Performing An Avalanche Rescue

You just witnessed the horror of watching a buddy get swept under by a massive avalanche; now what? This nightmare scenario is one we hope you avoid, yet undoubtedly it occurs far too often. Any individual and group in the backcountry must be prepared should the unthinkable happen. We've designed this guide so that you know what to do in a high-stakes emergency situation. The important thing is to stay calm, relax, and use your head. Panic is the enemy to focus and action. Follow along as we describe what to do should you or a group member get buried in an avalanche.

If You Trigger An Avalanche:

• Yell so others can hear and see you. You want to bring attention to yourself, your location, and your situation.
• If possible, ride to the side of the moving snow (get away from the avalanche center).
• Deploy your airbag (avalanche airbags have a 98% survival rating).
• Fight with maximum effort to stay above the surface.
• Keep a hand up—as the snow slows, thrust a hand upward above the snow surface if possible.
• Before the snow stops, try to clear airspace in front of your face.
• If you end up buried, don't panic. Stay calm and try to relax.

If A Group Member Triggers A Slide:

• Carefully observe the victim(s) as they are carried down the slope (take a mental note of the last seen point—the last point of visual contact).
• Ensure the area is safe from other slides before beginning your search.
• Organize a Search & Rescue

Searching:

After checking for any other danger, travel to the "last seen point." You will begin searching from there and move downhill. On your way, perform a Spot Search. Quickly analyze the surface of the avalanche zone, looking for any indication of the whereabouts of the victim (snowmachine, skis, gloves, clothing, etc.). Begin a "Signal Search" in the area where the person is most likely buried (either the "last seen spot," near protruding gear, or the toe of the avalanche).

Utilizing your beacon, begin your Signal Search. Start close to where the person may be buried or the last-seen point. Work your way down the hill in switchbacks no more than 130ft (40 meters) from each other and 65ft (20 meters) from either side of the slide zone. If there are multiple searchers, spread out at most 130ft (40 meters) from each other; work your way down the fall line (the line a round ball would roll down if the slope were free of obstructions). Move fast and look for clues along the surface. Use your beacon to find and lock a signal. If you do not have a beacon, continue with a spot search & probing.

Once you have locked a signal, follow the directional arrows and distance readings toward the victim's transmitting signal – this is called a "Course Search." Avalanche beacons will often lead you on a curved path to the victim's location. Remember to move fast until the distance reading displays 3 meters.

At 3 meters, start a Fine Search. Slow down and pay close attention to your distance readings. Get as close to the snow surface as possible and find the lowest distance reading. Once you've located the lowest reading, fine-tune your search. At the snow's surface, move your beacon in a perpendicular path similar to a plus(+) or "X" and find the next lowest reading. When the new reading is found, start probing.

Excavating:

Once you have struck the victim with your probe, begin digging (do not remove the probe). Start your dig away from the probe at 1.5x the depth reading. Dig downhill from the probe strike – this makes removing snow and debris from the hole easier and lowers the potential for collapsing. Try to uncover the victim's head and create an airway as quickly as possible. Refer to our Probing & Shoveling Guide for a more detailed explanation.

Medical Care & First-Aid:

Avalanche rescues don't stop when a victim has been found and uncovered. Avalanches can cause significant head, back, and chest trauma, respiratory failure, hypothermia, and other life-threatening injuries. It is critical to know basic first-aid and CPR (learn first-aid). If the victim is seriously injured, unconscious, or unable to evacuate on their own, contact local rescue crews for help with extraction. Be prepared to treat the following common avalanche injuries, transport a victim to a hospital, or contact emergency services.

• Blocked Airway / Not Breathing: Once you have dug out the person's face, clear their airway. Check their nose, mouth, and throat for snow and other blockages. Ensure the victim is breathing. Uncover their chest; is it moving with each breath? Remove your gloves and check if you feel air moving out from their nose or mouth. If the victim isn't breathing, you must breathe for them. Give the individual a breath every 4-5 seconds and perform CPR.
• Circulation: Avalanches can be highly violent, even stopping a person's heart. Check your patient's pulse. Do they have a heartbeat? Check for bleeds and punctures, and bandage them appropriately. Have a person's heart has stopped, immediately begin CPR.
• Back & Spine Injury: If the victim is complaining about a back or head injury, or you have reason to believe they have a severe spinal injury, avoid moving them—contact Search & Rescue for evacuation.

You just witnessed the horror of watching a buddy get swept under by a massive avalanche, but now you know what to do. This nightmare scenario was one you hoped to avoid, but it happened. Luckily, you and your group have studied, trained, and practiced for this scenario. Your training and experience allow you to remain calm and focused while performing a rescue. We hope this paragraph describes you and your team when tragedy strikes, and that you are prepared to handle the unthinkable.