With the arrival of National Day, many hiking enthusiasts are starting to get restless. According to past police statistics, this period every year also sees a high incidence of hikers getting into danger while mountaineering. To prevent similar incidents from happening again, yesterday morning, the Fangshan Public Security Sub-bureau held a mountain climbing safety awareness campaign in Pofengling Scenic Area, Zhoukoudian Town, and distributed safety advisory cards to visitors.
Reportedly, according to incomplete statistics, since 2007 alone, the Fangshan police have received dozens of distress calls involving people trapped or in danger, averaging more than ten cases per year, showing an upward trend year by year. The Fangshan police, in cooperation with various departments, have rescued over 150 people cumulatively, with as many as 300 police officers mobilized at one time, and even police helicopters deployed for rescue missions.
Based on police rescue cases, those who got into danger included middle-aged and elderly individuals, as well as college students in their twenties who went up the mountains on a whim without adequate preparation, thereby creating safety hazards. Most hikers lack both mountaineering knowledge and safety awareness, and do not carry appropriate climbing gear, which are the main reasons for being trapped in the mountains or other accidents. Such rescue incidents mostly occur in undeveloped wild mountains, such as Jiulong Mountain, Baoshan Mountain, Ma’er Mountain, Guancai Mountain, and Jinling, among several undeveloped scenic spots and offshoots in the Zhoukoudian area of Fangshan District.
In response, the police have summarized six “don’ts” for mountain climbing: don’t go without knowing the terrain, don’t act alone, don’t go unprepared, don’t fail to mark your path, don’t be unable to rescue yourself, and don’t take reckless risks. Meanwhile, the Fangshan police have printed the contact numbers of local police stations in areas prone to accidents on the “safety advisory cards,” reminding visitors that “Fangshan police officers are right by your side,” aiming to provide rescue assistance as quickly as possible.
The Fangshan police once again advise tourists not to blindly join online group activities for climbing wild mountains or exploring. Additionally, when climbing, plan your time reasonably and try to finish before dark. If possible, hire a local villager as a guide, bring sufficient equipment and food. In case of danger, remember your route, clearly state your location, and try to keep at least one phone with power to maintain contact with rescuers.