HZS Kysuce Beskids regional centre

Kysuce: the Kysuce Highlands and the Kysuce Beskids (under the HZS statute) — in north-western Slovakia by the Polish and Czech borders, based in Oščadnica.

Mountain emergency — Slovakia18 300 · 11218 300 — Slovak Mountain Rescue Service emergency line (operations centre), 24/7; 112 — single European emergency number

Contacts HZS Kysucké Beskydy

HZS Kysuce Beskids regional centreOblastné stredisko HZS Kysucké BeskydyHeadquarters: Dedovka 1658, 023 01 Oščadnica, SlovakiaOfficial website: hzs.sk
Get directions

The Kysuce Beskids regional centre of the Mountain Rescue Service (Oblastné stredisko HZS Kysucké Beskydy) under the HZS statute covers the Kysuce Highlands and the Kysuce Beskids in north-western Slovakia. Its base is in Oščadnica, in the Dedovka valley below Veľká Rača — the highest peak of the Kysuce Beskids on the Polish border, where the Żywiec Beskids lie on the Polish side. In winter there is a ski resort here, in summer popular ridge trails.

How to call for help

Dial the HZS emergency line 18 300 or 112. The best way is the official HZS app: one button connects you to the operations centre and sends your exact location, and with a weak signal you can use its chat. Say where you are and what happened, how many people are hurt and how badly, and give a call-back number. Keep your phone on.

Area and stations

The centre covers the Kysuce Beskids and the Kysuce Highlands from Čadca to the Polish border. Its main base is the regional centre in Oščadnica (Dedovka).

Good to know

  • Rescue in Slovakia is charged: the person rescued pays for search and transport, while medical care is covered by health insurance. Minors are exempt. Buy mountain insurance before you set out.
  • Before a hike, log it in the electronic hike book in the HZS app: the evening before it sends warnings for your area, and if you don't check back, rescuers will come looking.
  • Before setting out, read the current HZS warnings and mountain conditions for your area: they are published on the service's website and in the app together with the weather forecast.
  • The Veľká Rača ridge follows the border: on the Polish side the GOPR Beskidy Group rescues free of charge.
  • The Kysuce forests are dense and coverage in deep valleys is poor: stay on marked trails, tell someone your route and save your phone battery.

Stations and bases

Unit and addressPhonesDirections
HZS Kysuce Beskids — OščadnicaDedovka 1658, Oščadnica
Get directions

Map of the stations

Official apps

  • Horská záchranná služba (HZS) — Official HZS app: one-button call for help sending your GPS location to 18 300, chat (with automatic translation) when the signal is weak, 'Guardian Angel', an electronic hike log, avalanche warnings and mountain insurance. Verify your phone number in the app in advance.

Is the rescue free

Since 1 July 2006, under the Act on the Mountain Rescue Service, anyone in a Slovak mountain area must pay the HZS for the costs of rescue or search concerning them. This does not apply to minors or persons without legal capacity. Medical care is covered by health insurance, while the 'technical intervention' (search, extrication, transport) is paid by the person rescued, whether or not they were at fault. The HZS therefore advises mountain insurance, which can also be bought in the HZS app.

Other mountain rescue services: Slovakia

Last updated: 3 November 2026. Numbers checked against the services' official websites (sources below). If a number does not answer, call 112.

Sources (5)