ZAGREB, June 9, 2019 - Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, Croatian Firefighting Association president Ante Sanader and Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) head Josip Granić signed in Zaprešić near Zagreb on Saturday an agreement on the modernisation of radio communication equipment for emergency services, an investment worth about 39 million kuna. Eighty-five percent of the investment is being financed with EU funding.

Thanks to the investment, the Croatian Firefighting Association and the HGSS will get 3,000 hand-held and 900 mobile radio communication devices for vehicles.

"It is our ambition to act as a service for those who rescue lives and property all around Croatia - firefighters, members of the HGSS, police and army," Božinović said after the signing ceremony, adding that that was the role of his ministry and the newly established Civil Protection Directorate.

The Ministry of the Interior will continue equipping emergency services because security is one of the most important conditions for all citizens and guests in Croatia to feel well, said the minister.

HGSS head Granić said that the latest agreement built on the very good cooperation that had started with the establishment of the Civil Protection Directorate.

The donation will help the HGSS and the firefighting service be more coordinated in their activities, Granić said, thanking the Ministry of the Interior for the project.

Croatian Firefighting Association president Sanader stressed that owing to efforts by the government, Minister Božinović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, on January 1, 2020, the Croatian Firefighting Association would start operating as a central state office, whereby it would be depoliticised.

More news on the Interior Ministry can be found in the Politics section.

The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) has become well known for its sarcastic and amusing social media posts warning tourists about trying to swim across to that inviting little island that is actually much further away from the mainland than it looks, or attempting to tackle Biokovo at midday in August with no water and while wearing Primark flip-flops. 

Every year, there are cases of tourists having been a bit too brave (or stupid, the line is thin). From trying to pet venomous snakes in the dry pine forests, to swimming, to taking a stab at mountaineering and climbing, or getting themselves stuck in other similar situations which are at best embarrassing and at worst so dangerous they're potentially fatal.

As the tourist season quickly approaches, HGSS is back to work with its social media warnings to tourists who might be feeling extra brave in their various intrepid ventures this summer, aiming this time at lovers of lilos and other beach/pool inflatables.

HGSS has posted a photo on Facebook of a man lying on a sea inflatable which rather morbidly resembles a bright pink coffin, with the statement: ''Dear tourists, if you really can't hold back, put your name and address on [the inflatable], in case of emergency call 112, may the dolphins be with you.''

On the photo itself, HGSS asks tourists to please Tweet them if there is life after death, followed by amusing hashtags about having survived a holiday in Croatia.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more on HGSS's amusing warning posts and much more.

The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) has become well known for its witty Facebook statuses over the past couple of years or so, but not everything can be looked back at with a giggle. An animal in danger is one of them.

From warning tourists and other would-be mountaineers to perhaps refrain from trying to tackle mountains in the summer sunshine with no water and wearing only flip flops, to letting those who fancy themselves as Olympic swimmers that that pretty little island over there is actually a lot further away than it looks from the mainland, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, made up of generous volunteers from all types of jobs and walks of life, has been making us laugh in spite of the often ridiculous and downright dangerous scenarios they continually need to rescue people from.

Of course, not all of these stories and scenarios can have a funny spin put on them, and when it comes to abandoned animals suffering and in danger at the hands of careless humans, there can be no jokes. What there can be, however, is a very happy (and lucky) ending.

As Index writes on the 29th of December, 2018, as the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service reported, during the excavation of a cave in the area of Bratiškovci (Šibenik-Knin County), members of SOS HKP "Sveti Mihovil", which included four members of HGSS Šibenik who were the leaders of this expedition, heard the distressed barking and whining of a dog coming from somwhere in the dark and unwelcoming cave.

They immediately embarked on an action to locate and rescue the injured and underweight, clearly mistreated animal. Using specialist speleological techniques, the unlucky, unwell and frightened dog was located and pulled out of the cave to safety. Given the fact that when 112 was called, not one of the competent associations bothered to even respond, the dog was taken to safety and is currently being housed at the "Sea" (More) apothecary.

The members of HGSS Šibenik, as well as members of SOS "Sveti Mihovil", once again demonstrated their bravery, humanity and superior ability and talent to deal with serious situations in potentially dangerous caves.

Make sure to stay up to date with our news and lifestyle pages for much more.

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