144

By Maxime Derivaz

144: Everyone knows this emergency number. Behind these three numbers, there is a well-established structure that works day and night, rain or shine, to help people in distress.

When these are located in the mountains, the intervention can quickly take on a technical aspect that must be managed safely and efficiently.

Mountain rescue is the fruit of a long tradition and must continually adapt to the evolution of equipment, kowledge and practices. With their long experience, Valais rescuers benefit from a great know-how just like our neighbors in the Aosta Valley or Chamonix for example. In Valais, it is the Organisation Cantonale Valaisanne de Sauvetage (OCVS) which gather and coordinate the different actors such as Air-Glaciers, the Maison FXB du Sauvetage, the GRIMM.

This expertise is acquired and maintained through training as was the case from November 9 to 12 during the cantonal course for specialized rescue guides. For four days, the professional rescuers of the FXB Rescue House shared their knowledge with their mountain guide colleagues who will be called upon for interventions requiring many rescuers, for example.

Among these rescue actors, the Verbier Guides have fifteen members: two Air Glaciers helicopter pilots, several Air Glaciers professional rescue guides and specialized rescue guides.

In all areas of security, we train regularly as was the case during these four days.