EMERGENCY TRAINING: A member of the Beijing branch of the Blue Sky Voluntary Search and Rescue Team explains the way to use outdoor rescue equipment to medical workers at the Beijing 999 First Aid Center on May 19, 2011 (LI MINGFANG)

Running along a sheer cliff with steep drops on either side, the Jiankou section of the Great Wall is one of the most scenic and rugged sections of the 600-year-old defensive work in the vicinity of Beijing. It is also a frequent site of accidents as the section's isolation, steep terrain, and the poor condition of the wall's masonry make climbing and exploring in the area difficult and dangerous.

On February 4, a man was reported missing in the vicinity of the Jiankou section of Great Wall. His family finally turned to the Blue Sky Voluntary Search and Rescue Team (Blue Sky) for help.

After receiving the message, Blue Sky quickly sent several squads to the mountain and over 300 members took part in the search, though the man remains missing.

"When serious natural disasters take place, the government-affiliated forces play a major role in search and rescue of survivors, and volunteer search and rescue teams assist their efforts. In recreational accidents, however, volunteer rescuers are playing an increasingly important role," said Zhang Yong, Blue Sky's team leader.

Officially established in 2007, Blue Sky has approximately 500 members in Beijing, Zhang told Beijing Review. It has a further 5,000 members and 18,000 registered volunteers in 26 provinces across the country.

In recent years, outdoor sports have surged in popularity in China. Consequently, a number of adventure lovers got lost, trapped or injured.

According to Blue Sky's 2011 Annual Report, there were reportedly 492 outdoor accidents in China last year, up from 182 in 2010. Beijing alone saw 49 such accidents, 16 of which occurred at the Jiankou section of the Great Wall.

Active rescuers

Blue Sky's members come from all walks of life, including demobilized servicemen, doctors, teachers and students. They usually respond to local outdoor emergencies. Since Blue Sky's establishment, its volunteers have carried out more than 100 search and rescue missions.

The team has a hotline that people can dial for free search and rescue services. Upon receiving an emergency call, several experienced team members will quickly analyze the request and see if the team can help out. If it can, a message will be sent to every team member asking those close to the accident scene to volunteer. The first squad will quickly assemble and depart. Then, a second squad will be assembled.

In addition, Blue Sky offers free training to the public on safety during outdoor activities. Its team members have also provided volunteer communication, rescue and medical services at dozens of major sports events in Beijing.

Blue sky volunteers have also made a contribution to relief work following major natural disasters. After the Wenchuan earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province in May 2008, which left more than 80,000 people dead or missing and millions of homes destroyed, Blue Sky transported emergency supplies to disaster-stricken areas and provided temporary lodging to tens of thousands of survivors. During the post-disaster reconstruction, it helped local farmers sell their agricultural products.

When southwestern Guizhou Province suffered from severe drought in early 2010, Blue Sky sent four groups of volunteers, who explored 45 caves and found 11 drinking water sources. It also set up three emergency water supply stations, which provided drinking water to 500,000 people.

Blue Sky also participated in search and rescue efforts after an earthquake struck Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, in April 2010. Members of the Qinghai Branch of Blue Sky departed for the disaster area 41 minutes after the quake hit. They were the first volunteers to arrive at the scene, who arrived just three hours after China's largest official search and rescue team, the China International Search and Rescue Team.

In Yushu, Blue Sky members pulled 12 survivors from the debris, treated 1,165 victims and transported 25 people suffering from bone fractures to medical facilities. They also set up a communication relay station in the disaster area.

Difficult beginning

Blue Sky was set up by several outdoor sports enthusiasts, including the current team leader Zhang.

Growing up at the foot of Taihang Mountains, a major mountain range in north China, Zhang began climbing mountains in his childhood.

Although he later joined the army, then studied law and went into business, he never gave up his passion for mountaineering.