Hiking expeditions in nature have begun for hiking enthusiasts, and already Police Stations at Troodos and Platres receive calls for help, rescue, or locating individuals.
Some of them get disoriented, resulting in getting lost, while injuries are also recorded.
In most rescue cases, it is found that hikers underestimate the lurking dangers and fail to take necessary precautionary measures.
The recent adventure of a British family who got lost during a hike in the Madari area alarmed the Police and Civil Defence.
Despite communication difficulties, with the help of technology and after several hours, the four individuals were found safe in a location near the Spilia community, close to the Madari trail.
Speaking to Phileleftheros about hiking in nature trails, the head of the Troodos Station, Deputy Lieutenant Andreas Pringipas, stated that in the first three months of 2024, the Police were called for rescue in seven incidents. Since the beginning of March, when the Troodos National Forest Park trails opened, there has been an increased visitation.
In the Troodos area, there are beautiful and extensive nature trails, some linear with different starting and ending points, and some circular with the same starting and ending point.
The nature study trails hide many dangers, emphasized the Troodos station chief, pointing out that those who visit them must and are required to take necessary measures to be safe.
“We, as the Police, often receive calls for help from hikers who, due to their recklessness, put their lives at risk,” he noted.
Upon receiving a call for rescue, the authorities immediately take the necessary actions such as coordination, information dissemination, and description of the incident.
Subsequently, a rescue mechanism involving all relevant services is activated. “Police, Fire Service, Civil Defence are on alert,” said Pringipas, adding that there was a case where the Police’s aviation wing had to be involved, as the location was inaccessible and only aerial means could approach.
Before embarking on a hiking trip on a nature trail, hikers must take precautions to avoid the worst. As he said, they should first be aware of the peculiarities of the mountain they will hike, the difficulty level, dangerous spots, inclines, trekking time, and weather conditions.
They should always carry essentials in a backpack, such as water, some food, a flashlight, and a first aid kit. Hikers should wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
“They are not taking a stroll; they are hiking in the mountains, so they must be properly equipped as there is a risk of slipping and getting injured,” he pointed out.
In addition to the above, weather conditions should also be taken seriously into account, with Pringipas stressing that the weather in the mountains changes frequently and abruptly. “They may start the trail with sunny weather, but shortly after, fog or even snowfall may occur.”
Calculating the time is another important factor since hikers and citizens should know the average hiking time of a trail.
A very useful tool for hiking is smart applications with the ability to send location to mobile phones, so in case of an incident or even disorientation of individuals, they can send their location for immediate tracking.
Pringipas further emphasized that the mountain and nature trails are not for show or competition.
