Club Alpino Italiano
National Alpine and Cave Rescue Corp
(C.N.S.A.S.)
Cave Rescue Coordination
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- First reports on cave accidents go back to 1866.
- The Cave Rescue is established about 40 years ago as a section of Alpine Rescue,
organized by Club Alpino Italiano.
- At the beginning, there were 5 operative areas covering the national territory.
- Many regional and national laws support the operations and the administration of
C.N.S.A.S.
- 15 rescue areas (Zone) divided in many operating groups
(Stazioni).
- All members are volunteers.
- About 700 volunteers.
- Each Zona cares for the training of its members.
- National Boards (Commissioni) deal with specific fields (physician matters,
materials, cave-diving, canyoning, etc.).
- Improving prevention (courses, studies on materials and tools).
- Rescue of injured.
- Rescue in caves (limestone, lava, gypsum, etc.).
- Rescue in canyons.
- Cave-diving rescue.
- Check the actual seriousness of
victim's injuries (Does he/she answer questions? Is able to move? Is
ill-breathing? Has a sensible heart-pulse? Has evident
injuries?).
- Keep the victim warm and in a dry place.
- Leave somebody with the victim.
- Leave the cave, not alone and not in a hurry.
- Call the Cave Rescue, starting with
the Local
Heads. In many regions, the toll-free 118
number (Health-emergency) is active and knows how to call
the Cave Rescue.
- Name of the caller and of the victim.
- Calling place.
- Calling phone number.
- Type of accident, conditions of the victim.
- Depth.
- Cave name, cave place and cave conditions (floods, squeezes, ...).
- Wait for a back call and directives from the Cave Rescue.
- DO NOT leave the calling phone.
The heads of planned foreign caving expeditions in Italy
are kindly requested to contact the National Heads, to arrange agreements in
case of accident.
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This page was designed by Lorenzo Grassi and translated in english
by Graziano Ferrari on February 2nd, 1996. Last update: June 28th, 2001