Mountain and Cave Rescue – Knowledge Base

I. Raising the alarm and calling for help

How to call for help – step by step

1. Stay calm. Stop, assess the situation, and only then act.
2. Call: the Börzsöny Special Rescue Team in the Börzsöny mountains, otherwise 112.
3. State the location: ideally with GPS coordinates, or the name/number of the marked trail and the last known point (e.g. "on the Blue Cross trail, between Csóványos and Nagy-Hideg-hegy").
4. State what happened: type of injury (e.g. fracture, bleeding, loss of consciousness), number of people involved, whether anyone else is at risk.
5. State the condition: whether the casualty is conscious, breathing, in severe pain, or bleeding.
6. Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to — they will guide you through the next steps and, if needed, talk you through first aid over the phone.

Providing GPS coordinates – why it matters

An accurate GPS coordinate can shorten the search time by hours, especially in dense forest or a deep valley where a description based on landmarks is hard to pinpoint. On smartphones, calling 112 often automatically transmits your phone's GPS position to the emergency centre, but the accuracy depends on terrain and network coverage — in the mountains, with weak signal, this can still mean an uncertainty of several kilometres. It is therefore always useful to know your own coordinates and state them yourself.

• Open your map or GPS app (e.g. Mapy.cz, Locus Map, Google Maps).
• Read the latitude and longitude (WGS84, decimal degrees, e.g. 47.9123, 18.9456).
• State or write down these numbers accurately for the dispatcher/rescuers.
• If you are unsure how to use the app, practise at home before your hike.

What NOT to do before calling for help

If there is no phone signal

Mountain valleys often have no mobile network coverage. The 112 emergency call is network-independent: your phone automatically tries to connect to any available network (even a foreign one), so it sometimes connects even when your own carrier shows zero signal. If that still does not work:

• If there are two of you, one should head towards a higher point, ridge or clearing to find signal, while leaving the casualty alone for the shortest time possible.
• If you are alone and mobile, consider whether you can move higher; if not, stay on the marked trail, since you are more likely to be found there.
• Try sending an SMS: sometimes a brief, very weak signal is enough for an SMS to go through, even when a voice call cannot connect. Include the exact location (GPS coordinates or route), a description of the problem, and the number of people involved. Who to send it to: someone you know well and trust — a close family member or close friend — and ask them to notify the authorities if they don't hear from you. You can also send an SMS to the 112 emergency number. It's best to send the message to several recipients at once (e.g. a family member and 112), which increases the chance that at least one message gets through.
• If you regularly hike in areas with persistently no signal, consider carrying a satellite messenger device capable of sending text messages and an SOS signal.

Emergency information checklist – prepare this before your hike

If you think through and note down this information in advance (on paper or somewhere accessible offline on your phone), it can take only seconds to relay during the emergency call.

This checklist is for preparation only — do not submit it anywhere; instead, dictate the information to the dispatcher over the phone.

II. First aid in a mountain environment

The six steps of mountain first aid

1. Scene assessment. Before approaching the casualty, look around: is there further rockfall, a nearby cliff edge, rising water, ice, or another hazard? If the scene is not safe, deal with that first (e.g. move the casualty if it does not increase the risk of injury) — otherwise you could get into trouble yourself and be unable to help anyone.
2. Call for help. As soon as possible, call for assistance (see Section I). If there is more than one of you, one person should start calling / looking for signal immediately while another stays with the casualty.
3. Primary survey (ABC – airway, breathing, circulation). Check whether the casualty responds (call out, gently shake their shoulder). If unresponsive, look, listen and feel for breathing (for up to 10 seconds). If not breathing, start CPR immediately. If breathing but unconscious, place them in the recovery position to keep the airway open. In a severely cold casualty (very cold skin, exposed for a long time), breathing and pulse can become extremely slow — if you're not sure whether they're breathing, keep checking for up to 1 minute before starting CPR, and while doing so move the casualty as little and as gently as possible (see the hypothermia part of Section II).
4. Secondary survey (head to toe). If the casualty is conscious and the situation is stable, perform a systematic examination: head and neck, spine, chest and abdomen, then the limbs, looking for deformity, wounds, severe pain, or loss of sensation. Ask what hurts and how the accident happened.
5. Continuous reassessment. Until rescuers arrive, regularly (e.g. every 5–10 minutes) recheck breathing, level of consciousness, and the state of the injuries (e.g. is bleeding worsening, is a limb getting colder). Keep track of any changes, as this is useful information for the rescuers.
6. Follow pre-arrival advice. The dispatcher or the mountain rescuer on the phone may give you specific instructions (e.g. how to position the casualty, what to cover them with, what not to move). Follow these precisely, and keep the casualty warm, calm, and — if possible — talking to you (this helps maintain consciousness and reduces panic).

Basics of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)

If the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing, start chest compressions immediately:

• Lay the casualty on their back on a firm, flat surface.
• Place the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest (lower half of the breastbone), the other hand on top, and push down with straight arms using your body weight.
• Compress about 5–6 cm deep, at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute (this is the rhythm of the song "Stayin' Alive").
• After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths (if you are unable or unwilling to give breaths, continue with uninterrupted compressions only — this can still save a life).
• Continue the 30:2 ratio without interruption until rescuers take over, the casualty wakes up, or you are physically unable to continue.
• The emergency dispatcher can talk you through CPR over the phone — stay on the line and put your phone on speaker.

Bleeding control

• Direct pressure: press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth or dressing, and maintain continuous pressure for at least 10 minutes without interruption.
• Elevation: if possible, raise the bleeding limb above the level of the heart.
• If blood soaks through the dressing, do not remove the first layer — add more dressing on top and keep applying pressure.
• Only use a tourniquet for life-threatening, uncontrollable limb bleeding, and only if you know how to apply it correctly — note the exact time of application and tell the rescuers.

Managing shock

Signs of shock (circulatory failure): pale, cold, clammy skin, a fast and weak pulse, rapid breathing, confusion or anxiety. Management: lay the casualty down, raise their legs (unless a limb or spinal injury is suspected), keep them warm with a blanket or clothing, reassure them, and do not give them anything to eat or drink. Continuously monitor breathing and level of consciousness.

Insect stings (wasp, bee, hornet) and anaphylactic shock

The European hornet (Vespa crabro) and other wasp species, as well as bees, are not inherently aggressive and typically only sting if they feel threatened or their nest is disturbed. Their active season runs from late spring to early autumn, mainly May to September, when encounters are more likely.

What to do if you encounter a hornet or wasp

• Stay calm and avoid sudden movements — these can increase the insect's likelihood of stinging.
• If a wasp approaches or starts circling you, move away slowly; don't swat at it or try to chase it off.
• On night hikes, headlamp light attracts insects, including hornets — if one approaches, dim or switch off your light and continue moving slowly.
• If you spot a nest (often in tree hollows or sheltered corners of buildings), give it a wide berth and don't approach.

Treating the sting site

• If there is no allergic symptom, cool the sting site with cold water or ice as soon as possible to reduce pain and swelling.
• If a bee's stinger is left in the skin, carefully remove it (e.g. by scraping it out sideways with a fingernail) to avoid squeezing more venom in.

Recognising and treating hypothermia

Hypothermia is a real danger even in Hungary's lower mountains, especially in wet, windy conditions or during an unplanned overnight stay outdoors. Signs, in order of severity: strong shivering, clumsiness, confusion, then shivering stops, drowsiness, and finally loss of consciousness.

• Move the casualty to a place sheltered from wind and moisture, if possible.
• Replace wet clothing with dry clothing, or at least insulate the casualty from the ground and wind (using a foil blanket, extra clothing, or a backpack).
• Warm the casualty gradually: skin-to-skin contact, hugging, warm (not hot) objects placed in the armpits, on the neck, or in the groin area.
• Do not vigorously rub the limbs, and in severe hypothermia do not give anything to eat or drink, as the swallowing reflex may already be impaired, creating a choking risk.
• In severe hypothermia (no shivering, confused or unconscious), move the casualty gently, horizontally and as little as possible, without rolling them or jerking their limbs — an animal study has confirmed that rough, sudden movement of a severely cooled body can, on its own, trigger a life-threatening heart rhythm disturbance (ventricular fibrillation).

Immobilisation and moving the casualty

Basic rule: only move a casualty with a suspected fracture or spinal injury if there is an immediate life-threatening danger (e.g. fire, rising water, rockfall) forcing you to do so. For a suspected limb fracture, immobilise the joint above and below the injury (improvising with a stick, clothing, or a backpack) before any movement takes place. If a spinal injury is suspected, ideally do not roll or lift the casualty — this is safer when done by mountain rescuers with specialised equipment.

What to carry in your backpack – first aid kit contents

• Wound disinfectant and sterile dressings, adhesive plasters in various sizes
• Compression bandage / elastic bandage
• Surgical/trauma scissors, tweezers
• Disposable rubber gloves
• Emergency foil blanket (thermal and windproof)
• Pain reliever (one you are not allergic to)
• Power bank and a fully charged phone, a paper map
• Whistle (for signalling), headlamp or torch with spare batteries
• Means to replenish drinking water (water purification tablets or a filter for longer hikes)

III. Quick guide by scenario

IV. Hiking safety and accident prevention

Preparing for a hike

• Check the weather forecast in advance, and be prepared for it to change — mountain weather can deteriorate quickly. We recommend meteoblue.com for detailed forecasts that are accurate for mountain terrain. If you're heading to the Börzsöny mountains, also follow the current warnings from the Börzsöny Special Rescue Team — they publish alerts about local terrain conditions there.
• Choose a route and distance that match your current physical condition.
• Tell a family member or friend where you are starting from, which route you are taking, and when you expect to arrive, and ask them to notify the authorities if you do not check in by the expected time.
• Fully charge your phone before setting off, and bring a power bank — map use, photography, and cold weather all drain the battery quickly.

Offline maps and navigation

Even without phone signal, you may still need accurate positioning. Download your route in advance to an offline mapping app, and learn how to read GPS coordinates from it.

• Mapy.cz – detailed Central European hiking maps, with downloadable offline regions.
• Locus Map – detailed offline maps, route planning and GPS coordinate readout.
• A paper map is also a useful backup — it still works even if your phone's battery dies.

Layered clothing

In the mountains, weather and how warm or cold you feel can change quickly. The principle of layering: 1) a moisture-wicking base layer against the skin, 2) an insulating mid layer (e.g. fleece, down), 3) a waterproof, windproof outer layer. This lets you add or remove layers as you go, avoiding both overheating (which causes sweating, followed by chilling and possible hypothermia) and getting cold. Always carry a hat and gloves, even in summer, when heading to higher, windy summits.

Equipment

• Ankle-supporting, well-fitted hiking boots, already broken in (never start a long hike in brand-new footwear).
• Enough drinking water and energy-replenishing food (glucose, energy bars).
• A first aid kit (see Section II).
• A headlamp, even for a daytime hike, if there is any chance of being out until dark.
• A whistle, for signalling.

Water and food supply, heatwaves

In summer, dehydration and heatstroke are serious risks, especially on shadeless, steep sections. Carry at least 1.5–2 litres of water for a half-day hike, and more for longer hikes or in extreme heat. Drink regularly, in small amounts, rather than waiting until you feel thirsty. If you want to refill your bottle along the way, the kozkutak.hu map can help you find public taps, springs, and other water sources in the Börzsöny mountains (and elsewhere in Hungary) — though the site takes no responsibility for water quality, so weigh the risk before drinking from a spring.

Group hiking rules

In a group, always match the pace of the slowest, most tired member, and never leave anyone alone at the front or back without a companion. If someone is tired, dizzy, or feels unwell, stop and rest immediately — do not push on. Discuss in advance what the plan is if someone cannot continue.

Dangerous plants and animals

Hungary's mountains (e.g. the Börzsöny) are home to large predators such as the Eurasian lynx, but these pose an extremely low risk to humans — they avoid people, and attacks on hikers are not a real concern. A greater, genuine risk comes from ticks (use tick repellent, check your body after a hike) and touching or eating unknown, potentially poisonous plants or mushrooms — never eat a plant or mushroom you cannot positively identify. For wasp, bee and hornet stings and anaphylactic shock, see the "Insect stings and anaphylactic shock" section in Section II.

What to do if you encounter a bear

Bear encounters are extremely rare in Hungary, including in the Börzsöny — brown bears occur here, if at all, only as occasional wandering individuals, mainly in the northeastern mountains. Since this topic is widely searched, here are the internationally accepted basic guidelines:

• If you spot one from a distance: don't approach, speak in a calm, steady voice to let it know you're there (don't scream), so it has time to avoid you.
• Never run — face the bear and back away slowly instead.
• Never get between a mother bear and her cubs.
• Don't leave food or rubbish out in the open; even overnight, keep food sealed and away from your tent.
• In the extremely rare case of an attack, professional guidance recommends lying flat on your stomach, protecting your neck and head with your hands, and staying still until the bear leaves.
• After the encounter, as soon as you have signal, report it (112, or the Börzsöny Special Rescue Team) so other hikers can be warned.

Assessing weather conditions

In the mountains, weather can change faster and more dramatically than in the valleys. In winter, snow and ice increase the risk of slipping and hypothermia; layered clothing and early recognition of hypothermia (see Section II) are especially important then. For lightning and thunderstorms, see the following subsection.

Lightning and thunderstorms

As a thunderstorm approaches (darkening sky, towering clouds, thunder), the most important thing is to leave exposed, high points in time.

• As a storm approaches, leave ridgelines, summits and rock faces; if there's time, descend, ideally on the side away from the direction the storm is coming from.
• Put away or set down metal climbing gear (carabiners, ice axes), and avoid chains and railings — these conduct electricity well and attract lightning.
• Avoid solitary trees; if seeking shelter among trees, choose a denser patch of forest with evenly spaced trees instead.
• Don't stand in the entrance of a rock overhang or cave — your body can form a bridge between the two sides of the opening. Only shelter in a cave if you can keep at least 1.5 metres from the entrance and walls.
• Avoid scree slopes and unstable, crumbling terrain.
• If caught in open terrain: find ground covered in loose rock debris, ideally drier than the surrounding area, sit or squat on insulating material (backpack, rope) with your feet together, cover your ears, and don't touch anything. Keep at least 1 metre from your surroundings, and if there are several of you, 4–5 metres from each other.
• 30/30 rule: if less than 30 seconds pass between the flash and the thunder, the storm is dangerously close. The storm is only considered to have passed 30 minutes after the last thunder.

Read more, in our own article: Lightning and storms in the Börzsöny mountains (in Hungarian).

Sudden storms, heavy rain

If a sudden, heavy shower or storm hits, first look for sheltered ground from wind and rain, but also follow the lightning guidelines above. Avoid deep valleys, streambeds and riverbanks — flash flooding or a sudden rise in water level (see the stream-crossing section in Section V) is most dangerous here. During a storm, avoid using your phone and other electronic devices, except to call for help if needed.

V. Crossing a dangerous mountain stream – a special technical case

On a flat, relatively calm stretch, with two people

1. Assess the stretch: look for a point where the water is wider but slower and shallower — this is generally safer than a narrower, accelerated section.
2. Undo your backpack's straps (chest and hip straps) so you can quickly drop it if you fall in — a waterlogged backpack can pull you under.
3. A sturdy, long stick or branch held upstream, as a third point of contact, significantly improves stability.
4. Using a rope: if you have a rope, the stronger or heavier person should cross first, with one end of the rope anchored on the bank (to a tree or rock) while the other person belays from the bank. The person crossing should angle diagonally, leaning against the current, moving sideways — never standing straight up against the current.
5. The second person then crosses using the anchored rope for support with a similar technique, while the first person now belays from the far bank.
6. Never tie yourself directly and tightly to the rope in a way that could pull you underwater if you fall — the rope should serve as support, not as a fixed harness attachment.

VI. Hungary's mountain regions

VII. Cave rescue specifics

Only with a qualified guide

In Hungary (including caves in Pest county, in the Pilis and Buda Hills areas), visiting most caves requires a permit and/or the presence of a qualified caving guide or expedition leader. This is not a formality: cave terrain (narrow passages, climbing sections, wet stretches, unstable rock) requires fundamentally different risks and techniques than surface hiking, and without training, helping someone in trouble is also much harder.

Technical background of cave rescue

Cave rescue typically takes considerably longer than a surface rescue: gaining access, securing the casualty, and extracting them through narrow, technical sections require specialised rope techniques, a stretcher, and a trained team. This is why on-scene care (keeping warm, controlling bleeding, keeping calm) and an accurate situation report (which section, at what depth/distance the casualty is located) are especially important, since arrival and extraction can take hours.

The role of the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service

The Hungarian Cave Rescue Service (caverescue.hu) is the volunteer organisation that carries out the technical extraction of cave accident victims in Hungary, using specialised rope and caving equipment and trained personnel. In case of an accident, during the 112 call state that it is a cave incident, and give the name of the cave and its best-known access point.

Common causes of cave accidents

• Slipping or falling in a wet, muddy or icy cave passage.
• Injury from falling rock or unstable rock formations.
• Hypothermia in the constantly cold, damp microclimate of caves (a significant risk even in summer).
• Getting lost in a branching, complex cave system without proper marking or a guide.
• Sudden rise in water level in wet cave passages after heavy rain.

Special equipment requirements

For a cave trip (beyond surface equipment), the minimum requirements are: a helmet, a personal (head-mounted) light source with at least two independent backup light sources, appropriate overalls or protective clothing, and — with a qualified guide — the rope equipment needed for technical sections. Lacking any of these is a risk factor on its own, regardless of the guide's experience.

VIII. Frequently asked questions

Legal disclaimer

This knowledge base is intended for general informational purposes and does not replace professional medical care, qualified mountain or cave rescue, or immediately calling 112. In an emergency, always call for help first (the Börzsöny Special Rescue Team in the Börzsöny mountains, otherwise 112), and only then, or in parallel (with phone guidance), begin first aid. The Börzsöny Special Rescue Team accepts no liability for the consequences of applying this information independently, without supervision.

Sources

This content was compiled using the following sources and professional recommendations:

• Börzsöny Special Rescue Team – own knowledge base, FAQ and emergency-call guidance (borzsonymentok.hu)
• Börzsöny Special Rescue Team – Lightning and storms (borzsonymentok.hu/turazas/villamlas-borzsony)
• Pilisi Parkerdő – The hornet is not the enemy (parkerdo.hu, in Hungarian)
• Nagy-Hideg-hegy mountain lodge (nagyhideghegyituristahaz.hu)
• meteoblue – mountain weather forecasts (meteoblue.com)
• Közkutak.hu – map of public taps and drinking water sources in Hungary (kozkutak.hu)
• International mountain rescue recommendations: ICAR – International Commission for Alpine Rescue (icar-cisa.org)
• Wilderness Medical Society professional guidelines (wms.org)
• UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation safety recommendations (theuiaa.org)
• Hungarian Cave Rescue Service (caverescue.hu)
• Standard prehospital care protocols (oktatas.mentok.hu)
• Hungarian Air Ambulance (Magyar Légimentő) – Accidental hypothermia clinical protocol (oktatas.legimentok.hu)
• Grueskin J. et al. – research study on mechanical stimulation and cardiac dysrhythmias in severe hypothermia, Wilderness & Environmental Medicine (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
• Turista Magazin – hiking safety and outdoor content (turistamagazin.hu)
• Excelsior – high mountain knowledge (excelsior.hu)
• MountainGo – mountaineering basics (mountaingo.hu)
• FunFit – rock climbing training materials (funfit.hu)
• Geographic and geological background data: Wikipedia (Börzsöny, Mátra, Pilis, Gerecse, Visegrád Hills entries)

Other mountain rescue services and hiking organisations that the Börzsöny Special Rescue Team cooperates with or recommends: Ipoly Valley Special Rescue, Nagymaros Volunteer Fire Department, Hungarian Cave Rescue Service.