Avalanche Safety - Search & Rescue

CAUTION: The information presented here is NOT a substitute for proper training by a qualified instructor.
For your own safety, take an Avalanche Safety Course.

Learn how to: Conduct A Rescue
U.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center

Avalanche Safety Essentials

An Avalanche Beacon - This device is a radio transmitter and receiver that aids in finding buried victims. In order to find a person, the victim must have a beacon as well as the searcher. For this reason, every person in a party should carry one.

Searching with avalanche beacons requires specialized techniques that must be practiced before an accident.

More information on beacons: Avalanche Beacon Basic Skills.

Probe - A snow probe can be anything used to probe the snow searching for a victim (e.g. ski poles or ice axes).

Commercial probes are by far the best alternative. They are generally collapsible aluminum rods.

Shovel - A shovel is absolutely a must for assessing avalanche danger and rescuing buried victims.

There are several light-weight, collapsible shovels commercially available.

Read the complete explanation of The ABC's (and D) of Digging - Avalanche Shoveling Distilled to the Basics (PDF) by Bruce Edgerly (2011), Backcountry Access

Airway. Dig downhill of the victim to protect their airway from being impacted.
Burial Depth. For burials of less than one meter, dig from the probe strike. For burials of greater depth, begin digging from 1.5 times the depth below the probe.
Clear Snow to Sides. Moving snow to the sides rather than downhill will help you when digging a deep hole.
Dig Only Once. Having to move snow more than once is inefficient and should be avoided in all but the deepest of burials.

Optional Avalanche Safety Gear

Airbag Pack - Avalanche Airbag packs features an inflatible airbag to help keep you at or near the surface of the snow during an avalanche.

NOTE: There are a number of other manufacturers of air bags. This is just one example. Check the Outdoor Gear Lab website for a lot of information about air bags. Be sure to scroll down that page for important information about different designs, how they work, product reviews and more.

Pull the trigger located on the right shoulder strap to deploy the airbag; airbag inflates in 3 sec. and is positioned so that it won't interfere with your vision or movement
Compressed air cylinder (sold separately) inflates the 150 liter airbag; after deployment, cylinder must be refilled by Backcountry Access or an authorized retail location
Visit the Backcountry Access website at www.backcountryaccess.com to find an authorized retail location to fill the cylinder
Airbag is designed to not only help prevent burial, but also protect the head, neck and upper body from trauma
22 liter (1,342 cu. in.) capacity has enough space for rescue tools, lunch, water, skins and some extra clothes; great for out-of-bounds skiing and short backcountry trips
Dedicated pockets hold your shovel blade, shovel handle and avalanche probe (all sold separately)
Includes straps for carrying skis diagonally; an optional snowboard attachment accessory can be purchased separately from Backcountry Access
Zippered pockets on the waistbelt keep energy gels and bars within reach
Backcountry Access recommends wearing the included leg straps to ensure the Float 22 backpack stays securely attached to your body during airbag deployment in an avalanche

For more information visit the Backcountry Access website. This Video shows you the details of the pack.

Avalung - AvaLung II™ is a remarkable filtration device that draws air directly from the snowpack, allowing you to breathe if trapped in an avalanche. More information here.

Increases the surface area from which you breathe; air is pulled in by a mouthpiece attached directly to the apparatus
Exhaled carbon dioxide is directed out the exhaust tube to ensure fresh air supply and to prevent an ice layer which could seal off the oxygen supply
AvaLung II has repeatedly been shown to provide an air supply to buried test victims
Worn over your clothing, the lightweight sling does not impede breathability or add warmth, so it can be used in all weather conditions
User must be able to get the mouthpiece inserted before avalanche debris restricts movement; snowpack or injury can prevent its use
As with avalanche beacons, AvaLung II is not a substitute for wise assessment of hazardous avalanche terrain

Recco - The Recco Unit is designed to detect reflector chips attached to ski clothing or embedded in ski equipment. More information here.

Dan Corning demonstrating the Recco Unit

Steve Case testing the Recco Unit

RECCO® reflectors are not transceivers. They are thin, card-size units that are embedded by some manufacturers into ski products such as jackets, pants, boots, helmets—and even inside the Ortovox 3+ and S1+ transceiver models.

RECCO reflectors complement—but do NOT replace—the use of avalanche transceivers. These passive reflectors enhance the radio signals sent by the RECCO detector units used by many search-and-rescue organizations. This may mean quicker acquisition of a victim's position in an avalanche.

The RECCO system offers many benefits:

The reflector is a passive, battery-free device that requires no action or education on the part of the wearer.
It is imbedded in the gear, so it's likely to stay with the person buried in an avalanche.
When a signal is received, RECCO detectors lead the operator in a direct line to the victim. These signals can be picked up by either ground- or helicopter-based searchers.
RECCO signals are not related to, nor do they interfere with, transceiver searches, so both approaches can be used in the same area at the same time.

From REI

For more information, read the REI Expert Advice avalanche basics and avalanche safety gear articles.

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Learn how to: Conduct A RescueU.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center

Avalanche Safety Essentials

More information on beacons: Avalanche Beacon Basic Skills.

Optional Avalanche Safety Gear

For more information, read the REI Expert Advice avalanche basics and avalanche safety gear articles.

Learn how to: Conduct A Rescue
U.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center