How can I rescue someone lost in an avalanche?

Question

If someone from our group is caught in an avalanche, what can I do to rescue them?

Answer 1

First - Assess the situation and determine if an active rescue is possible and safe. Many would be rescuers are caught or killed in follow up avalanches because they acted without assessing the surrounding conditions.

Assuming you have equipment to assist in the rescue follow the guidelines below.

1. Yell to alert your partners and other people that may be in the area.
2. Watch the victim!
3. Memorize the last seen point.
4. Make sure it is safe to search. Don't become a victim yourself.
5. Designate a leader and quickly develop a search plan.
6. Look for surface clues like gloves, boots, and other equipment.
7. Conduct a beacon search. Get close and probe BEFORE you dig.

The best practice for minimum equipment to take to the backcountry with you are:

• Avalanche beacon (that you know how to use)
• Rescue shovel
• Avalanche probe
• Extra clothing

If you are the person caught in the avalanche the following actions could help save your life.

From the Forest Service National Avalanche Center

• Try to ski or board off the slab by maintaining momentum and angling to edge of slide like the very lucky people in video above do.
• Simultaneously, if you are wearing an Avalung, get it in your mouth
• If you get knocked down and you have an Air Bag System deploy it.
• Discard poles (never ski in the backcountry with your pole straps on).
• Hopefully you have releasable bindings and your skis or board come off; if they do, roll on to your back with your feet downhill. Swim hard up stream to try to get to the rear of the avalanche.
• Dig into the bed surface to slow you down and let as much debris as possible go past.
• Grab a tree if you can
• FIGHT!
• As the avalanche slows, try to thrust your hand or some part of your body above the surface and then stick a hand in front of your face to make an air space around your mouth.
• If completely buried, try to remain calm -hopefully your partners have practiced rescue techniques and they will quickly find you.

For more information regarding avalanches see the following link. Canadian Avalanche Association