Rescue
European Cave Rescue Association
An association of European cave rescue organisations, founded in 2012, that exists to share knowledge and experience in cave rescue; it is a forum and network, not an emergency call centre.
ECRA's stated purpose is to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience in cave rescue, and it describes itself as a community of European cave rescuers [1]. Its history page traces the idea to a 2007 meeting of alpine karst countries in Berchtesgaden, followed by meetings in Munich, Treviso and Saalfelden; the decision to create a European association came in spring 2012 and it was founded in France in autumn 2012 [2]. Its contact address is given care of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) in Zagreb [1].
Full membership is open to European organisations whose primary function is cave rescue, either nationally or regionally; cave rescue organisations outside Europe can join as collaborating members without voting rights, and there are associate, individual and honorary categories [3]. ECRA does not present itself as a body to call in an emergency: rescues are run by national and regional organisations under their own authorities.
Further reading
Every fact on this page, with its source (3)
| Fact | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ECRA's purpose is to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience in cave rescue. | Verified | [1] |
| ECRA was founded in France in autumn 2012, after annual meetings that began in 2008.A secondary search summary placed the founding general assembly on 2012-05-12 in Tuscany; ECRA's own history page says autumn 2012 in France, which is used here. | Verified | [2] |
| Full membership is limited to European organisations whose primary function is cave rescue; non-European cave rescue organisations may be collaborating members without voting rights. | Verified | [3] |
Verified: stated by an official or primary source we opened. Reported: from a secondary source only. Sources conflict: the note gives both versions. May be out of date: the newest source we found is old.
Written in our own words from the sources above. Report a correction