Rescue training in Greece
In March 2014, seven students from Frison-Roche secondary school in Chamonix, accompanied by four rescuers and mountain guides, achieved a ski ascent of Mount Olympus (2917 m), the highest point of Greece. This trip allowed them to meet the Greek rescuers of the Hellenic Rescue Team and expand their knowledge of avalanche rescue techniques.
MARCH 2014
- Project partner: Sur les traces de Frison-Roche association
- Country: Greece
- Project type: Accident prevention
- Budget: € 1,000 in 2014
The young students from the mountain section of the Frison-Roche secondary school of Chamonix, had an objective to meet members of the Hellenic Rescue Team, a group of volunteer Greek rescuers with the civil security.
Together with their four French companions (all were guides or professional rescue team members), the students went to the Pétrostrouga refuge, which is the first step on the ascent of Mount Olympus.
Accustomed to the handling of avalanche transceivers, the students conducted demonstrations for the Greek rescue team members. To increase their knowledge of the overall management of a rescue, a comprehensive exercise was organized to locate five casualties buried under the snow.
The idea of this trip to the Greek mountains was developed by Blaise Agresti, commander of CNISAG (National Center of Ski and Mountaineering Instruction of the Gendarmerie), and Petzl Foundation trustee, with Denis Poussin, mountain guide and sports teacher in the Frison-Roche secondary school. The young people were also involved in raising funding and collecting equipment so that the expedition could take place.
Rescue training.
An exercise was organized to locate five casualties buried under the snow.
The trip culminated with the ascent of Mount Olympus in excellent conditions with three Greek rescuer team members. Before leaving, the students gave their safety equipment (transceivers, shovels and probes) to the Hellenic Rescue Team volunteers to enable them to perform their tasks more efficiently.
Clément Renard and Rémy Schmitt, students of the mountain section,
Lycée Roger Frison-Roche, said:
" We could see the contrast between a country with great economic difficulties and the generosity of our Greek hosts, who welcomed us very warmly! We were impressed by their determination and their investment in their rescue association. We found a strong solidarity, a bunch of friends passionate about the mountains. "