Spending time in the mountains is one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors, but even experienced walkers can find themselves in difficulty. A slip on wet rock, a sudden illness, an unexpected change in the weather or simply becoming lost can quickly turn a great day out into an emergency.
Knowing how to contact Mountain Rescue before you need them could make a significant difference.
When should you call Mountain Rescue?
Mountain Rescue should be called whenever someone is injured, seriously unwell, stranded or in immediate danger in the hills or mountains. They can also assist if someone is missing or unable to continue safely due to injury or exhaustion.
It’s important to remember that Mountain Rescue teams are made up almost entirely of highly trained volunteers. They would always rather be called to a genuine emergency than have someone delay asking for help until the situation becomes much worse.
If you are unsure whether your situation is serious enough, it’s usually better to seek advice than to struggle on and risk making matters worse.
How to call Mountain Rescue
In the UK, you cannot call Mountain Rescue directly.
Instead:
- Dial 999.
- Ask for the Police.
- Tell the police operator that you need Mountain Rescue.
- You will then be connected to the local police control room, who will take some information from you and alert the appropriate Mountain Rescue team.
Be ready with the right information
The more information you can provide, the faster rescuers can locate you.
Try to give:
- Your exact location. An Ordnance Survey grid reference is ideal, but a What3Words location, GPS coordinates or a description of nearby landmarks can also help.
- The nature of the emergency.
- How many people are in your group.
- Details of any injuries or medical conditions.
- The weather and ground conditions around you.
- Your mobile phone number in case rescuers need to contact you again.
If you use a navigation app on your phone, many will display your current grid reference or GPS coordinates.
What if you have little or no signal?
Even if your phone shows no signal from your own network, an emergency call may still connect through another available network so always try dialling 999.
If a voice call won’t connect, you try sending a text using the EmergencySMS service; but only if you’ve registered your phone beforehand. Registration is free and can be done by simply texting ‘register’ to 999 while you have signal. It’s well worth doing before your next walk.
Moving a short distance to higher ground can sometimes improve reception, but never put yourself at greater risk simply to make a call.
Some modern smart phones now also offer Emergency SMS messaging via satellite. If you have a supported phone and you try to dial 999 and are unsuccessful, you’ll automatically be prompted to use this service.
While you’re waiting for help
Once you’ve called for assistance:
- Stay together if possible.
- Keep the injured person warm and sheltered.
- Put on extra clothing and waterproofs.
- Avoid unnecessary movement if someone may have a serious injury.
- Conserve your phone battery by switching to low-power mode and only using it when necessary.
- If it is safe to do so, make yourselves visible using bright clothing, a headtorch or a survival shelter.
Preparation is the best rescue
Many Mountain Rescue callouts could be avoided with good planning. Before heading into the hills, check the weather forecast, carry appropriate clothing and equipment, tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return, and make sure your phone is fully charged.
No one plans to need Mountain Rescue, but knowing exactly what to do if things go wrong can save valuable time when every minute counts. Hopefully you’ll never need to make that call—but if you do, staying calm, providing accurate information and contacting the emergency services quickly gives rescuers the best possible chance of helping you.
