The rescue service during the races: A look behind the scenes
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 the Aosta Valley Mountain Rescue.
About 50 operators are involved, including SAV technicians, staff from the Territorial Emergency Medical Service 118 (Usl VdA), Financial police (SAGF), State Police (MOENA), Army, ‘Pisteurs secouristes’, rescue volunteers from the emergency service 118 (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 the Mountain Rescue of the Aosta Valley with medical support from the emergency service 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 medical personnel) stationed at the start point, along the Gran Becca course and in the finish area, coordinated by the on-site base of operations. Luca Cavoretto (director of 118) 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 prepared for ordinary rescue and additional emergency situations.
"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 people on-site,” explains Dr. Luca Cavoretto, "without interfering with the ordinary management of the emergency services in the Aosta Valley.
