Austrian Mountain Rescue Service

The Österreichischer Bergrettungsdienst (ÖBRD), or Austrian Mountain Rescue Service, is the national organization responsible for mountain rescue operations in Austria. It is a voluntary, non-profit humanitarian organization rather than a commercial enterprise, but it operates as a registered association (Verein) with a protected name and organizational identity. The service is structured as a federal umbrella body (Bundesverband) with seven provincial organizations (Landesorganisationen), each of which is itself an independent association. Its more than 13,000 mountain rescuers serve voluntarily and unpaid, ready around the clock, 365 days a year, in all weather conditions, to provide rapid and efficient assistance in the event of accidents in difficult alpine terrain. The unified alpine emergency number in Austria is 140, which connects callers to the responsible rescue control center; where there is no network coverage from one's own provider, the European emergency number 112 can be used. The ÖBRD's core mission is the rescue of injured persons from impassable terrain, a task that is difficult to define precisely but can be summarized as intervening where fire services, the Red Cross, and similar organizations are no longer able to help due to their equipment and geographic conditions. The service also conducts search operations for missing persons in all types of terrain, often with the support of local fire brigades and similar rescue organizations. Operational leadership at an alpine accident always rests with the mountain rescue service during rescue measures, except during major events and disasters where a dedicated command staff is formed, or during assistance operations for another rescue organization. In recent years the organization has also operated its own prevention program to avoid accidents and to inform the public about cost-effective mountain rescue cost insurance. The ÖBRD is a member of the international mountain rescue community and participates in events such as the International Mountain Rescue Day (ICAR). It maintains partnerships with organizations such as RECCO and produces image and partner videos. The service is funded in part by donations, and its website prominently solicits support. The ÖBRD traces its institutional roots to the Alpine Rescue Committee Vienna (Alpiner Rettungsausschuß Wien, ARAW), founded in 1896, which is regarded as the world's first organized mountain rescue service and the predecessor of today's Austrian Mountain Rescue Service. After the Second World War, the Österreichischer Bergrettungsdienst was founded in 1946, and the former rescue stations were absorbed into local branches (Ortsstellen).

The Austrian Mountain Rescue Service traces its origins to a tragic avalanche accident on the Reißthalersteig on the Styrian side of the Rax on 8 March 1896, in which three well-known Viennese mountaineers (Josef Pfannl, Max Schottik, and Fritz Wannieck) were buried and could only be recovered dead after days of searching. The accident caused such a sensation that on 24 April 1896 the Austrian Alpine Club in Vienna organized a discussion evening on the question of organizing a mountain rescue service. At the same time, it was recognized that this idea could only be realized through joint action by the major alpine associations. On 11 May 1896, delegates of the Austrian Alpine Club, the Alpine Society "Ennsthaler", the "Austria" section and the academic section of the DÖAV, the Lower Austrian Mountain Association (today's ÖGV), and the Austrian Tourist Club agreed "... that in Vienna a central office should be created by the Alpine Corporations, which would intervene in the event of alpine accidents ...". In the subsequent association registration, the name "Alpiner Rettungsausschuß Wien" (ARAW) was established. This is regarded as the world's first organized mountain rescue service, as a model for similar organizations elsewhere, and as the predecessor organization of today's Austrian Mountain Rescue Service. Heinrich Krempel was elected as the first leader. In the following years, further alpine rescue organizations were founded in the Eastern Alps: Alpine Rescue Society Innsbruck (1898), Alpine Rescue Committee Munich (1898), Alpine Rescue Committee Salzburg (1901), and Alpine Rescue Committee Graz (1902). With the Anschluss of Austria in 1938, the rescue organizations were absorbed into the German Mountain Watch (Deutsche Bergwacht). In 1939, nature conservation was also transferred to the Mountain Watch. In the further course of the Second World War, the mountain watchmen were sworn in as auxiliary police. In 1944, the Mountain Watch was subordinated to military authorities. After the Second World War, the Österreichischer Bergrettungsdienst (ÖBRD) was founded in 1946. The former rescue stations were absorbed into local branches (Ortsstellen). The first avalanche dogs appeared in the Austrian Mountain Rescue Service after the Second World War. In Tyrol there were already three dogs in the disaster winter of 1950/1951, while in Salzburg the first dog only passed its examination in 1954 (in Tyrol). In Upper Austria, the first dogs and dog handlers were only trained in 1974 at the Dümlerhütte for Upper Austria for victim search in avalanches. In 1952, the Austrian Mountain Rescue Service was one of the prize winners of the Karl Renner Prize. Since the mid-to-late 1990s, women have also been admitted to mountain rescue. (In the last province – Tyrol – the admission of women to the mountain rescue service was particularly conflict-laden.) At the beginning of 2013, among around 12,300 members, there were 473 female members. The largest proportion of women was in Lower Austria/Vienna with about 7.5%, followed by Vorarlberg with 5.9%, Styria with 4.1%, Carinthia with 3.45%, Salzburg with 2.95%, Tyrol with 2.81%, and Upper Austria with 2.15%. In a comparison of the provinces, Tyrol had the most women in absolute numbers with 123. There, in Steinach am Brenner, was also the first local branch leader (Ortsstellenleiterin). In Vorarlberg, the mountain rescue service is commissioned by the province of Vorarlberg to organize and operate flight rescue. Corresponding contracts were concluded with the Christophorus Flight Rescue Association (Christophorus 8) and with the company Wucher (Gallus 1) for the provision of aircraft and pilots. The ÖBRD continues to operate as a voluntary, non-profit organization with more than 13,000 mountain rescuers, organized into seven provincial associations, and remains active in rescue, prevention, and international cooperation.

• 2013

  At the beginning of 2013, among around 12,300 members, there are 473 female members.

• 1990

  From the mid-to-late 1990s, women are admitted to mountain rescue.

• 1974

  First dogs and dog handlers trained in Upper Austria at the Dümlerhütte for avalanche victim search.

• 1954

  The first avalanche dog in Salzburg passes its examination (in Tyrol).

• 1952

  ÖBRD is one of the prize winners of the Karl Renner Prize.

• 1950

  In the disaster winter of 1950/1951, Tyrol already has three avalanche dogs.

• 1946

  Österreichischer Bergrettungsdienst (ÖBRD) founded after the Second World War; former rescue stations become local branches (Ortsstellen).

• 1938

  With the Anschluss of Austria, the rescue organizations are absorbed into the German Mountain Watch (Deutsche Bergwacht).

• 1902

  Alpine Rescue Committee Graz founded.

• 1901

  Alpine Rescue Committee Salzburg founded.

• 1898

  Alpine Rescue Society Innsbruck and Alpine Rescue Committee Munich founded.

• 1896

  Avalanche accident on the Reißthalersteig on the Rax on 8 March triggers the founding of the first alpine rescue organization; on 11 May the Alpiner Rettungsausschuß Wien (ARAW) is established, regarded as the world's first organized mountain rescue service.

Voluntary, non-profit national mountain rescue service; funded partly by donations; organized as a federation of seven provincial associations.

1. 1Bergrettung | ÖBRD - Bundesverbandbergrettung.at
2. 2ÖBRDwikidata.org
3. 3Österreichischer Bergrettungsdienstde.wikipedia.org