Taichung City has many popular hiking routes. To ensure hikers are well-prepared for safety, the municipal government has drafted the "Mountain Climbing Activity Management Self-Governing Ordinance," which includes provisions such as equipping hikers with locator devices and communication equipment, and requiring team leaders to possess basic life-saving or primary first aid skills.
The Taichung City Fire Bureau announced today that it had convened three meetings with the Ministry of the Interior's Construction and Planning Agency, Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters, Taroko National Park Headquarters, and the Dongshi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau at the end of last year to thoroughly discuss and consolidate relevant opinions regarding the self-governing ordinance. Yesterday, the "Taichung City Mountain Climbing Activity Management Self-Governing Ordinance" was finalized, and the next steps, including regulatory announcements and public hearings, will be carried out as soon as possible, with the aim of completing the relevant procedures before the typhoon season.
The Fire Bureau stated that among the 156 incidents that have occurred since 2011, 78 involved getting lost or losing contact. Therefore, the self-governing ordinance adds a requirement for hikers to carry locator-equipped devices and communication equipment for emergency contact, such as satellite positioning devices, GPS-enabled smartphones, satellite phones, mobile phones, and radios.
Additionally, a statistical analysis of the causes of the 156 mountain accidents revealed that 19 were due to altitude sickness and 40 were caused by injuries or illnesses. As a result, the self-governing ordinance mandates that team leaders must have basic life-saving or primary first aid skills to provide initial emergency treatment and care for hikers experiencing altitude sickness, injuries, or illnesses.
Fire Bureau Director Hsiao Huan-chang stated that planning before climbing, carrying communication and locator-equipped devices, establishing a mountain climbing insurance mechanism, ensuring team leaders have first aid capabilities, exercising caution to avoid separation from the group, and emergency evacuation during typhoons are all essential components of an effective management system. Strengthening regulations on what hikers should comply with when entering mountainous areas is crucial.
Hsiao Huan-chang emphasized that implementing the "Taichung City Mountain Climbing Activity Management Self-Governing Ordinance" can prevent rescue personnel from repeatedly risking their lives, safeguard the rights of hikers, and reduce risks for rescue teams. He hopes that Taichung City’s self-regulated ordinance can serve as a reference for the central government to further establish nationwide, unified legislation, which would be a sustainable and long-term solution. 1050427
(Central News Agency)