Himalayan Rescue Association(HRA)

Himalayan Rescue Association is a voluntary organization formed with an objective to reduce casualties in the Nepal Himalayas.Trekking in the high altitudes poses serious health hazards attributed to the thin air and the reduced amount of oxygen in the higher reaches. HRA operates two high altitude Aid-posts: one at Manang (3500m) in the Annapurna region and the other at Pheriche (4200m) in the Everest region. . Both posts have been built to provide medical assistance and emergency evacuation service. These Aid-posts are staffed by the western volunteer doctors (sometimes Nepali doctors) with Nepali assistants. The posts are opened every spring and fall during the main trekking season. The HRA aid-posts provide inexpensive and free medical treatment to the local community and, trekking and mountaineering support staff as well.

The Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal, conducts a medical clinic at Everest Base Camp in spring , staffed by physicians with previous high altitude experience. The camp sets up service on or around April 1 of each year and remains at EBC until the end of spring climbing season (end of May.) The experienced medical staff treats all climbers and staff at EBC for a fee (similar to the operations at Manang and Pheriche) and will treats trekkers visiting base camp as well. HRA’s information center in Kathmandu provides information on trekking safety and condition in the mountain. It has scheduled daily talk program on Acute Mountain Sickness and has facilities for trekkers to register before they go to the mountain. The center also has trekkers' logbook, a small library, and a notice board with relevant information.

(Info source: Himalayan Rescue Association, Kathmandu)