The main causes of mountain accidents.
What are the main causes of mountain accidents in Spain? Why do they occur? How can they be avoided? In this article we will try to answer these and other questions based on several studies published by public bodies and universities. We will also look at the emergence of new concepts that try to explain in a simple way the causes of these accidents, and finally, some advice on how to avoid them, or at least reduce the statistics.
Main causes of mountain accidents.
According to the report of the Guardia Civil Mountain Service 2018In total, this body carried out a total of 974 rescuesof which the hiking was the cause of 46.6% of the interventions (454), followed by the progression over rough terrain (11,6%; 113) and canyoning (10.7%; 104). The statistics in 2019 were similar, with 981 rescues and 48% linked to hiking.
Before continuing, we would like to emphasise that these data only refer to the interventions of the Guardia Civilwithout taking into account the interventions made by the Regional Rescue Groupswhich we have already discussed in this other article. As a guideline, GREIM interventions account for 40% of the total, according to a study published by the FEDME of the Camilo José Cela University (Sergio Villota Valverde [2017]; Accidentability in Mountains).
Turning to the results of the 2018 Civil Guard report, It is striking that an activity such as hiking is the one that occupies the first position in terms of the number of interventions.. In an attempt to explain the causes, we have looked at the latest analysis published in Safe Mountain about Senderimo and Rescues in the period 2014-2019.
Firstly, it should be borne in mind that this report refers only to interventions carried out by the Guardia Civil in the Aragonese Pyrenees. The figures do not change too much if we compare them with those for the whole of Spain, and hiking continues to occupy the first position with 34%, followed by High Mountain activities (25%) and Canyoning (15%).
According to this study focused on hiking, and in which the causes are multiple and intervene jointly, it is obtained that:
- The main types of accidents are: trips and falls (52%) and problems in decision making (45%).
- The main precursors to accidents are: overestimation (68%), poor planning (16%) and inattention (6%).
- The type of victim is: injured (57%), uninjured (31%), uninjured/injured/deceased (10%) and deceased (2%).
- Taking into account the period of good weather (June-October), the months with the highest number of rescues are: August (32%) and July (29%).
- As for the day of the weekThe 40% are produced during the weekend, Saturdays (21%) and Sundays (19%).
- In view of the weather conditionsThe 81% are produced under non-adverse conditions.
- The rescues take place in the time of the activity corresponding to ascent (16%), descent (68%) and undetermined (16%).
- According to the number of peopleThe rescued were: solo mountaineers (16%), groups of two (34%), three (15%), more than three (30%) and organised (5%).
Simple explanations to complex problems, the so-called "effects".
So far we have seen, on the basis of different studies, the main causes of mountain accidents in the Aragonese Pyrenees, which can be extrapolated to a large extent to the whole of Spain and Europe.
On the other hand, we did not want to miss the opportunity to talk about several terms that have emerged over the last few years. The so-called "effects", which, with rather witty names, explain some of the problems that supposedly cause mountain accidents. Simple explanations to complex problems.
Actually, several of these effects are not new, only now they have been named and coined. The most famous are:
Decathlon effect
Named after the well-known brand of sports shops. It suggests that, because of the ease of access to materials, anyone without technical knowledge can go, buy what they need and get out there.
This effect alludes to the fact that the way of getting started in the mountains has been lost. New mountaineers no longer begin by following an older, more experienced person who instructs them, but with the internet and newly purchased equipment, they set off on an adventure, ignoring the dangers in the mountains.
Calleja" effect
Referred to in this way by the famous television programme by Jesús Calleja, and to whom we must recognise the great merit of having brought the mountain closer to the spectator and made it more human.
In this case, the supposed effect comes from considering the repeated calls for the protagonist's safety as part of the spectacle. The opposite effect is then produced, with the spectator tending to trivialise them.
Kylian" effect
Named after Kylian Jornet, the famous mountain runner and mountaineer, with a multitude of speed records in big mountains.
This effect assumes that a large proportion of the people who have accidents are due to imitating someone else (presumably a large proportion of Kylian). The explanation is that the average person tends to think that the activity they are going to do is easier when they see someone else doing it easily, which leads to an overestimation of their possibilities.
"McDonaldisation".
This effect refers to the sense of quick access and enjoyment, to seeing mountain sports as just another leisure activity. The mountain becomes an easy, cheap resource of little value to the user.
Red Bull effect
This effect is based on the fact that in the advertising and sponsorship campaigns of this energy drink brand, young people see these activities as imitable, desirable and palatable.
As the messages of wisdom, prevention and safety do not sell and all the imputs that reach this public come from advertising, they are not aware that the more dangerous and risky a sport is, the more important prevention and caution are.
Prevention tips for mountain accidents
We could not finish this article, in which we have seen the main causes of mountain accidents and tried to demystify some explanations, without remembering that the best thing we can do is to, be prepared to prevent accidents from ever happening.
We have already seen some of them safety tips when planning our excursionsand also how to go out to the safe winter mountaineering.
It does not hurt to remember some of these tips:
- Plan the itinerary.
- Equip yourself appropriately.
- Check the weather forecast and pay attention to the evolution.
- Choose an activity appropriate to the possibilities of the group.
- Complies with the timetable.
- Let someone know where you are going.
- Be prepared for an accident.
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