A strict safety protocol
A World Cup race imposes a strict safety protocol, especially when it involves speed and athletes going at over 120 kph. Under a cross-border agreement, the entire rescue machine is managed from Italy and coordinated by Aosta Valley Mountain Rescue. About 50 operators are involved, including SAV technicians, staff from the 118 Territorial Emergency Medical Service (Usl VdA), Financial police (SAGF), State Police (MOENA), Army, ‘Pisteurs secouristes’, 118 rescue volunteers (Valtournenche and Valpelline), CRI as well as Swiss colleagues from Air Zermatt.
"The complex organization of assistance and rescue relies on the ‘pisteurs secouristes', who are always operational on the slope," explains Paolo Comune (SAV director), "and the arrangement of mixed teams, coordinated by Valdostan Mountain Rescue with medical support from 118, make intervention as quick and effective as possible, to the benefit of the athletes and the organization as a whole.
There are nine rescue stations (mixed personnel and medical) stationed at the start point, along the Gran Becca trail and at the finish area, coordinated from the on-site base of operations. Luca Cavoretto (118 director) is the medical manager, Paolo Comune (SAV director) coordinates rescue operations, and Lucio Trucco (SAV technician) is operational at the base. Two helicopters (Civil Defense VdA and Air Zermatt) are available and will be activated from the operations base in contact with the Single Rescue Center, which is ready instead for ordinary rescue and additional emergencies.
"The experience gained during other similar events allows us to deploy the available resources in order to give the maximum possible support both to the athletes and to all the on-site people,” explains Dr. Luca Cavoretto, "without interfering with the ordinary management of the emergency-urgency on the Aosta Valley territory.
