The Air Support Unit will carry out protection, rescue and assistance tasks as part of the mountain helicopter rescue team's summer standby from 1 June 2024. The on-call time will be shared between the Slovenian Army and Police helicopter crews according to a coordinated schedule, with one helicopter crew always on standby for mountain rescue needs, while summer standby will last until the end of September.

Last summer season, between the beginning of June and the end of September, helicopter crews from the two national services (Slovenian Army and Police) carried out 185 mountain rescues and assisted around 250 people. On the busiest days, helicopter crews carried out up to six rescues a day. Of the 185 helicopter rescues, 87 were carried out by police helicopters. Police helicopters were also active during the floods in August last year, when they assisted and rescued a further 286 people.

Also in the summer months, during the main mountaineering season, caution is advised in the mountains even when the conditions seem safe, as there is still a lot of snow in the high elevations. Slopes and snowfields can be icy, as seen during the recent rescue in Prisojnik, where there was ice under the snow. And there are many more such areas in the mountains. So be warned: what is beautiful is not necessarily safe.

To ensure the safety of hikers in the mountains, we urge you to be careful, informed, equipped, prepared and responsible. Go to the mountains with at least one other person, so that there is always someone with you who can help; with a charged mobile phone; adjust the tour to the weather – postpone the tour when the weather is bad; and write your name in mountain hut and peak logbooks, as this will reduce the search or rescue area in the event of an accident and search. If you are going alone, let your family or friends know exactly where you are going, the dynamics of the ascent and descent, and the approximate time of your return before you leave. If anything changes, let them know. If there is snow, you will need winter clothing.

We also warn you to be careful when using mobile phones, taking photographs (because of falls) and using apps. Phone navigation should only be used as an aid to (and not a substitute for!) trail maps and markings.