - Alex Trubachev
MCS EDIT 2023