Tuesday, December 23, 2008

[search and rescue] who should carry the can

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Consider:

In February, 1999 three climbers went missing for four days on the Dômes de la Vanoise during a period of high avalanche risk. After a long search and rescue operation the climbers were found safe and well. They were hailed as heroes by the media with the efforts of the rescuers being largely ignored and unrewarded.

They sold their story to Paris-Match for 600,000 Francs and it was published in a 20 page special. This provoked outrage amongst many people and the climbers subsequently donated part of the money to the mountain police widows and orphans fund.

The article puts the cost of a helicopter alone at 2000 euros an hour and a straight stretcher rescue at 300 euros. In a typical scenario, it might be an all day or two day operation with dozens of personnel.

Another article puts the cost differently:

Each year, the National Park Service spends $3 million on rescues. Most of the searches are for kids who wander from campgrounds, park officials say. But the expensive rescues--the ones that require leasing a $300-an-hour high-altitude helicopter to pick "thrill-seekers" off snowy cliffs--are on the rise.

Whatever, the costs to the residents or in the case of a national rescue service, the taxpayer, are high. Climbers and potholers get a bit hot under the collar about having to pay what they see as exorbitant fees upfront and outrageous costs of an actual rescue:

In one of those four snowboarders were rescued from Mont Rosset in the Savoie in 2003 and were billed around 6000 Euros for the private helicopter that plucked them to safety.

There's a difference, isn't there between experienced and amateur, safety conscious and not, foolhardy and following a plan which was left with officials.

Years ago, at the end of a sailing season, on a windy day and over very cold water, I was racing my A Class cat when the trapeze I was on broke and I was flung some distance from the craft. The club rescue boat was involved, at that moment, in rescuing some kids and they said later they hadn't seen me. The only thing which saved me was a passing motorboat with some some party-goers on board.

That involved just an obligation to my rescuers but I've often thought of rambling and getting caught and needing to be got out. Who should pay? What should the set up be? Should there be opt out clauses? Or should it all be banned?

2 comments:

  1. Some nutty Frenchman was just rescued from a boat with a broken leg. But for the mobilisation of an Australian Navy Ship, he may well have perished. That said the single sailor on these huge expeditions run the risk of imposing an unreasonable burden on countries who just happen to be nearby.

    Similar story with the guy who disappeared kayaking from Australia to New Zealand last year. Heroic enterprise, but a huge bill to go and look for him. In his case no good news.

    Not opposed to adventure. Just asking a question.

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