*** Avalanche Rescue & Survivability *** Sun Nov 6 23:16:10 1994 Message : #18542385 From: Nazoosh Address : nazoosh@aol.com Group : Usenet.rec.climbing Length : 585 words Subject : Re: Avalanche survival chances Org. : America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) In article , tmenten@boi.hp.com (Tom Menten) writes: an important response to the current discussion on avalanche survival. Falk, Bruller & Adler-Kastner's work on avalanche survival is a solid scientific study. It is especially valuable because their data show that survivability during the first 15 minutes is much greater than previously thought. However, some of their conclusions we feel are flawed, and all of you missed their most important conclusion regarding avalanche rescue beacons. The only way to find a buried person within 15 minutes is by using a beacon. Most people other than ski patrols and guides are not "practiced" enough with their beacon to save a life. In fact, in the US the buried victims chances of dying are 10 times greater in the backcountry than in a developed area. DON'T GO FOR HELP --- STAY AND SEARCH UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE ALL THAT YOU THINK IS POSSIBLE. Even if there are 5 searchers and you send 1 out to get help the group's efficiency has suddenly dropped 20 %. Keep searching! You are the victim's best chance to be found alive. Falk's group also concluded that burial depth is not an important factor in survivability since the deeper the burial the greater time required to dig, thus the longer the rescue. While their rationale is true their conclusion is false. Many more people survive shallow burials than deep burials. In fact in the US no one has survived a burial deeper than 6 feet. The reason is simple. The deeper the burial, the greater the mass of snow and the less likely a victim can create an air space. In deep burials (deeper than 6') a victim cannot expand their chest to breath because of the crushing weight of the snow. The discussion of cell phones is interesting, but as Clyde said, they are only another rescue tool. In Colorado there have been 2 cases where cell phones were used to report avalanche accidents immediately after the event. In both cases victims were found almost immediately and helicopters, trained rescuers and advanced life support equipment were on the scene with in 15 minutes. In both cases the victims (3) died. Here are our suggestions of what you can do to maximize your chances of survival: 1) Keep learning about avalanches, learn to recognize and evaluate the clues to dangerous conditions. 2) Keep off steep slopes when conditions are dangerous. 3) Buy a beacon and practice practice practice, make sure your friends do too. 4) Form a rescue plan with in your group at the trail head, ensure beacons are working and are compatible frequencies. 5) Buy a big stout shovel and trade it with your partner for his little one so he can dig you out fast. 6) Travel as if there will be no outside help. Take responsibility for your self and your actions. Regarding Falk's research we are surprised by the high survivability (93%) during the first 15 minutes. The US data show 85% during the first 15 minutes. In the US more victims collide with trees during avalanches than in Europe. Lastly their study did not look at injuries suffered by avalanche victims. Dale Atkins, Avalanche Forecaster, Colorado Avalanche Information Center Steve Conger, Editor, the Avalanche Review (Nazoosh) **** Avalanche Rescue Tools *** Fri Nov 4 13:13:08 1994 Message : #18473572 From: Al Knoll Address : alf@hprpcd.rose.hp.com Group : Usenet.rec.backcountry Length : 207 words Subject : Avalanche Rescue Tools Org. : Performance Technology Center, Roseville With all the recent snow shovel talk, I thought I'd ask: What do you carry for Avalanche Rescue? Avalanche debris that I have encountered is generally quite compact and quite difficult to dig through with a lightweight shovel. The Voile seems to be the minimum strength wrt blade/scoop. My stuff: Whistle ~30ft surveyors fluorescent marking tape Pieps II (no flames please) Voile Shovel 50' 7mm perlon rope 2 Carabiners Leki or Lifelink Probe ski poles 2 Plastic Trash bags "Space" blanket Sitz-pad (1'sq 1/2" ensolite) Wish I had... Avalanche Dog. IMO: A tranceiver w/o earset is a disadvantage. Hint: Try your stuff on some Av debris before you decide how good it is. The lifelink plastic shovel won't handle Sierra Cement. High winds make a speaker only tranceiver difficult. ALWAYS post a watcher in the hasty search. Five Basic Methods: Av Dog, Tranceiver, Coarse Probe, Fine Probe, Spring Thaw. ___ / __ __/ ____/ Al Knoll HP Performance Technology/ / / / / Center Roseville, CA, USA 95747 / _____/ / / 916.785.5317 (Telnet 785-5317) / / / / email: alf@hpptc44.rose.hp.com / __/ __/ ______/ ___________________________________/ (Al Knoll) Sat Dec 24 07:33:36 1994 Message : #20141213 From: Richard A. De Castro Address : decastro@netcom.com Group : Usenet.misc.emerg-services Length : 480 words Subject : Re: Avalanche Rescue Techniques Org. : NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) vmackenz@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca (Vince J. MacKenzie) writes: >Richard A. De Castro (decastro@netcom.com) wrote: >: vmackenz@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca (Vince J. MacKenzie) writes: >: >My fire department recently had a rescue involving a young child being >: >buried under several feet of snow from a snowplough. It was successful. >: >(See my post" rescue from snowbank".) >: >I am looking for advice on tools or techniques involving locating >: >persons under snow. Any help or experiences would be greatly appreciated. >: Unless the person has an avalanche beacon, the best tool is a trained >: avalanche dog. Otherwise, you're usually in on a body recovery. >: -- >: ============================================================================ >: decastro@netcom.com Warning: I am a trained professional. No, Really! >: Rick N6RCX EMT-A ATP MA Do Not try this yourself - it could get ugly...... >: Richard A. De Castro - As long as the Government pretends to protect me, >: I'll pretend to feel safe - NOT! >: -Don't Tread On Me!- >: ============================================================================ >-- >How long can a person be expected to survive uninjured under snow? Generally, assuming that the victim is not injured in the avalanche to begin with, and does not suffocate due to the snow, survival is approx 48% @ 30 minutes 30% @ 60 minutes 18% @ 120 minutes 10% @ 180 minutes 5% @ 240 minutes Source: Course Material "Survival vs. Burial Time", Direction and Control of Winter Search Operations Course, California Governors Office of Emergency Services. >Does the depth of the snow affect survival? Not directly - If the person is uninjured, etc. B >Is their a chart with this information? see above. This course (5 days) was chock-full of good information. Note: During avalanche training for search dogs, a volunteer is often buried in a (very small) snow cave. Even with an avalanche beacon, two-way radio, well dressed, sitting on an insulated pad, etc. the limit for leaving a volunteer under the snow is 30 minutes. While asphyxiation is not an immediate concern in avalanches (immediate <3-5 minutes) it ca rapidly become one. Also recommended is "The Avalanche Book", by Armstrong and Williams, Fulcrum, 1986, ISBN 1-55591-001-7, hardbound, 231 pages with photos, drawings, tables, graphs, index and bibliography. >Thanks >Vince Mackenzie, Firefighter III >Grand Falls - Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada >1994 NFPA Learn Not To Burn Champion -- ============================================================================ decastro@netcom.com Warning: I am a trained professional. No, Really! Rick N6RCX EMT-A ATP MA Do Not try this yourself - it could get ugly...... Richard A. De Castro - As long as the Government pretends to protect me, I'll pretend to feel safe - NOT! -Don't Tread On Me!- ============================================================================ (Richard A. De Castro)