GSSCG had 25 actions in which 44 people were saved

The Mountain Rescue Service of Montenegro (GSSCG) had 25 actions last year, in which 44 people were rescued, announced the head of the GSSCG, Željko Loncović, stating that they plan to establish new intelligence points, among them Prokletije.

In an interview for the PR Center, he recalled that the GSSCG was formed in 1963, following the example of other organized mountain rescue services in the Alpine region, and that it was intended to rescue mountaineers.

"Due to the geographical uniqueness of Montenegro and the need to rescue other people in inaccessible places, the GSS also intervened in all other cases, such as traffic accidents in canyons, falls into pits, rescuing lost mountaineers, rescuing alpinists from rocks... The service is trained and equipped to rescue primarily in the mountains and other inaccessible places where other services are not qualified and equipped", explained Loncović.

He said that the operative composition of the GSSCG has about sixty members, distributed in stations located in Nikšić, Žabljak and Subra in Herceg Novi.

"We plan to establish more intelligence points that will later become stations, below Prokleti, to round off our activities," Loncović said.

He said that the GSSCG functions on a volunteer basis.

"In order for someone to become a member of the GSS, it is a long-term process. He has to go through a very complex and long-term training, in order to take the exam and sit for the mountain rescuer and continue to work in the GSS. Every year he has to complete a certain number of exercises to certify title for the following year, all on a volunteer basis," said Loncović.

Although everything is on a volunteer basis, as he stated, it is unusual that a great sacrifice is required to acquire the title.

"When they get the title, it is a process of six or seven years of intensive training and they give themselves an additional obligation, because they are responsible for the injured, for their own life and for the life of the team, and they do everything voluntarily, in order to help and save lives," he said. is Loncovic.

When asked how much time, after receiving the invitation, they need to organize the team and go out on the field, Loncović said that it depends on the action.

"A team is assembled very quickly. There are people of various profiles in the station, from students, doctors, professors... When there is an emergency, it takes an average of 40-45 minutes to assemble, and maybe less. In cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we cooperate on rescue operations in the mountains and very often we do helicopter rescues," said Loncović.

Last year, GSSCG had 25 actions.

"The actions were diverse, from finding lost mountaineers, to severe, with fatal consequences. In those 25 actions, 44 people were saved, and unfortunately, we were unable to save four, because they succumbed to injuries and lost their lives on the spot," he said. Loncovic.

He said that out of 25 actions, 17 were in Durmitor, while, as he stated, the rest were in Nevidio Canyon and other places in Montenegro.

Speaking about the advice given to citizens in the event of a cold wave, Loncović said that low temperatures, mixed with air humidity, can be fatal.

"An interesting fact is that in warmer regions, where the air humidity is higher, when the temperature drops, the number of frostbites is the highest, than in cold regions," said Loncović.

He advised citizens that, in case of a cold wave, they should dress in layers.

"If we plan skiing and walking on the mountain, we must pay special attention to underwear, which should not be cotton. Cotton is not suitable, because it retains moisture, does not allow the transport of moisture, and at the same time is very cold," Loncović explained.

According to him, it is important that the underwear is made of special synthetic materials, antibacterial, which, as he explained, have the property of transporting moisture and excess heat, "so that our body is always dry".

"If someone wants a natural material, it can be wool or silk. After that, it should be a material that warms us, that has the property of retaining air, such as a sweater, and finally a protective layer, which prevents the penetration of wind, moisture and it protects the heat radiation from the body," said Loncović.

He said that the best thing would be for the last layer to "breathe", and for it to be made of a material such as gorotex, "which expels all excess moisture and heat, and does not allow it to enter our body".

"It is important to take care of socks, which are very important, as well as hats. One of the popular misconceptions is that alcohol warms the body. However, this is only an apparent feeling, because alcohol damages and dilates blood vessels. The body reacts to lower temperature by constricting blood vessels and drawing blood to the center. When we drink alcohol, the blood vessels dilate and we get a feeling of heat, and additionally we lose heat," explained Loncović.

Asked what activities they plan to carry out this year, Loncović said that the GSSCG has a standard plan and program of regular winter and summer exercises, which, as he explained, serve to renew the profession and maintain membership in training.

"It is interesting to mention that, from its inception until today, the GSSCG can boast that it has responded in a timely manner to all calls, either from state authorities or from the population, and intervened with success", pointed out Loncović.