ABOUT US

The Höhlenrettung Baden-Württemberg is an independent rescue organisation formed to help people in an emergency arising in any of the many caves or subterranean cavities of the region.

The rescue organisation is at present the largest in Germany. It was founded in 1985 as a consequence of two major cave incidents in 1964 and 1977. In both cases a number of people were trapped by floodwater for several days in caves on the Swabian Alb. Despite expensive attempts by the fire brigade, police divers and other official institutions all were ultimately rescued by members of the caving community.

These incidents, together with a caving fatality, showed the necessity for an organisation competent in both caving and rescue work. Public attention was first gained in February 1995 when a successful rescue operation was carried out in the Falkensteiner Höhle near Bad Urach.

At present the Höhlenrettung Baden-Württemberg e.V. has approximately 140 members. In the event of a rescue operation demanding a greater number of participants, roughly another 150 helpers can be recruited from affiliated caving clubs.

The rescue team consists of several doctors and a large number of personnel with medical training to ensure a high degree of medical attention for the victim of a caving accident. Other members are well trained in cave rescue techniques so vital to the safe conduct of the injured person to the surface. For rescue operations with underwater aspects, a team of highly qualified cave divers can be deployed.

The equipment, both medical and technical, including special stretchers for cave rescue, is stored in depots at the Stuttgart region mountain rescue duty office in Schopfloch near Lenningen and at the fire station in Reutlingen.

The members are widely dispersed over Baden-Württemberg, thus ensuring the speedy arrival of first aid on the scene of the accident.

In an emergency, the members of the rescue team are contacted by one of eight specially trained members who are informed either directly or by the German Red Cross emergency exchange.

A voluntary organisation, the Höhlenrettung Baden-Württemberg is financed by membership subscriptions and donations alone; it receives no state funding.

ALL DONATIONS ARE THEREFORE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED!
Bank: KSK Ravensburg,
bank sort code: 650 501 10
account no: 623 407 60

For more information contact:

Alexander Maier, Christophstr 19, Tübingen, Germany
Tel. +49 7071 440568
e-mail: hoerebawue@hotmail.com

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MORE INFORMATION IN ENGLISH
e.g. Cave radio Test in the Falkensteiner Cave & RESCON03

MUCH MORE INFORMATION (mainly German but some English)