This homepage was written in Bruneck (Brunico – South Tyrol, Italy) under the auspices of ICAR (International Commission for Alpine Rescue) and the BRD – AVS (Bergrettungsdienst im Alpenverein Südtirol - Mountain Rescue Service of the South Tyrolean Alpine Club)

South Tyrol is an autonomous Province of Italy, situated on the Austrian border at the southern edge of the Eastern Alps and can reflect on a centuries-long tradition of mountaineering. South Tyrol was and is the home of world-famous mountain climbers, like Reinhold Messner, Hans Kammerlander and Friedl Mutschlechner ().

Bruneck is a medieval town (founded in 1256 A.D.), situated in the Val Pusteria between the main ridge of the Eastern Alps and the unique Dolomites. It is an ideal starting point for all kinds of mountain trips: in summer, hiking, mountaineering in the high Alps (up to 3500 m above sea-level), glacier travel in the Zillertal Alps, and rock climbing in the Dolomites; in winter ski touring in the largest connected ski area in the world (Dolomiti Superski). The European cultural cities of Innsbruck, Salzburg, Venice, and Munich are accessible as day trips.

The Mountain Rescue Service of the South-Tyrolean Alpine Club, under the leadership of Sepp Hölzl, can count on a national network of rescue centres. In 34 rescue departments 750 active mountain rescuers are on alert 24 hours a day, year-round, offering professional medical care and rescue to people in emergency situations in the mountains. There are 38 trained avalanche dog handlers who can be called to search for victims of avalanche accidents. These rescue personnel work through a central dispatch (emergency telephone number: 118). Mountain rescue works closely with air rescue, with three helicopters available when needed. The helicopters (two BKK 117s and an Ecureuil) are stationed at three bases, and are equipped with up-to-date emergency equipment, and always have an emergency doctor on stand-by. The Mountain Rescue Service of the South-Tyrolean Alpine Club is among the best-equipped rescue organizations in the Alpine region

Bruno Durrer, MD, Emergency doctor of the Mountain Rescue Service in Lauterbrunnen (Switzerland), President of the Medical Commission of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA), alpine guide, member of the International Mountain Emergency Medicinal Commission (b.durrer@popnet.ch).

Markus Falk, PhD, Biostatistician, Inova Q, Bolzano, Italy. Author of many scientific papers in medicine and natural sciences; in 1992 he received the Eduard Wallnöfer Price in Innsbruck and in 1994 the Georg Grabner Price at the University of Vienna (falk@inovaq.com).

Liselotte Adler-Kastner, MB ChB (Edin), D Phil (Oxon), MD (Vienna), assistant at the Pharmacological Institute of the University of Vienna, author of many scientific papers; in 1994 she received the Georg Grabner Study Award at the University of Vienna (Liselotte.Kastner@univie.ac.at).

Ken Zafren, MD, FACEP, Emergency physician and Medical Director of the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group. Vice President (for the Americas) of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine, Chairman of the Medical Committee of the Mountain Rescue Association (USA), past medical director for the Denali National Park Mountaineering Rangers (zafren@alaska.com).

Giancelso Agazzi MD, Emergency physician, Bergamo, Italy, Secretary of the Medical Commission of the Italian Alpine Club, member of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine, member of the Ex. Board of the Italian Society of Mountain Medicine (gege@orobianet.it)

Egmont Valentin, mass media designer and webmaster (yeti@dnet.it).