The success story of Tactical Alpine Medicine began in 2013 with the search for a strategy for medical care in mountain rescue services that was more closely geared towards danger zones and the specific risks of mountain rescue. An extremely practicable approach already existed in tactical medicine in the military. This led to contact being made with the TREMA (Tactical Rescue Emergency Medicine Association) and special units of the German Armed Forces. Their methods gave rise to Tactical Alpine Medicine in 2014, which is primarily based on military principles.

To mark this occasion, the symposium “Care outside the comfort zone – Outside the Box” has now taken place after a decade. All those units and organizations that have contributed to the optimization of tactical alpine medicine in recent years were invited, be it through the application of individual elements or through their support in the development. These include the Austrian Armed Forces Hunting Command, the Alpine Police and the Cobra Special Operations Command of the Austrian police.

„With Tactical Alpine Medicine, the Tyrolean Mountain Rescue Service under the leadership of Markus Isser has succeeded in developing a practical, easy-to-understand concept with which every mountain rescuer can easily learn and implement basic medical measures. The principle here is to achieve maximum results with minimum material. This principle has proven itself in countless operations,” explains Dr. Valentin Schiessendoppler, Deputy Regional Director of Mountain Rescue Tyrol.

“The symposium on tactical alpine medicine impressively highlights the importance of partnership-based cooperation between the 6th Mountain Brigade and Mountain Rescue Tyrol. Such cooperation is important in order to bundle our joint skills in the mountains and to be able to provide effective assistance in extreme situations.” – Deputy Commander of the 6th Mountain Brigade, Stefan Lehner

The TAM principle

Tactical alpine medicine is based on three main elements: First, the tactics, i.e. working in danger zones. Second, the material, which is kept minimalist in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Third, science, which is of central importance. Especially when improvising, it ensures that all measures are scientifically sound and evidence-based.

Over the years, this strategy has become established in mountain rescue services and has been continuously developed further. Elements of tactical alpine medicine have now also been adopted by mountain rescue services outside Tyrol and are also used by special units.

Regular exchanges between special units of the military and the police have been an integral part of the last ten years.

At the time, I was inspired by the fact that the special units of the military and police had a lot of experience in providing medical care in dangerous situations. Adapting this knowledge for mountain rescue and continuing to optimize it is my credo.” Markus Isser, founder of Tactical Alpine Medicine and Head of Medical Training at Mountain Rescue Tyrol

During the two days of the symposium, the exchange between the organizations was deepened in lectures and practical workshops and military, police and rescue service units were able to learn from each other.

About Mountain Rescue Tyrol:

Mountain Rescue Tyrol is the emergency organization for accidents in alpine terrain. The approximately 4,600 Tyrolean mountain rescuers are organized in 91 local offices in the 9 Tyrolean districts. They all work on a voluntary basis. This makes the Tyrolean Mountain Rescue Service the mountain rescue service with the highest number of members and missions in Austria. In 2023, 3186 missions were carried out.

About the 6th Mountain Brigade:

The 6th Mountain Brigade (6.GebBrig) is the large unit of the Austrian Armed Forces that is capable of conducting operations in the high mountains in all weathers and seasons. Its basic mission is to ensure targeted mountain combat training and operational preparation in order to counter conventional and unconventional threats in difficult and extreme terrain.