May 25, 2013
Winter 2012 - 2013


Avalanche Rescue

How much do you pay to insure your sled?

How much should you pay to insure your life?

It's critical to never head into avalanche terrain without the avalanche rescue gear and the knowledge to use it.
 

What about Airbags?
Airbags are a great option that can reduce burial depth making your rescue much faster.  They do not necessarily prevent burial and have even been know to fail when the handles break or bags pop. You'll definitely want to have a beacon in case this happens.
Avalanche rescue gear should always be carried in a pack on your body, NOT on your sled


Avalanche rescue gear on this sled helps no one.


If your partner gets buried, you don't have time to go for help!

  • Yell to alert others. Watch the victim! Establish a last seen point.
  • Make sure it is safe to search. Don't become a victim yourself.
  • Establish a leader and make a plan.
  • Look for and check surface clues: gloves, boots, helmet.
  • Snowmobiles may end up near the surface and riders are often found within 20 feet of their machine.
  • Conduct a beacon search. Get close and probe BEFORE you dig.

You only have about 15 minutes for a good chance to recover someone alive. It is critical to practice rescues before you're faced with the real thing!

 

 
Your INSURANCE POLICY: Avalanche Transceiver, Probe, and Shovel.
Rescue gear

Statistically a victim uncovered within 10 minutes of being buried has a 80% chance of surviving; after that, the odds decrease dramatically.

The best defense is to not get caught!

  • About 30% of avalanche fatalities occur from trauma
  • Only about 30% of victims completely buried in an avalanche survive


You have completed an introduction to Avalanche Basics:

1) Kinds of avalanches

2) Terrain

3) Snowpack

4) Weather

5) Low Risk Travel

Be sure to check out the following pages in the "Learn How To" section for more detailed instructions on performing an avalanche rescue: