Avalanche Conditions Report VIDEO
Avalanche Scenarios should be part of your monthly practice - here’s why!
In this weeks video Whitewater Ski Resort's Snow Safety Supervisor Wren McElroy discusses why incorporating an avalanche scenario into your practice routine is important. Learn about the 6 phases of a companion avalanche rescue.
1. Choose a leader
- Assess safety (escape route)
- Head count (interview witness)
- Turn transceivers to Search
2. Determine search area
- last seen point?
- visual search - clues?
3. Transceiver Search
- Signal Search - investigate
- Course Search- move fast
- Fine Search - move slow
4. Pinpoint using probe - spiral probe - leave probe in place
5. Dig using conveyor shovelling technique
6. Patient Care
- clear the airway
- stabilize ABC’s
- protect the neck and spine
- treat for injuries/shock/hypothermia
7. Get help - transport patients
A transceiver search is important to practice but it is simply one element of an effective and efficient rescue. Be sure to practice a full avalanche rescue scenario often so that you and your backcountry skiing group’s skills are second nature. If the terminology in the above list is unfamiliar - it is time to take a course and get educated.
Click here to watch last weeks video and here for the week before.
