Federate in the mountains
The first days of the new year are upon us and it is time to rejoin the mountain federation. There are several reasons for doing so, apart from having sports insurance in case of accidents. We will see them later, because let's not deceive ourselves, the topic of discussion in every group of mountain enthusiasts that is repeated year after year, is nothing more and nothing less than rescues. And the question is...
Are rescues in mountain accidents in Spain free of charge?
The first ruling forcing the payment of a bailout in Spain was in 2018, and although it is true that bailouts that end up being collected are rare, they have ceased to be news.
Firstly, the law states "the obligation of the Security Forces and Corps to assist and protect persons [...] who find themselves in danger for any reason". and which, in other words, implies that it is free of charge.
However, in recent years several autonomous communities (Catalonia, Navarre, Asturias, the Basque Country, Cantabria and Castile-Leon) have made changes to the law, different in each case, which basically consist of imposing a fee in certain situations. Mainly due to imprudence, negligence and the like, which generate a certain amount of confusion among the mountaineering community.
In this respect, the autonomous communities are responsible for rescue and rescue, and many of them have their own bodies, which are complemented by those of the state (Guardia Civil). It is in the case of rescue by autonomous community resources that the possibility of charging this fee exists.
On the other hand, let us bear in mind that the 112 emergency number, the only place to call and the only one with the capacity to coordinate emergencies in each autonomous community, is the one that decides who to send at that moment for that specific situation.
In any case, accident insurance is not the only reason to join a mountain federation and, as we mentioned at the beginning, there are several reasons. From the Spanish Federation of Mountain Sports and Climbing (FEDME) encourage us to do so with 15 reasons which are listed below.
15 Reasons to federate in the mountains:
- You will enjoy the mountain.
- You will practice sport for sure.
- You will participate in FEDME activities.
- You will have preferential prices in mountain refuges.
- You will have exclusive offers.
- You will participate in the FEDME awards.
- You will find reliable information about approved trails at "misendafedme.co.uk".
- You will gain access to the most advanced knowledge.
- You will follow the latest mountain news at canalfedme.es.
- You will contribute to the preparation of our athletes.
- You will make possible the network of GR®, PR® and SL® approved trails.
- You will help us to develop inclusive mountaineering.
- You will contribute to the improvement of mountain sports.
- You will help us to make mountain sports safer.
- You will help us bring major international events to Spain.
