INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE CAVE RESCUE SERVICE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SLOVENIAN CAVE SAR TEAM

Abstract

This article outlines the activities of the Cave Rescue Service, which operates within the Speleological Association of Slovenia. It primarily focuses on the description of international cooperation of the Cave Rescue Service with other similar services carrying out rescue operations across Europe. It provides a detailed description of significant milestones in the international activity of the Cave Rescue Service. In collaboration with the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (ACPDR), the Cave Rescue Service has developed a successful international cave rescue programme, and has regularly implemented it every year since 2009. In 2012-2013, the Cave Rescue Service and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service carried out a two-year European project in the area of cave rescue (EU PROTEUS). In 2013, Cave Rescue Service members were the initiators and founding members of the European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA), which has maintained its status as an umbrella organisation of cave rescue in Europe. This article also presents in detail the development and registration procedure of the Slovenian Cave Search and Rescue Team (as part of the ACPDR – Rapid Response Unit), which will operate within the European Emergency Response Capacity (EERC).