Alpine police: Security on the slopes in the Murtal in focus

Alpine police: Security on the slopes in the Murtal in focus

In the alpine room, it can often be turbulent. On the slopes around the Kreischberg, over 7000 skiers and snowboarders frolic on “good” days. This not only draws a lot of fun, but also dangers with themselves that can end in accidents or critical situations. Factors such as carelessness, alcohol enjoyment, exhaustion or simply overestimating your own skills play an important role here. To ensure that it is also legally clear to the slopes, the alpine police are in action, which is active throughout Austria, with the exception of Vienna and Burgenland.

At the meeting of the Kiwanis Murau in the Hotel Brauhaus, the topic of security in the alpine space of Abt.-Insp. Wolfgang Murer, the head of the Murtal alpine police. He reported on the impressive record of his unity: since November 2023 to October 2024 there were 173 missions in the Murtal in which 246 people were involved. Shaking eight people lost their lives. In the same period, 936 incidents were recorded in the entire state of Styria in which 30 people died tragically.

Security on the mountain: prevention and planning

murer made it clear that carelessness and a wrong assessment of one's own fitness are often the cause of accidents. In order to prevent serious injuries or worse, basic planning considerations before a ski tour are essential. This includes finding out in advance whether huts are open and offer enough space. A look at the weather conditions is just as important: Large weather conditions should be observed days before the planned start of tour, while the current mountain weather report must be checked before departure. Important factors are also the wind direction and strength as well as an on -site assessment of the avalanche situation.

The estimate of the risks and the right preparation are crucial to enjoy the joy of skiing in beautiful Styria in a safe way. President Martin Kargl thanked Wolfgang Murer for his revealing presentation, which gave the members valuable tips for safety. The clear signal that prevention has a top priority is unmistakable: a planned vacation can be painfully canceled, while an accident has much more serious consequences.

Following the meeting, the former President Gottfried Reif invited the members to a dinner to celebrate the time together and the valuable information they had received. The importance of such educational events for security in the mountains is illustrated by the overdue discussion about the risks in alpine regions, since the countless skiers who go to the mountains every weekend really understand the potential dangers that such sports bring. Further details on this topic can be found in a detailed report www.meinbezirk.at .