CAUSES FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE IN ROCK CLIMBING ACCIDENTS IN POLISH TATRA MOUNTAINS – A 5-YEAR SURVEY

Abstract

Aim: To review Tatra MRT (Mountain Rescue Team) SAR (search and rescue) events reported by rescuers in the study period of 2015-2019 (5-year survey) in terms of the profile of the injured, types of injuries, causes identified by MRT rescuers in reference to the NACA ICAR (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics – International Committee for Alpine Rescue) score. Material and methods: A study was conducted on Tatra MRT reports, regarding RC (rock climbing), from 2015 through 2019. Reports included information on the trauma, possible causes, accompanying weather conditions and actions that were taken. The study group consisted of 174 report with a median age of 32.5 years (IQ I-III – 27–41) comprising 137 men and 37 women. Results: Our study revealed that there was no relation between RC SAR reported by Tatra MRT rescuers and age or sex. Apart from one – the fall from heights, causes were also not related with age or sex. According to our study older people were more likely to sustain a trauma as a result of a fall from heights (34 vs 31, p=0.009). We found that 42% of the victims did not sustain any actual trauma (NACA ICAR=0). According to the rescuers these cases were significantly more likely to be associated with the lack of skills or inadequate equipment (p<0.001). Conclusions: RC incidents constitute a small percentage of SAR operations by Tatra MRT. Almost half of RC SAR incidents is not associated with an actual trauma.