In April 2024, the UIAA organised an international mountain sports training course in Bariloche, Argentina, in collaboration with the Argentine Ski and Mountaineering Federation (FASA). Participants were able to delve deeper into the topics of mountain medicine, techniques and safety during this three-day workshop.

The acronym ‘UIAA’ can be found on climbing and mountaineering gear worldwide, but what does it mean? These four letters signify that this piece of climbing equipment has been accredited to meet the UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation’s – global safety standards. This animation made by the UIAA Safety Commission explains the importance of the UIAA Safety Label and how the process of accrediting a piece of equipment actually works.

Water-borne diseases are amongst the most common and important health issues affecting mountain visitors. Although contaminated food may be a more important risk factor for traveller’s diarrhea than water the availability of safe water and knowledge of how to obtain it is a must for mountaineers worldwide to balance (high altitude) dehydration, to improve performance, and to minimise risks (e.g. frostbite, altitude diseases). In most cases the responsibility for obtaining and purifying water will be the mountaineer’s responsibility, because safe community based water resources are not available.

The UIAA Medical Commission’s short video helps mountain users identify the different ways of ensuring the water they are drinking is safe.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) are the most important and most common altitude related diseases. Primary prevention is considered the gold standard to avoid altitude illness.

This video tackles the measures essential to preventing high-altitude illnesses when air pressure decreases with elevation and less oxygen becomes available, what the symptoms are, and what to do to best treat such a condition.