Alpine distress signal
Encyclopedia
The Alpine distress signal is a distress signal
in the case of mountain emergency, an emergency in alpine
areas. There are also special emergency call numbers
, for use with the telephone service by which the emergency services can be contacted.
and was soon adopted internationally.
The Alpine distress signal traditionally consists of a signal by blasts from a whistle (may also be an air horn), which is repeated six times in the minute (every ten seconds). It is to be repeated after one minute of break in same manner.
The reply to such a signal is given with three indications per minute (every 20 seconds) and likewise repeated after one minute of break. Thus it can be confirmed to the person/party in trouble that its distress signal was received.
Whoever receives distress signals, should confirm and alert the emergency services.
The distress signal can also be a sound, light or sign characters:
Any abuse of emergency signals may lead to prosecution.
can in principle be used anywhere. Mobile phone
s can also be used, but one must understand that mobile phones services may not always be accessed in mountainous regions.
In some countries mountain rescue
is the responsibility of the Civil Defence organisation of that country.
Distress signal
A distress signal is an internationally recognized means for obtaining help. Distress signals take the form of or are commonly made by using radio signals, displaying a visually detected item or illumination, or making an audible sound, from a distance....
in the case of mountain emergency, an emergency in alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
areas. There are also special emergency call numbers
Emergency telephone number
Many countries' public telephone networks have a single emergency telephone number, sometimes known as the universal emergency telephone number or occasionally the emergency services number, that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assistance. The emergency telephone number may...
, for use with the telephone service by which the emergency services can be contacted.
The Alpine distress signal
The Alpine distress signal was introduced in 1894 on the suggestion of Clinton Thomas DentClinton Thomas Dent
Clinton Thomas Dent FRCS was an English surgeon, author and mountaineer.-Early life:The fourth surviving son of Thomas Dent, he was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.-Alpinism:...
and was soon adopted internationally.
The Alpine distress signal traditionally consists of a signal by blasts from a whistle (may also be an air horn), which is repeated six times in the minute (every ten seconds). It is to be repeated after one minute of break in same manner.
The reply to such a signal is given with three indications per minute (every 20 seconds) and likewise repeated after one minute of break. Thus it can be confirmed to the person/party in trouble that its distress signal was received.
Whoever receives distress signals, should confirm and alert the emergency services.
The distress signal can also be a sound, light or sign characters:
- Audible signals -for example loud calling, whistles, yodelingYodelingYodeling is a form of singing that involves singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changes in pitch from the vocal or chest register to the falsetto/head register; making a high-low-high-low sound.The English word yodel is derived from a German word jodeln meaning "to...
(deep tones are audible over a long distance) - Light signals - for example blinkers or sun mirrors
- Signs with remarkable articles of clothing, branches etc.
Any abuse of emergency signals may lead to prosecution.
Emergency call numbers
In Europe, the standardised European emergency call number 1121-1-2
112 is the principal emergency telephone number that can be dialed free of charge from any telephone or any mobile phone in order to reach emergency services in the European Union , its candidates for accession, members of the EEA agreement, as well as several other countries in the world...
can in principle be used anywhere. Mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s can also be used, but one must understand that mobile phones services may not always be accessed in mountainous regions.
In some countries mountain rescue
Mountain rescue
Mountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is sometimes also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted...
is the responsibility of the Civil Defence organisation of that country.
Alpine region
- Austria: 140 ( the mountain rescue emergency call number)
- Switzerland: A special phone number for mountain rescue is 144, the emergency number of the medical emergency call centers. In Vorarlberg; 1414
- Bavaria: 19222 - connects the caller to the closest rescue directing center when called from a landlineLandlineA landline was originally an overland telegraph wire, as opposed to an undersea cable. Currently, landline refers to a telephone line which travels through a solid medium, either metal wire or optical fibre, as distinguished from a mobile cellular line, where transmission is via radio waves...
; however, using a mobile telephone one must add a regional prefix, therefore calling 112 (or 140 if close to Austria) is to prefer.
- South Tyrol: 118 (national emergency call center and operations centers of the mountain emergency service)
Low mountain range
- Black Forest: 0761 49 33 33 (on-duty leader of the Black Forest mountain rescue team)