CLOSE ON 300 people were found injured and brought to safety last year by members of the Irish Mountain Rescue Association. And, unfortunately, a total of 13 hill walkers and mountain climbers died in a variety of incidents. The figures reflect the dedication of volunteers from our 12 mountain rescue teams who go out in all kinds of weather and into dangerous situations to those in trouble. They also point up the stupidity and lack of foresight of some individuals who take to the hills without adequate preparation, equipment or training.
Mountains are dangerous places. In Ireland, they are not particularly high. But arêtes, cliffs and rocky gullies can prove to be life-threatening, particularly when fog and mist close in and visibility is dramatically reduced. Weather-related conditions can cause novice walkers to become lost and force them to spend the night in the open, risking hypothermia. In all of these situations, preparation and proper training, along with suitable clothing and footwear, will minimise risk but never eliminate it. That is why personal safety must always be regarded as a priority when people set out to enjoy the great outdoors.
We live in a wonderful country. Now, as spring flushes the countryside green and wildlife fizzes with energy, it has become a particular pleasure to walk the uplands. The number of people taking the air and enjoying this freedom of movement has increased significantly in recent years. Many of them are well prepared. But others are not, lacking maps and compasses and even such basics as emergency food, water and warm, rainproof clothing. Behaving in this way, they not only place themselves in danger but impose arduous demands on mountain rescue volunteers.
It does not have to be like that. Training courses are available where interested hill walkers can develop their map and compass-reading skills. Depending on a mobile phone to summon help is not recommended because of poor coverage in the mountains. Hikers may also acquire their skills incrementally and, through participation in walking clubs, learn to navigate accurately. The key is planning, preparation and prudence on the hills.
The individuals who give their time to mountain rescue are committed social activists. Last year alone, they were called out for more than 14,000 hours on search and rescue missions. And then they gave more of their free time to fundraising. Only 40 per cent of the cost of this service is provided by the State. These men and women deserve our thanks and admiration.