Ski mountain rescue services in France

Mountain rescue services in French Alps ski resorts are a highly coordinated, multi-layered system with different teams responsible for different areas and types of incidents. It's not a single…

1. The First Responders on the Piste: Pisteurs-Secouristes

These are the most visible and numerous of the rescue services. They are the Ski Patrol, employed by the ski resort itself. Their primary responsibilities are:

Piste Safety: They are responsible for opening and closing the ski area each day. This includes checking the condition of the pistes, placing safety nets and warning signs, and performing controlled avalanche blasting (pisteurs known as "artificiers").
First Aid and Rescue on the Ski Area: If a skier has an accident on a marked piste or within the ski domain, the Pisteurs-Secouristes will be the first on the scene. They are highly trained in first aid and mountain rescue techniques, using specialised equipment like rescue toboggans (known as "barquettes").
Medical Assistance: They will provide immediate first aid, stabilise the injured person, and then evacuate them to a medical centre, either by toboggan, snowmobile, or in more serious cases, by helicopter.

To call the pisteurs, you can use the emergency number on your piste map or the pan-European emergency number 112.

2. High Mountain and Off-Piste Rescue: The Gendarmerie and CRS5

For more serious incidents, especially those that occur off-piste or in the high mountains, the French state services take over. The two main organisations are:

PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne): This is the High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon, a specialised unit of the French national police force. They are elite mountain professionals, many of whom are also qualified mountain guides. They handle the most complex and dangerous rescues, including:
Rescues on glaciers, rock faces, and other extreme terrain.
Search and rescue for missing people.
Avalanche search and rescue.
Their operations are almost always supported by helicopters, often provided by the Sécurité Civile or private companies like SAF.

CRS Alpes (Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité): A specialised unit of the national police, the CRS also provides mountain rescue services in the French Alps, working in conjunction with the PGHM.

3. The Role of Helicopters

Helicopters are a crucial part of the French mountain rescue system. They are used for:

Rapid Response: They can quickly access remote and difficult-to-reach areas.
Evacuation: They are essential for evacuating seriously injured people to hospitals.
Air Support: They provide aerial support for ground teams, dropping off rescuers and equipment.

4. Cost of Rescue

A common misconception is that all mountain rescue in France is free.

Mountain Rescue by State Services (PGHM, CRS): In France, rescue by these services in the high mountains is generally free of charge.
Piste Rescue: However, rescue and transport within a ski resort's designated ski area, performed by the Pisteurs-Secouristes, may incur a charge. This fee is often covered by ski pass insurance or a separate travel insurance policy.
Medical Fees: While the rescue itself might be free, the subsequent medical costs, including the doctor's fees and any hospitalisation, are not. It is highly recommended to have adequate travel insurance that specifically covers mountain activities and potential helicopter rescue. Many people get this by purchasing the insurance that comes with their ski pass.