New warnings have been issued by police and mountain rescue teams to climbers taking to Scotland's hills and mountains as the days grow shorter.
They say that while everyone knows to dial 999 for the emergency services, in some recent cases delays have been caused when a caller is asked which service is required.
Mark Leyland, Team Leader of Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team, said: "Getting through to the correct service at the first attempt is vital to ensure the correct resources are mobilised. If the incident is away from a public road, then callers should ask for Police and then Mountain Rescue.
"Ambulance crews do not have the equipment or expertise to respond to incidents away from the public road. Time has been lost on some recent mountain incidents when the initial 999 call has gone through to the Ambulance Service."
He added: "Important information to have available will include your location, the weather on scene and the state of your party, all of which will help speed up your rescue."
Heather Morning, Mountain Safety Advisor with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, said: "People who go to the hills and mountains should also register their mobile phone with the emergency SMS text service.
"It is not unusual to have limited mobile coverage in the mountains, and if there is insufficient coverage to make a voice call, then people who have pre-registered their phone can send an emergency text to 999."
Mountaineers are also urged to complete the updated 'Going to the Hills' form.
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